[For Disclaimers, see part 1] Games of the Mind (Part 9) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com K'Nara lead them through the ship and over to the area set aside for strictly medatation processes. The area itself seemed to vibrate with the soft gentleness of relaxation. With a brief bow, K'Nara left. As they entered the meditation chamber, the doors slid shut behind them and they were embracing almost ferverently. "Is it just me or does she remind you of someone?" Chris smiled into her hair. "Ambassador Delenn. Babylon 5. Except for the fact that I'm not sure I like her as much as I do Delenn." she murmured into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms securely around her. "You're right... and I'm not so sure I like her much either... K'Nara I mean... I do like Delenn. Of course, I *love* you." She felt him plant a kiss on her cheek, his breath warm on her ear, sending shivers through her. "You do know that I love you... don't you?" <<<'Oh, thank the gods... this isn't a dream... he's really here, and we're really holding him...'>>> Caitlin's murmured litany brought tears to the eye. "I'm scared, Chris... really really scared." she said, aloud. <<<'That's putting it mildly...'>>> Marie sighed. "I know." He rested his chin on her shoulder, rocking her back and forth, gently stroking her hair. "But you still haven't answered me. You do know I love you, right?" Christina smiled at him. "I know. And I love you too." "Oh, good." his tone was teasing, even as he held her tightly in his arms. "I'm *so* glad you're here... so very glad." "Me too. I almost thought I'd never get to hold you in my arms again." he answered, and she could hear the tears he was holding back. "I'm kind of glad you're holding me too..." "Only 'kind of glad'?" "Well..." He lifted her chin and then leaned down to meet her lips with his. They held the kiss for several moments before drawing apart only slightly. He still held her close, almost afraid to let go of her. She looked into his eyes and for a while, they were speaking without words. "I've missed you so much, love." "Missed you too, even if it doesn't feel quite as long. We haven't had time to be together since you left to go back to Nova Scotia... and then there was-" Chris looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Can we not talk about that? I *really* don't want to talk about that person. Or Lise, for that matter. It's over and done with, remember? Has been for a long time. You were on the phone with me a few days after it happened. It's *you* I've missed more than anything. I've wanted to be with only you for so long... You're here, I'm here... No one else." Momentarily, she studied his face and his eyes. He leaned over and whispered a kiss at the juncture between her shoulder and neck before looking into her eyes again. She smiled at him. "I guess I found out what would happen if I vanished. And this wasn't even willingly. I was going to ask about getting you to Los Angeles for a visit, remember?" "I do... but then you vanished on the night you were supposed to call me. I called and your parents told me you hadn't arrived home yet. I felt something was wrong..." "You always have been good at that... just like I have with you." "Yeah. And I meant what I said earlier. I'm sorry about lying to you and hurting you. I never wanted to do that. Ever. Those months you were missing... I missed you so much." "I'll get through this... After all, you had ten months to get through this... I feel like I'm only facing this after being betrayed and stuff a few months ago..." she sighed. "I'm just glad you're here. I thought I'd never get to see you again... never get to make love to you again... never-" He tilted her chin up slightly and silenced her with a kiss, brief but with the promise of more. She felt the light touch of his tongue to her lips and moaned softly. "I love you." he murmured, drawing back just slightly, his lips trembling. She pressed her mouth to his for a moment before she withdrew, pouring all her feelings for him into the kiss. This time, it was far from light, but shiningly brief for all its intensity. "Love you too." she smiled at him. "You know... how about we use this chamber for more than just *ahem* meditation." She smiled. "Okay." He lifted her chin and met her lips with his once again, this time more passionate than the last. * "Agent Mulder, please accept our apologies for not getting into contact with you directly, but we have little or no contact with most of the people on your planet, and we're not even certain how anyone would react to the discovery of our presense here. The few people we have managed to contact have generally compartmentalised the contact-" "Christina mentioned that she had found a link. We were interrupted before we could hear what the link was. Let me make a guess, though... each of the people you took has some severe case of dissociation, right?" Scully asked. "This is why you were saying they compartmentalised the contact between you-" "As well as why Christina can't remember ten months of her life." Mulder finished. "Well... yes. As you know, the members of our race are highly telepathic, so it was easier to find those who were higher up on the scale of what your people consider disocciation, most especially Multiple Personality Disorder, though we understand Christina and several others have dropped the 'disorder' part. And for good reason. For them, it generally does not interfere with daily funtioning." "I am aware of all the latest psychological studies done." Mulder said. "That still doesn't explain exactly what you are doing or where my sister is. Even though you claim that is why I was brought here." "As I have explained to both of you, as well as Christina, there is information we have uncovered regarding Agent Scully's missing months from three years ago. Also, we are in the midst of looking for Mulder's sister-" K'Nara attempted to explain. "You still haven't answered me. Why have you brought me here, and where is my sister?" "And exactly what do you know about my abduction three years ago?!" Scully's anger was suddenly far too obvious. "I'm not sure I like all the evading of the truth. You even refused to tell Christina what was going on." "I do not understand why you are so upset with us, Agent Mulder." K'Nara said. "Why don't you try telling them the truth for once... as well as telling *me* the truth." Christina's voice rang from the other side of the room where she and Chris had just entered. "What did you do to me for those ten months, and what are your intentions towards all four of us. After all, there was no reason to bring Chris here at all." <'Was so. I didn't want to be away from you again. It's been entirely too long.'> She heard his voice in her mind, and she pulled him close for a light kiss. <<<'Gods, I knew there was a reason we loved him.'>>> Caitlin smiled. <<<'How about 'because he's a great kisser'?'>>> Lisa teased. <<<'Hey, I'm not complaining.'>>> Valerie shrugged. <<<'Even though that's not the reason we love him... but I'm not complaining either.'>>> Christina giggled. "There is a reason your friend is here as well." K'Nara was attempting to explain. This caused Christina to break the kiss she had been holding with Chris and turn to K'Nara, a testy expression on her face. "Okay, what is it? I'm still waiting to hear your explaination." Her tone of voice alone indicated that she was *not* happy. "We had remembered when you would go into some hopeless moods about the young man beside you, therefore when we saw him with you, we decided that it would be better if we brought him along as well." K'Nara looked a touch chagrined. "So you *did* miss me!" Chris' voice was murmured into her ear. <<<'I'm still not sure I like that reason...'>>> Christina mused. <<<'That's because it still sounds to me like they're avoiding something, or lying!'>>> Valerie spoke up. <<<'You would know, Valerie...'>>> Christina's voice cut in. <<<'WHat the hell are you talking about?'>>> <<<'You have been the one I have felt lying about this entire incident from the beginning. You know at least part of what these people are capable of, yet you won't tell us the truth!'>>> <<<'Maybe this is to get back at you for running off somewhere-'>>> <<<'Oh, please... that is ridiculus. You know how uneasy and uncomfortable we all get when we are either lied to or kept from the truth... remember the incidents before?'>>> Valerie gave an indifferent shrug and Christina sighed. "I'm still not sure that answer is acceptable." she said. <<<'It may not be acceptable, but I get the feeling it is the only bloody explanation we're going to get out of them.'>>> Marie said. <<<'WHy don't you just ask them if they decided to try getting us pregnant?'>>> Lisa hissed. "And to answer your question before you ask it, no, we did not attempt anything like impregnation. I have already mentioned that we are not that sort." T'Kenn stated, calmly. "We are more teachers than anything else. Sent around the galaxy to educate and subtley direct races away from their self-destructive tendancies." <<<'I'm still not certain I trust them.'>>> <<<'I *know* I don't trust them. So what else is new?'>>> "Look, as far as any one of us knows right now, we might not even be able to remember what happened during this time and will appear to anyone else as though I've been missing again... only I'll be out of whack date wise yet again. Really, T'Kenn, for claiming to be such a smart race, you really are dense." she said waspishly. "We had work-" T'Kenn began. "And that's another thing I have yet to figure out. Why the hell did you have to blank my memory if you've got nothing to hide? After all, by blanking my memory on events, you are essentially telling me that you have something to hide. Not only that, it is a pretty effective scare tactic, having me disappear from one coast in one year and having me reappear on the other coast in another year." "I was wondering when you'd get to that point." Chris said. "Christopher..." she murmured. "I think I'd prefer your support..." He looked at her, then swept her in his arms and planted a deeply passionate kiss onto her lips. <'You've got it, love.'> his voice echoed through her mind. "Ahem, did you have something to say, or..." Mulder cleared his throat and tried to interrupt. "Agent Mulder, the way my life has been lately... you really don't want to know what I wanted to say..." Christina said. Chris gave her a look and she had to laugh. "Christina... you should tell him what you wanted to say." he murmured. "Okay, well, I'm not happy with still not being told what is going on, as well as who the hell came up with the idea of blanking my memory. If those ten months are so damned important, then why the *HELL* would we agree for you to remove the memory of what happened in those ten months from my mind?!" <<<'Valerie...'>>> Christina's voice sharpened. <<<'I didn't agree to it. It just happened!'>>> Valerie protested. <<<'Right. Just like you were the one who was out when we met Agent Mulder.'>>> Caitlin said. "Now... that is complicated in and of itself." T'Kenn said. "As for 'blanking' your memory... we did not do any such thing. Apparently someone within your system found the ten months you spend with us to be traumatic." <<<'They're lying again... and hiding the truth. I can tell!'>>> Valerie said. <<<'So can I... Their answers keep changing, and I don't like it.'>>> Erin's voice was stern. It was obvious she wasn't happy. "Will you please stop lying to me! I'm not a child to be coddled and protected. If you know me *half* as well as you claim, you know damned well that hte last few times I've been lied to in order to protect my feelings, I've reacted violently." "Uhh... Christina, a word with you..." Chris tugged on her arm and she turned. "What?! Are you in the frame of mind to divulge another lie? Such as what you and Lise-" She turned on him, fire blazing in her eyes. "Oh, quiet." Chris said, abruptly. He pulled her close and kissed her soundly. It certainly shut her up. his mental voice had the tinge of tears. "That goes for you too, Julia." Chris murmured, pulling away slightly. "I meant what I said. I love you. *All* of you. I thought you told me you were going to get through this." She felt his fingers tangle in her hair, and took hold of his wrist to get him to continue the caress. "I'm trying, but the pain keeps getting thrown back in my face. ANd I don't even know if I can trust you anymore. I told you. Once a trust is broken, it is hard to get back to that level. Ever." "Now you're starting to sound like me." Mulder muttered, though loudly enough that she heard it. "ANd you know as well as I do that sex and physical acts can't solve everything. I want you to be honest and truthful with me. Right *now*, Christopher." She looked into his eyes, deciding for the moment that Mulder could be dealt with later, even if he was kind of right in his assessment. She could feel Julia forcing part of her behaviour and knew she needed to be pacified. Chris grimaced. This apparently wasn't going to be as easy as he had wanted. "Okay... the truth, though you already know it since we've talked about this over and over... Natasha dumped me. This you know about, since I was on the phone and IRC with you shortly after it happened. Lise tried to get back together with me, but I don't want anything to do with her. You went missing, and I came looking for you. Why? Because *I LOVE YOU* and only you. And because I can't imagine my life without you. I've tried that. It hurts too much. And as for your trust... I'll earn it back." he touched her face and then leaned to kiss her lightly. "I want to. All you need to do is give me the chance." "I'm working on it... I think you got Julia to shut up." she smiled at him. Her features had abruptly changed again. "I should have figured it was her... I still love her, though... like I said... I love *all* of you, always have, and I'm here." <<<'Now that is the truth... and a relief.'>>> Erin spoke for the rest of the Guardians, and they all nodded. Christina smiled at him and then turned back to the others. "The truth, T'Kenn. *Now*. Or else I am going to demand that you send me and Chris back to Earth and do whatever you want with Mulder and Scully here." "I beg your pardon?!" Scully turned to look at the pair, who were still entwined in a secure embrace. "Ok, fine... do whatever the HELL you want with Mulder... put the rest of us back on the Earth." Christina said, waspishly. "Our people have been taking others with similar traits to you and specializing in Engineering fields." K'Nara started. "Largely because people in Engineering have the best chance of saving the planet-" While K'Nara had been trying to explain, Christina had somehow managed to get her hands on Mulder's gun. SHe interrupted K'Nara by tackling her and then holding the gun to her head. "The truth... *NOW*." she said, though teh voice, tone, and carriage was clearly not hers. End Part 9.