This story is based on the characters and situations created by Cris Carter,
Ten
 Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting.  Used without permission and no
infringement is intended.  All other contents are copyrighted to the author.

   The following work is for the distribution and entertainment of EMXC 
members only. Any further distribution of this work without the author's 
consent is in violation of federal law.

GATEWAYS Part 3
96-01-06
LGraham103


Chapter 13

 "Yes, thank you,"  Scully said, putting her pen down, "Goodbye."
 After a bit of runaround, she had finally gotten the address for the phone
booth Mulder had called from.  She looked it again.  Why the hell was he in
New Hampshire? He needed her though, that much was obvious, and she threw
some clothes in a suitcase, grabbed her briefcase and her cellular phone, and
was on her way, calling ahead of her to the New Hampshire police.  
 
 "Can we stop for a while?" Mulder asked breathlessly.  Combined with the
side effects from the chloroform, and the stress of the situation, he was
worn out.  
 "We could," Sam replied; he hadn't yet broken a sweat, "But when we started
off again, we'd have to go a little faster."
 "Fine," Mulder grunted.  He sat down under a pine tree and let his head loll
back.  They had been practically jogging all morning long to keep good time.
 "Here, drink this," Sam said as he held a flask to Mulder's lips, "all of
it, too; you'll be grateful later."
 The harsh taste of scotch burnt the back of his throat as he took a forced
swallow.  He burst out coughing, and the flask was pulled away.
 "Here," Sam said laughingly, diluting the liquor with some water, "It's
clear you're not used to it. It's not going to taste the best, but this will
have to do."
 True to his word, it was awful, but Mulder drank anyway.  He hadn't had any
liquids at all since yesterday morning, and he was still parched from the
rough hike.  "Hey,"  Mulder asked between swallows and coughs, "How come you
used chloroform this time?"
 Sam smiled, "You would have preferred an injection?"  Mulder shook his head
and Sam's grin distorted into a grimace, "We can't give you any more
injections.  The Boss doesn't want us to 'impurify' you."
 Mulder blinked, "What does that mean?  What are they going to do?"
 Sam didn't answer, and after a few more swallows, Mulder pulled away.  "I
don't want to get drunk."
 "Suit yourself," Sam said, drinking some easily, "I would."
 "Sam," Mulder asked again as he was helped to his feet, "What are they going
to do?"
 Sam didn't answer, and started walking west again.  When Mulder caught up,
Sam asked if Mulder could get his arms around in front of him.
 "I don't know; I'll try."
 After several minutes of undignified positions, he finally got his hands in
front of him and stood up, wiping his forehead.  
 "Now, hit me," Sam said.
 "What?" 
 "Hit me."
 "Seven of hearts."
 Sam favored Mulder with a look a snake would cringe from.
 "Why should I hit you?"
 "So that I won't get in trouble for letting you go."
 Understanding suddenly, Mulder sighed heavily, tensed, and struck Sam hard
over the temple, using his handcuffs as brass knuckles.  He fell while Mulder
held a wrist into which one edge of the handcuffs had cut.  
 On his knees, Sam was whispering for Mulder to run east.  
 "What will happen to you?  If they find that you've let me go, what will
happen?" Mulder was asking, not wanting to leave his new-found friend to the
mercy of these murderers.
 Before Sam could answer, a sharp crack echoed through the woods.  Sam
slumped over and a new voice broke the stunned silence.  
 "He dies, but not yet."
 
Chapter 14

 The strong tranquilizer used to deck Sam would last for the rest of the day.
 Mulder was forced to help wind one of the thick ropes from Sam's pack around
his torso and a nearby pine.  Sam's wrists were strapped together with harsh
rawhide, and staked to the tree above his head.  A strip of cloth was shoved
into his mouth, and tied in with a bandanna.    
 After this new, pudgy man made sure that Sam wasn't going to go anywhere, he
wound a piece of the remaining rope around Mulder's own torso, binding his
elbows fast to his side.
 The man then rummaged through his own pack, and pulled out a revolver,
replacing the small tranquilizer gun. This, a decidedly more lethal weapon,
was pressed hard against Mulder's temple. He froze, and closed his eyes.  
 "Don't cause no problems."
 The hammer of the revolver clicked back.
 Mulder nodded, very carefully, and the barrel of the revolver shifted to the
small of his back.  The man dug the gun in, prodding Mulder along, and they
walked swiftly and silently throughout the day.
 They entered the foothills of a mountain range by midday, and Mulder found
it increasingly hard to keep his balance over the steep hills the trail wound
over.  
 While constantly worrying about his own safety, his thoughts wandered to
Scully, and if she had found his location yet, Skinner, and if he had been
notified of Mulder's abduction, and Sam, a man who barely knew him, but was
still willing to risk his life for what he knew was right.  
 Mulder only hoped that Scully would find them both before it was too late.

end part 3