From: "Carrie Leanne" Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 20:37:29 -0000 Subject: Alienus Animus By Carrie-Leanne Source: direct Title: Alienus Animus By: Carrie-Leanne Rating: NC17 for graphic sexual situations & disturbing images. Spoilers: Uh, none. Category: X File/Story/UST/Angst. A mixed bag really. Summary: Mulder and Scully investigate a serial killer with a singular ability. Mulder insists its an X file, but events take an unexpected turn when the suspect fixates on his investigators. Timeframe: This is set in the middle of summer, I'd assume during the summer hiatus. Could be just about any time before the season 7 finale, either that or Requiem never happened (I wish!) Feedback: Yes please do. I'd love it, just to know someone is reading this is enough. My addy is Majikthize@hotmail.com Authors Notes: At the end. Content Warning: This is not a happy piece of fluff. It contains some graphic and disturbing images involving suggested child abuse, sexual assault and murder. I thought some of the scenes might be a bit strong and cut them out in one rewrite, but then nothing made sense so ultimately I left them in. I'll leave it to your own judgement to decide, but please don't think I condone any of this type of activity, and please don't flame me for my over vivid imagination. Disclaimer: I wrote this for love and not money. Anything you recognize belongs to the ever talented people at 1013, especially CC and the actors that bring them life, for which I am ever thankful. Chris, please remember imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If you don't recognize it, then it probably belongs to me, though I can't be too sure about that? J Edgar Hoover Building 08.52am Scully walked into their cluttered office with a small frown creasing her brow as she noticed her partners solitary name plate gracing the door as usual. She paused for a second; pondering it and wondering why her name was still absent after all this time. "Mulder, are we ever going to...." "Scully. You're late. Come look at this." She sighed, noting the excited animation in his eyes. He pushed a newspaper cutting towards her, and she took it speed reading the article. "Does this mean we're off to Nevada then?" She asked glancing at the papers name. "I've booked our flight." "Chasing a bright light and a dead vagrant?" She asked incredulous. "More than that Scully." He admonished. "The mans body that was found in the alley was id'd and turned out to be a Ralph Jacobs..." "It doesn't say any of that here, where did you get that information?" She interrupted. He raised his eyebrows and tapped the side of his nose, continuing as if she had not interrupted. "A dangerous murderer who was sentenced to serve life in a secure mental unit." "And he escaped?" Scully questioned. "Actually no. He supposedly died almost two years ago. His death certificate is on record." He handed her another sheaf of papers containing mug shots and documentation about the man. "Obviously he didn't or he wouldn't have turned up freshly dead in an alley after all this time." She mused, examining the papers. "Ah, but here's the hook, Scully, less than twenty four hours later he disappeared from the morgue he was taken to." "It says here there was a body found in the morgue." "Not his. Someone as yet unidentified. The fire service was called to the morgue after a bright flash was reported inside. They found another man who was, shall we say, rather more freshly deceased." "Very convenient place to die. What was the cause of death?" "I asked the local authorities to hold off on the autopsy until we got there." "Gee thanks, Mulder you sure know how to show a girl a good time." She threw him a look. "Well I know how you just love digging inside human remains." His eyes twinkled with amusement. Scully sighed, refusing to rise to the bait. "Okay then, your theory please before I go crazy?" He smiled. "After all these years working with me I would have thought you'd know all the UFO hot spots by now Scully." "If I'd known there'd be a test Mulder, I'd have done my homework." "There has been a rash of sightings of strange lights near the town which started about three years ago and have become more frequent of late." "And you've been waiting for an excuse to investigate this haven't you?" He ignored her "Elgin is only five miles from a supposed nuclear testing site from the fifties. A place still excluded to the public." He reached for another stack of papers which included several photos. "And?" She gestured for him to continue, taking the papers and examining them. "Its long been rumored to be a military testing site, where UFO technology is developed. I've obtained cold war spy satellite photos clearly showing structures and runways." "And its long been rumored that you're gonna get to the point sometime today." She inserted, glancing at her watch for emphasis. He glared at her. "Actually I don't have a theory per se but my instincts tell me its more than just a coincidence. And the fact that the prison Jacobs was held in when he 'died' is only fifteen miles on the outer borders of the county makes it kinda interesting doesn't it?" She nodded thoughtfully, conceding he did have a point. He stood and moved around the desk before continuing. "So?" He questioned her silently. She sucked in a breath. "Well I would suggest that Ralph Jacobs obviously did not die in prison as his death certificate implies." Mulder sat staring at her and nodding encouragement for her to continue. "Either someone made a mistake and, or he escaped and it was covered up." "And what happened to his body? I mean, one minute it was chilling nicely then it was gone?" He asked. "Maybe he wasn't really dead but can induce a near death like trance. Enough to convince someone at a casual glance. Maybe that was how he escaped from prison in the first place." Her eyes lit up as the theory formed rapidly in her head. "There are several well documented precedents..." "You want me to list the flaws in your theory?" He interrupted. She folded her arms in front of her and leaned back against the desk, frowning at him and biting her lip. It was going to be a very long day. "First flaw. If he had already escaped from incarceration why would he play dead again in an alley just to get discovered, positively id'd just so he can vanish again?" "Maybe he can't control it..." Mulder held up a silencing hand. "Second flaw. What was the bright flash?" "Freak weather? Ball lightning?" She threw her hands out, in exasperation. "I expected better science from you, Scully. That sounds like the kind of thing I'd suggest. Maybe we should have a trial separation to get you back on the straight and skeptic." She pulled a face at him, ignoring his jibe. "Have you finished dissecting my theory?" "No. Finally Where did the second mans body come from?" She could see he was enjoying this. "Well maybe he was already there all along. Or maybe he was the body in the alley and someone made a mistake id'ing him." Mulder grinned at her. "Not overlooked no. There was only one other resident in the morgue that night. And Jacobs was positively id'd through his fingerprints. The second body is totally different in build and appearance, so a mistake is extremely unlikely." "Mulder this place is in the middle of nowhere, I bet the don't even have access to anything more high tech than a fingerprint kit..." "That's rather judgmental of you Scully, in these enlightened days, you'd assume the good townsfolk of Elgin would make a mistake?" She sagged, giving in. "Okay, okay, so I never said I had all the answers, but at least its something to work on. What was your theory again Mulder? Oh yeah you don't have one do you?" She pulled a face at him, enjoying herself at his expense. "We'll see Scully." Mulder grinned and turned back to his paperwork. Elgin Police Station Elgin, Nevada 18.17pm Mulder held the swing door open for his partner, guiding her through before him as they walked into the one room station. The office was quiet except for a fitysomething sheriff who sat behind an old Formica topped desk with his feet propped up on the edge. Upon seeing the two well dressed strangers he immediately rose to greet them. "How can I help you sir, ma'am?" he asked puffing himself out to emphasize his importance. "Sir. I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder, this is my partner Dana Scully." Mulder said, holding out a hand which the sheriff took and pumped vigorously. The older man turned to Scully and repeated the gesture "If I'd known the FBI had such attractive young ladies for agents I might have made a different career choice." He chuckled, his comments doing nothing to ingratiate himself to Scully. "John Watson, sheriff in these parts. I'm not exactly sure what it is you want with this business and, what it is that I can do for you?" Mulder turned on his charm. "We believe that the body you found in the morgue may have been murdered by an escaped serial killer. My partner here has a theory that the man who was found in the alley was not actually dead, but has some unique abilities to appear as such, and may be our suspect. Really all we need tonight is access to your notes. We'll review these first and talk to some people and get started on the autopsy tomorrow." Scully shot Mulder an astonished look, not sure whether he was mocking her or not. "Sure." The sheriff muttered as he walked to an overstuffed filing cabinet behind them. "You mentioned you'll be assisting in the autopsy Agent Mulder?" He mumbled into the files. "Actually I will." Scully interjected. The sheriff looked up at her in mild surprise, scrutinizing her with his eyes. His gaze dropped from her face to hands which were folded across her chest, noticing, or rather, not noticing a wedding ring. His gaze rose to Mulder's face questioning him in some secret male code that made Scully feel like squirming. "Well Miss. I hope you don't get queasy at the sight of blood. Our guest is a bit gory." He chuckled and turned back to the filing cabinet. Scully glanced up at Mulder and saw amusement in his eyes and bristled. "I can assure you I have performed hundreds of autopsies, with and without gore. I'm sure the sight of your guest." She paused emphasizing the word. "Will cause me no more queasiness than the sight of you." She glanced again at her partner and noted with satisfaction that his grin widened as he suppressed a laugh. He tipped his head towards her in acknowledgement of her subtle insult. The sheriff, who appeared not to have noticed, pulled out a file from the drawer and turned again towards them. "Here it is. All we have is here. If you want any more information my home number is here, though I'd appreciate if you didn't phone after 8pm, as my wife tend to get a little irritated when I start bringing work home with me." He flashed a beaming smile at them that told them it was time to leave. "Thank you sir. We'll return this in the morning....But not too early if its okay with you as my partner here needs to get plenty of beauty sleep." The sheriff totally missed Mulder's thinly disguised mimicking of his previous request "I'm sure she's just lovely without it." The sheriff eyes took in Scully's small frame and again went to Mulder, smiling widely in appreciation. She was beginning to feel like a prize cow being sized up for auction. "Won't be anyone around 'til after nine anyhow. I'll give Frank a call and tell him to get the body ready for your little lady for the morning." "Thank you." Scully added tersely, grabbing the file from Mulder she strode through the door so fast for once Mulder was having a job keeping up with her. Once they were outside Scully tossed the keys to their rental sedan at him. "Here, you better drive, this little lady is likely to wrap us round a tree if I get behind the wheel right now." She spat, still annoyed at him for encouraging the sheriffs blatant sexism. Mulder chuckled. "What's with you? We've dealt with worse than him before." She pulled open the car door and slid in. "He's a sexist bigot and I have a feeling his attitude is going to sum up this entire town. This better get wrapped up quickly, Mulder, or I'm back to D.C and you can investigate on your own." "Just because he assumed I was the pathologist?" "No, because he assumed I was your... That we..." her throat dried up as she found it difficult to voice the word that had sprung to her mind. Mulder turned towards her, one eyebrow raised in mocking of her own familiar gesture "Your?... We?" He rolled his hand at the wrist signaling her to continue. She looked up at him, momentarily hating him for enjoying her moment of discomfort. "I saw the look he gave you." (And I saw the one you gave him back) she thought, color rising uncomfortably to her cheeks. Mulder took a good look at his partner and bit back the innuendo that had been poised on his tongue. Now was definitely time to change the subject. "Okay. We'll review the case file tonight, get the autopsy done tomorrow and if we don't turn up anything useful we'll head back to DC, huh?" Scully sighed, fanning herself with a map. "Yeah." Mulder glanced at her, always in tune to her surface feelings at least he turned the air conditioning up full as he pulled the car onto the main road "You need to cool down." "Yeah. It's too damn hot out here." "That's not what I meant." "I know." Elgin Morgue 9.17am It was turning out to be another scorching hot day. Scully felt listless through heat and lack of sleep. They had sat up until well past one am reviewing the case notes, both unable to sleep in the heat, despite the temperamental air conditioning in the motel. Eventually exhaustion had overcome her and she had fallen asleep lying across the end of the bed in her room. Mulder had fared not much better, having dropped off in the chair. They both woke at 5am in their crumpled sweaty clothes, stiff and testy. And now she stood outside the morgue while her partner was off doing the arguably more favorable task of interviewing witnesses and trying to find out what had happened on the night Jacobs turned up. The morgue really was more like a large house. The lower floor housed the medical bay, a funeral parlor and chapel of rest. The upper floor was the home of Frank Billings who was the towns local medical examiner and funeral director all rolled into one. From the outside, a passer by would not have known about the less than animated residents of the lower floor. There was a white picket fence and a sand colored mail box out front. And the front door was a bright signal red, that Scully could imagine decorated at Yuletide with a cheerful green wreath of holly and white berried mistletoe, as snow fell in blankets around. Not that it ever snowed in this pit of hell, she thought, entering the building. It was dark and blessedly cool inside, and for once she thought being inside a chilly morgue was a better place to be than under the heated glare of the sun. She noticed, and was immediately noticed by an elderly balding man in a mid brown suit. He smiled and approached her. "You must be Miss, er Agent Scully. I'm Frank Billings, I'll be assisting you today." he held out a hand and she took it. "Mr. Billings, has there been any identification of the body yet?" "Please call me Frank. No. We've tried all known records. This man simply did not exist before he turned up here. It's mighty strange I can tell you." "Were you in residence when he was found?" "Yeah, I was asleep in my bed. I was pretty surprised to be woken up my all that commotion and even more surprised to find our John Doe lying there like that." "You didn't see or hear anything?" Scully asked. "Nope. Not a darn thing. The most exciting thing to happen in this town for near on fifty years and I sleep right through it, would you believe." He smiled a chagrined grin which Scully returned with her own. "Mr. Billings shall we get to the bottom of this then?" He looked at her. "If you mean start the autopsy sure, though I think the cause of death is pretty obvious." She frowned at him. "What do you mean?" "Haven't you read the police report?" "My partner read it to me late last night, but it just said cause of death is unknown pending autopsy." She thought for a moment. "What didn't he tell me?" she asked with warning in her voice. Frank Billings refused to be drawn. "Lets just get this done and you can make your own mind up." Scully nodded and they entered the cramped autopsy bay where the cadaver awaited. While Scully conducted a very thorough autopsy of the John Doe, Mulder was not having an easy time with the sheriff and his deputy. He'd got about ten minutes into questioning a few anomalies in their less than complete police report when he realized Scully's assumptions of this man the day before had been spot on. In fact she was being kind. The sheriff greeted Mulder with a wide grin. "You look tired Agent Mulder, did you get much sleep?" "Not too much, thanks." Any the lovely Agent Scully? I see she's not here. Did she get plenty of sleep too?" Mulder stared at the sheriff, who was chuckling at his deputy, obviously having shared his lewd observations with him. No we stayed up all night fucking like rabbits, he felt like saying, but merely smiled grimly and replied. "I have no idea, you'd have to ask her." Having stood all he could from them, he set off in search of the kids who had found the body of Ralph Jacobs. The sheriff had assured him that although both of them had been in trouble of some kind in the past, they were basically decent enough young men and had nothing to do with the murder (as he put it). He left deciding to form his own opinions on that and found the two of them at the local diner where he and Scully had eaten the previous evening. One of them he recognized as their server from last night. The other was hanging around, seemingly waiting for his friend to finish his shift. He approached the lanky blonde haired young man leaning with a look of extreme boredom against the counter. Mulder imagined Langly had probably once looked like this when he was about fifteen or so. "I'm looking for Joseph Wickens or Matthew Graham?" He questioned, suspecting from his description that he was addressing Matthew "Yeah, I'm Matt, and that's Joe over there. Who wants to know?" He added suddenly suspicious of the tall well dressed stranger addressing him. "Special Agent Fox Mulder." Mulder stated flashing his badge and enjoying the moment of panic that crossed the young mans face as he tried to work out which of his many petty offences was a federal one. "I'm investigating the body that you found in the alley behind South Street on the 10th. I know you've spoken to the locals but I'd appreciate any help you could offer?" He watched with mild amusement as the youth sagged slightly realizing he was not about to be carted off to the jail house. Making a mental note to look into his supposedly harmless past, Mulder continued. "Would you mind if I asked you friend to join us?" "Sure, Joe, cm'over here a bit. There's a Fed wants to talk about that stiff we found." He called across the diner, and about twenty pairs of eyes swiveled in his direction, taking in Mulder who stood out like a sore thumb in his suit. Joe, whose dark greasy hair hung too far over his eyes in an attempt to disguise the fact that they were too pretty for a boy, sauntered over. "Okay, but my shift finishes in fifteen minutes, can it wait till then. My boss'll dock my pay otherwise?" "Can I get coffee while I wait?" Mulder smiled, immediately putting Joe at ease. "Coming right up." He said and poured a large mug for Mulder, who took it and sat near a window overlooking the street. He sat and watched the world pass by, unaware that he himself was being observed. A man three tables behind had watched Mulder's arrival with interest, had listened closely to his conversation with the youths. He was an uninteresting man, dressed in a plaid shirt, unbuttoned over the top of a white vest and combats. A baseball cap was pulled down hard over his eyes, shielding his face from the glaring sun through the window. Shielding also his face from possible identification, even though only three people in the diner might have been able to recognize him and the supposedly late Ralph Jacobs. Jacobs studied Mulder for some time as he questioned the two youths about the night they found his body. He instantly recognized his suited attire and self assured confidence for that as FBI. A few moments observation of his questioning style was all it took to realize the G man was a profiler, a good one at that. Jacobs smiled grimly; wondering what his profiling skills would make of his own fucked up head. He was mildly amused at some of the questions the man asked, they seemed a bit off the wall and for possibly the first time in his life Jacobs found himself surprised at how close to the unbelievable truth this man was veering. His short attention span soon became bored with its prey and he allowed his gaze to wander across outside, picking out the dancing motes of dust and following them in the heated air. A small red-haired woman was moving purposefully across the car park towards the diner, her expression grim. It took no genius to connect her to the G man inside, her being similarly attired as he. He glanced back at the man who had concluded his interviews and, noticing the woman approaching, begun to rise from his coffee. Scully pushed open the door to the diner, picking Mulder out and immediately heading for him. "Hey Scully, what d'ya find?" "Mulder why have I just wasted a whole morning holed away in some cramped closet of an excuse for an autopsy bay with Mr. Medic-From-The-Sticks just to find the body I've to determine the cause of death for obviously died from having his jugular practically severed..." She stopped and stared unforgiving at her partner. "Really? What with?" Mulder feigned astonishment. "Mulder it was in the police report for Christ's sake, why did you not see fit to avail me of this information first?" "If I had told you, you would only refuse to examine him and we need to find out if there was anything else" "Like what?" "What did you find?" He countered. She sighed, refusing to allow her ire to be baited. "Besides the extensive and fatal neck wound you mean?" Mulder nodded. "Well, there were signs that he fought against his attacker, but that's not exactly unexpected. I've sent some work to the lab in DC and will know more when it comes back." Mulder waited, sensing there was something more. "And there is evidence that he was subjected to an intense magnetic field just prior to his death." "Yeah?" Mulder was pretending to be surprised again and Scully knew it. "The polar alignment of the cells in his body seems skewed, almost as if he'd been bombarded with powerful magnetic forces. Of course the body has had a few days and the polar alignment will revert back to normal even in dead cells, but this guy definitely had something done to him." "And what would the effect of that have been on his body when he was alive?" Mulder questioned. "Well, nothing. It would have been no more harmful than having an MRI scan. Mulder if you're looking for a bizarre cause of death, think again. This man died from blood loss from a severe neck wound." "What could have caused these magnetic anomalies?" She shrugged. "Apart from an actual MRI? Nothing that I know of. If he really did work at the base, as you seem to think, he may have picked up some residual effects from whatever experiments they may be carrying out there." Mulder nodded; slightly irked that the John Doe's autopsy seemed to ask more questions than it answered. They had run his fingerprints and stats through the FBI database and turned up nothing. He held out a hand indicating towards the door and she turned and exited the diner, Mulder following behind. Jacobs watched them leave with interest. The man intrigued him, with his tall well toned frame and sharp intellect. Everything Jacobs had desired to be throughout his life. And the woman reminded him, as all women tended to, of his first kill. Her name was Karin and she was almost fifteen when he was not quite turned seventeen and she was his sister. At the age of three, Ralph had watched as his mother died at the hands of his father, beaten and abused and finally burnt in a staged house fire to hide the evidence. Fire was always his fathers fascination. A way of punishing Ralph; holding his arms or torso over naked flames until the skin puckered in blisters. His sister however fared far worse. He endured years of watching, hidden in the shadows as his father had abused her, taking her as he held her throat, barely allowing her to breath. Ralph watched, slowly growing to understand the mans actions, finding it horrifying and yet exciting to watch. The older he grew, the more his body began to respond to that excitement. One night, they discovered him watching them. Their father beat him senseless, and when he came round he found Karin sobbing over him. She confessed, sobbing out all that their father had done over the years, as Ralph soothed her. As she poured her young trusting heart out to him he lashed out, striking her hard. She was down, unconscious with blood trickling from the wound in her head. He stared at her still form; for a long moment undecided before stripping her, gagging and binding her with her own clothes as he positioned himself above her, waiting for her to waken before assuming their fathers normal role. When she did open her eyes, he saw the terror within them as he slowly squeezed her throat, cutting off her air as he entered her and used her body until he reached his climax. It was his first ever sexual experience with another person, and set the mold for all that was to follow. For a brief moment he saw his sisters beautiful image superimposed over that of the redhead, but it was the man who had him intrigued. He stood and dropped a tip onto the table as he left the diner to follow them, watching with interest as they pulled out of the parking bay in their rental sedan. He thought about how unfair life had been to him. He thought of the scars and burns that covered his body, and how years in prison had worn down his youth. He thought about the suave G man and his woman and an idea formed in him. With his freedom and his new skills there was no need to remain here in this impotent wasted body. He could be anyone he wanted with a life like the G mans. He could have anyone he wanted. Elgin Court Motel 9.32pm It was going to be another hot still night. They had eaten early, neither showing much of an appetite in the heat. Mulder had gone for a walk, but Scully had been too listless and had taken a cool shower followed by an evening in front of her laptop typing up notes on the case. She had spent about fifteen minutes trying to type, before giving up, pushing the laptop from her and picking up the remote to flick through the channels, switching the lights off in a vain attempt to help the ineffectual air conditioning cool the air. Outside, Mulder returned from his stroll. Having previously changed into jeans and a tee-shirt, he was now slick with sweat from the muggy heat. Scrabbling in his pocket for the key to his room, he glanced across to Scully's window, noting the dim glow of the TV flickering through the thin curtains. Some slight movement caught the corner of his eye. He flicked his keen gaze quickly towards the source, squinting to make out a shape in the dark. He strolled towards where he thought he had seen it, edging closer to the blackness where the trees lined the boundary of the motel. He moved beyond the light into the blackness, allowing his vision a moment to adjust he looked around searching for anything out of place. After a moment when nothing could be seen, he shrugged and strolled back. He was passing Scully's room when he felt a sudden and irrational need to check she was okay. Always prepared to trust his instincts where she was concerned he paused and knocked softly on her door "Scully?" A moments pause as he held his breath, waiting for her reply. When none came his apprehension grew. "Scully?" He knocked again, and called out louder, this time hearing movement from inside. She opened the door "What?" She looked up at Mulder stifling a yawn. He gazed down at her and realized she had been asleep. "I'm sorry Scully did I wake you?" She shook her head, stepping aside to admit him to the room. "I was just dozing, it's too hot to sleep properly." "Yeah I know what you mean." He glanced down at his sweat soaked tee-shirt and then up again at her, noticing for the first time she was dressed in pale blue cotton pajamas. Suddenly uncomfortable in her presence he shuffled his feet lowering his gaze from her. Immediately picking up on his discomfort and misunderstanding it "What is it?" She asked, touching his arm and sending a tiny shock through his system. He raised his gaze to hers again. A flicker in her blue eyes hinted at something he could not quite name. For a moment crazy thoughts about what he'd really like to be doing on this hot sweaty summer night sleeted through his brain, but just as quickly he chased the thoughts away. "I just wanted to check in with you before bed. Make sure you didn't need anything?" She caught the slight crack in his voice, and almost, caught his train of thought. Half tempted to find a reason to ask him to stay, but afraid to step over their carefully drawn professional line, stoical Scully won out and she replied recognizing the missed opportunity for what it was. "No, thank you. Night Mulder." She lowered her gaze from his; afraid that continuing the connection would be her undoing. "Night Scully." He whispered softly and turned towards his own room, thinking about the wonders of the cold shower and how badly he needed one at this moment. Mulder's Room 7.23am The shrill ring of his cell phone woke Mulder from his restless slumber. He reached for it, knocking it to the floor. "Damn." He cursed and his groping hand eventually found the offending item under the bed. Punching the button he held the phone to his ear without even checking the display to see who was calling him "Mulder." Skinners voice came through the other end, slightly distant. "Agent Mulder, where the hell are you and Agent Scully?" He sounded just a little madder than usual. "Nevada sir. Sir?" "Yeah, so I hear. Get your asses off whatever case you're on and back here now!" Mulder sat up, fully awake now "Sir? Has something happened?" "Not yet Agent, but unless you get drop whatever it is that's got some friends of ours in the DOD so interested something is definitely gonna happen and it won't be pleasant." "What!" Mulder stood, frantically trying to throw off his sleep wear, and pull fresh clothes out of the closet without cutting the connection. "You and Agent Scully are to cease investigating the death of the escaped convict Ralph Jacobs. It is not in your jurisdiction and if you disobey these orders you will be censured." He cut the connection before Mulder could reply, but Mulder had already got the inflection in Skinners voice and knew when his hands were tied. A part of him actually felt sorry for his boss, who tried to hard to help them uncover the truth but had his hands tied most of the time. At least he, Mulder, had the ability to say he didn't give a damn what the powers that be thought. Throwing on the first items of clothes he could find he opened the door to his room, intending to go straight to Scully with the new development, and was surprised to see her standing at his door, one arm raised ready to knock. The both started to speak at once. "Mulder I've just had..." "Scully, Skinner's pulling...." The both paused, eyes locking and he nodded to her to continue. "I've just had a call from the ME. He said the John Doe's body has just been taken away. By an authority who identified themselves as agents with the Biohazards Control Agency." "I've never heard of it Scully." "No, that would be because there is no such agency Mulder." She looked at him in askance. "Skinner called just now. We've been told to, and I quote 'Get out asses off the case and back to DC'. Says some guys from DOD are very interested in making sure we don't pursue this case." "What?" "Yeah, said we'd be censured if we continue to investigate. Seemed to imply that our John Doe is actually Ralph Jacobs even though we both know he isn't..." "What the hell is going on Mulder?" He grimaced. "Hell if I know, but I intend to find out." "Mulder." She placed a hand on his arm, gripping it with concern. ""We can't put ourselves on the line. We're too close to the edge after our last..." "Yeah well, you know, I just got to thinking these bastards have been playing with us for too long now. It's about time we started making up our own rules don'tcha think?" She could tell he was mad, and she knew there was no reasoning with him when he was like this. "Look Mulder, we've done all we can here anyway, we still have the lab results in DC, and we can dig a little when we get back, see if we can slip under their radar, whoever they are?" He looked thoughtful for a moment, but her calming voice of reason steadied him as usual. Eventually he nodded and silently turned from her steady gaze. The Basement Office 18:52pm The had been back in DC three days and no new evidence had turned up. The lab tests Scully had ordered had 'mysteriously' gone missing before they even got to the lab. Mulder had spent the last two days acting like a complete jerk. He was always like that for a while when they lost a lead on something he thought was important. He had basically spent whole time since reading and re-reading Jacobs case profile, occasionally calling out some interesting fact to Scully as he read. After two days of "Hey Scully, listen to this..." about the same damn things she was ready to pull her weapon on him. Jacobs turned out to be a very twisted individual. He had been directly linked to a series of murders on women, and young girls across the western states in the early eighties. The motive appeared to be sexual and he seemed to have no preference of age, color or build. Jacobs final crime that lead to his arrest occurred at a farm where he had found casual labor. He raped the mother and two young daughters then strangled them. In an attempt to cover up his crime he used the fathers shotgun on the man, his son and son-in-law, finally suffocating the youngest member of the family, a baby no more than three months old. Only the third, adult daughter and mother of the child survived his savage attack, and it was only because of this that he was caught and convicted. The savagery of his crimes made even Mulder feel sick. He refrained from sharing some of the more disturbing details with Scully, who thankfully had shown little interest in them, preferring instead to concentrate her investigation on the anomalous magnetic alignment she had found in the corpse. Jacobs problems seemed to stem from a time in his childhood when his mother died in a fire, and later his sister was raped and murdered by his father, in a manner strangely similar to the way Jacobs went on to kill. After his capture, Jacobs admitted that his father had been abusive, often beating and burning him. This had left him with physical and mental scars. Mulder grimaced as he read Jacobs displayed a morbid fear of fire, that he himself identified with. Mulder found himself drawing up his own profile of the man, checking it against the information in the file to see how accurate his own observations had been. He became fascinated and horrified with the man at the same time, wondering what nightmares his early life held that would drive him to commit the terrible crimes that he had. He pulled back the FBI's files on him and drew himself to the attention of AD's office resulting in another meeting with Skinner. "This has come down from people so far up the chain of command you can't even see the soles of their shoes let alone kiss their asses!" Skinner had ranted. "I cannot sanction your continued interference in this matter, and I cannot protect you if they find out you are continuing to investigate this." Scully had immediately recognized it as an attempt by Skinner to protect them from far worse than just professional censure and had argued the point with Mulder for most of the afternoon, finally convincing him that whatever secrets they have to stay hidden until things cooled down "Aren't you even interested in what I think." Mulder had countered. "Always Mulder, but I prefer to hear your theories while I still have a job and can afford to pay for the roof over my head thank you." "Okay." He scooted back, landing his ass against the edge of the desk. "I think Jacobs was busted out and his death certificate falsified." "I agree. But for the purpose of?" She motioned for him to continue. "Now this I am not totally clear on, but I do think I know what actually happened, whether that was what was intended or not." She cast him a raised eyebrow glance. "Somehow Jacobs has the ability to transfer his consciousness into another living being. Now I don't know if this is some natural talent or not, but it would explain why they picked him instead of letting him rot." He paused noticing Scully smirking at him. "Mulder, I think you need a holiday, that theory sounds so far whacked out even The Lone Gunmen wouldn't print it." He pointedly ignored her. "No. That man in the morgue, I think he worked at the base, which was conducting this experiment or whatever the hell it is they are doing. I think he was Jacobs, at least I think Jacobs had taken him over. He came in search of his own body and transferred back into himself, killing the agent to prevent himself from being recaptured." "Mulder there is absolutely no scientific basis for what you are suggesting. A person cannot transfer their consciousness into anyone else." "Why not Scully. After all your Catholic faith does not preclude the belief in the soul which exists independent of the corporeal body after death." She cocked her head, not taking him at all seriously. "I don't recall any passages in the bible that suggest they are interchangeable though." "Well, debates about religious interpretation aside, what about that magnetic field our JD was subjected to? She shrugged. "Mulder there are numerous possible and perfectly explainable reasons for that..." "Name one?" "If he was indeed being held at the base it could well be some residual affect from some experimental..." "Let me get this straight. You are willing to accept the JD came from a secret military base that is supposed to be closed down. You accept that there was sinister experiments being carried out, and you even accept the possibility that our government would use a highly dangerous and out and out insane murderer to experiment with. But you cannot accept soul transference." "Got it in one Mulder." He nodded thoughtfully. "And there's nothing I can say or do to persuade you otherwise? "Have you ever managed that yet?" He leaned backwards, folding his arms across his chest, accepting the finality of her statement. "You know it's a good job we've been pulled off this case or else I might have to prove you wrong again." "Yeah, well some you win, some you lose." She mused. Mulder merely nodded and Scully was pleased to see he seemed willing to let it go. A few years ago he would most certainly pursued the case relentlessly, putting their jobs and possibly their lives on the line. In the last year she had sensed a change in him. He was more relaxed, ready the let go of his obsessions and live a little. She wondered what other improvements might come with this change in him. "Anyway, Its getting late and I have errands to run so I'll see you in the morning. You coming?" He looked up from the file he had been stuck in. "In a while, I wanna finish this off first." "Okay, don't stay too late. Night Mulder." "Yeah, night Scully." He flashed her a brief smile and turned back to the file in front of him, within seconds engrossed in his work. Scully's Apartment 20.04 pm Scully almost lost it as she came through the door, but with expert skill and balancing, she managed to keep all the bags upright until she reached the kitchen table. Quickly and ruthlessly shoving her groceries away in their cupboards she set the coffee machine going and strolled through her living room and into the bedroom, stripping her work suit before stepping under the shower to freshen up. Stepping out of the shower ten minutes later she briskly dried herself and wrapped a robe around herself before walking through to the kitchen to pour the coffee she could smell was ready. Wait a minute She missed a beat at the entrance to her kitchen. Something caught her eye in her living room. Smoothly she carried on into to kitchen as if nothing had happened, grabbing a knife from the drawer before re-entering her living area. Sure enough something had caught her eye all right. There was a man. He was sitting on her couch with his back to her. Her throat dry, she wondered for a moment if she could retrieve her weapon from the bedroom before he noticed she had noticed him, but she nixed the idea as he inclined his head and spoke. "At last, we meet." He turned and smiled at her, a crooked smile betraying his yellowing and missing teeth. "Don't move! I'm and FBI agent and I am trained to use this to defend myself if necessary." She raised the knife in a defensive pose, feeling slightly foolish and frightened at the same time. He raised his hand, "Please Miss Scully, there really is no need for hostility. I don't want to hurt you, I just want to explain." She simply looked at him, unaware that her expression betrayed her fear. "My name is Ralph Jacobs." Her eyes opened wider in familiarity at the mention of his name. Not only was there a strange man in her apartment, but it turned out to be a psychotic killer. For a brief hysterical moment she wondered why they couldn't pick Mulder's apartment to stalk for a change. Strangely, knowing who she was confronted by seemed to abate her fear. He held out his hands in an open gesture. "I don't intend to kill you Dana. May I call you Dana?" Scully nodded mutely, understanding that she needed to yield a measure of control to him to escape this situation. "I can see you don't believe me?" She nodded, agreeing with him again. "Let me offer you something to earn your trust." He bent to the couch and picked up her cellphone and gun. She looked at them, remembering that she had left both articles in the bedroom. "Here, take this" He slid the phone across the floor towards her but kept the weapon held firmly in his hand. She glanced at the phone, then bent to pick it up, not taking her eyes from him for a moment. "What do you want?" She ventured. He laughed at that. "That my dear Dana is a very good question. Firstly I want you to call that partner of yours and get him over here. I don't care what excuse you use, just don't arouse his suspicions." Scully nodded, and quickly hit the speed dial on the phone. It was answered after a couple of rings with his customary. "Mulder." "Mulder, can you come over. Right away?" "Scully? Is everything OK?" "Yeah." Mulder's intuition didn't let him down. "No it isn't is it?" "I just had some thoughts about the uh, Skinner case and wanted to thrash them out a bit" She knew Mulder was smart enough to figure it out. "Scully. Are you in immediate danger?" She eyed her gun, now steadily aimed at her and decided how to answer. "No." "You can't talk can you? Someone's there?" His voice rose a pitch in fear for his partner. "Yeah." She whispered breathily into the phone, then added. "I had some ideas about our suspect..." Jacobs made a cutting motion against his throat indicating she should hang up. "We'll talk more when you get here." "Scully I'm on my way." She hit the disconnect and slid the phone into the pocket of her robe. Noticing Jacobs had begun to laugh. At first it was a silent chuckle, but soon degenerated into full blown breath stealing whoops. Scully stared in fascination at his maniacal display. Slowly he began to calm down "Oh Dana Dana Dana." he wiped tears from his eyes. "You can't even see it can you?" She frowned at him, unsure as to whether he wanted a discussion or if he was talking to himself. Mulder leapt into his car and sped to Scully's as fast as he could. He got no more than a mile when he hit the tail end of a jam caused by a late evening accident. He cursed the inefficient police at the scene, uselessly refusing to direct traffic around it, and actually bringing the entire block to a standstill. Glancing at his watch, patience never being one of his virtues he stepped from the car and approached the attending officer with his badge in hand. "Sir, if I may..." "Thanks but we I don't think we need the FBI, we can handle a car crash." He was hostile for a cop. "Thanks but I wasn't offering it. I need to get through this I'm in kind of a hurry, can you speed things up a bit, maybe direct some of them traffic round the back of..." The cop, exasperated by the nosy FBI agent trying to tell him his job cut in. "Listen Pal, we have a fatality here, and we need to measure up to ascertain the cause..." Mulder pulled himself upright to his full imposing 6' 1" and raised his voice. "And if I don't get through this crowd and to my partner now, we might just have another fatality to deal with tonight, and God won't be able to help you if we do!" He practically snarled at the cop, who backed away slightly under his intense gaze. Sensing his meaning he motioned to his car. "Look buddy, if your partners in trouble take my car, just don't..." Mulder was gone, inside the police car, lights still blazing and out of the affray before he'd even had time to realize he'd left the engine of his own car running and car door wide open. Jacobs was starting to get itchy. He'd asked her how long it would take Mulder to get there and she'd told him. Mulder had exceeded that time limit by at least ten minutes now, and she could see Jacobs glancing at the clock nervously. It was starting to worry her. He was unhinged and she still wasn't sure of his motives. "He better not have called the cops on the way." "No Ralph, he wouldn't do that." "Hah, I know. He's been studying me hasn't he?" Scully nodded an affirmative slowly. Mulder had indeed been researching the man who stood before her. Some of what he'd told her was not at all pleasant. Not for the first time she wished she possessed Mulder's profiling skills. "You have complete faith in him don't you?" Jacobs asked, questioning eerily close to her thoughts. "He's my partner." Jacobs grinned at that. "Yeah well, I'm sure he is Dana." She instantly understood his inflection but refused to acknowledge it. "WHERE IS HE?" Scully stepped back at his sudden violent outburst. "He's he's coming." She felt fear rising in her leaving an ugly taste in her mouth. Jacobs stared wildly at her. "He better be." His voice dripped acid and for once she recognized him as truly evil. Curiosity getting the better of her, and her desire to steer his thoughts away from Mulder's tardiness. "What do you want with us?" She asked, fear causing timbre in her voice. Jacobs grinned. "With him or you?" "What's the difference?" She asked. He laughed "Hah! There's a big difference." He paused but Scully sensed he had more to say. "With him, I want his life. With you? Well I think that's obvious." His gaze roamed over her and she recoiled from his expression. Before any further conversation could take place Scully noticed a blue red flash from outside the window, Jacobs twisted, momentarily distracted and Scully seized the opportunity. "Bitch!" He shouted as she bolted for the door. He caught her easily before she had even reached the latch. "He called the cops!" She backed away but he hit her, hard around the head witht the butt of her own gun. Blood oozed from a stinging cut and she fell, dazed. Jacobs features curled into an ugly snarl. "You've ruined my plans you bitch!" He hissed. While Scully was still dazed, he dragged her by her hair into the bedroom, throwing her against the floor and shoving her gun into her face. He thought fast. His plans had gone to hell. It was too late to take Mulder now but maybe he could get him another way. And it might be just as much fun. Quick as a flash Jacobs concentrated in the way he had learnt. The room was momentarily filled with a bright blue white glow and Jacobs body slumped partially on Dana Scully's still stunned form. Jacobs peered out of blue eyes at the ceiling, catching his own still form partially covering the new body he had taken over. He heard a soft clicking noise as a key was inserted into a lock and thought quickly. Pushing his body under the bed, he stood, adjusting the robes on this new body and smoothing its hairs fiery glow. Taking only a moment to stare fascinated in the mirror at his new form he felt the original owner of this bodies mind pressing against his. He could sense her confusion. Stupid bitch didn't have clue what was happening to her. He strode out of the bedroom, in time to see Fox Mulder enter the apartment, gun drawn. "Don't shoot." Jacobs said, his voice coming out as Scully's Mulder's eyes darted around the room for the briefest of moments, before settling on his partner in a question. Deciding that he was going to need some explanation Jacobs wove his lie. "He's gone." "Who?" Mulder stared at Scully "It was just an intruder." He was breaking in when I got home. I pulled my gun; he pulled one of his own. We had a bit of a stand-off, then the police car scared him off." Mulder looked at Scully, not quite able to connect the events she had described with her phone call and what he had, or hadn't seen as he arrived. "I didn't see anyone leaving?" Scully shrugged. "Well he's gone, I don't care where." "You sure he didn't hurt you?" Mulder questioned, afraid the answer might be affirmative. "No, Mulder. Listen I'm a bit freaked out by this. I don't wanna impose but I was wondering if you could stay a while?" She looked at him imploringly. Mulder would never be able to resist an offer from Scully like that and agreed immediately. "But shouldn't we report this to the police?" "No point." She answered. "He didn't take anything and they have better things to do than chase prowlers..." "What if his intention had been - other than burglary?" Mulder cut in. She shook her head. "It wasn't. I, I left my kitchen window slightly open and I noticed it had been forced, that's how he got in. It was just some opportunistic street kid out to make easy money. He was more scared of me when I pulled my weapon than I was of him." She chuckled slightly, smiling at Mulder enough to reassure him. Jacobs began to form a new plan. He really wanted to be this man, but somehow had got stuck inside the woman. Knowing he could not direct transfer from her, he knew he had to get Mulder into the bedroom and back into his own body. But first he was going to have a little fun with them, as well as ensure her continued compliance. Curiosity overcame him as he wondered what all his victims felt as he was doing them, ending their pathetic little lives. Scully was confused. One moment she had been struggling with Jacobs in her bedroom, then there had been a moment or twos disorientation and she was starting at herself in the mirror, but it felt wrong. He mind felt thick, like treacle, her limbs heavy, her senses dulled as if everything was being played underwater. But she could hear and see everything perfectly well. She could hear her own voice talking to Mulder, but could not remember constructing the sentences in her own brain. Then there was the other mind. A mind that seemed dark and twisted and sat atop of hers suppressing its mere thoughts. Briefly she wondered if she was experiencing some kind of multiple personality disorder, and the other mind told her to believe whatever made her feel comfortable. Scully's Apartment 12.17am Mulder sat back against the couch totally sated. His stomach was full, his head was light with wine and his body was warmed by the press of the soft petite woman seated next to him. Mulder spent about twenty minutes pondering his partners peculiar behavior. First, she had not wanted to report the break in which had surprised him as she so often played by the book. At first, he wondered if the break in had more than just that, or if she had, maybe been assaulted and was too ashamed to admit it. Don't go there, he thought, not even willing to entertain the possibility. Besides, they had settled down to a comfortable night in front of the TV She had been friendly and even slightly flirtatious. Mulder wondered if he had imagined that, but realized that she had also spent the whole evening sat next to him in nothing but her bath robe, not even bothering to change, despite inviting him to stay for dinner. Smiling at the thought of what that could mean, he forced himself to wonder if his judgement was impaired by the wine and the warmth. He yawned theatrically. Another minute, he thought, and I'll be falling asleep. Sighing heavily he rose and made to get his jacket. "It's late. Gotta go." He said; half hoping she would object. Scully stood up next to him. "Don't go yet." she pleaded. He glanced at his watch, playing hard to get. "It's after midnight, Our friends picked up their car over an hour ago and mines probably impounded or stolen by now." He chuckled lightly remembering his foolish rush to get over here. "My chances of finding a cab now are pretty damn slim as it is..." "Then stay the night?" The request seemed so natural as if she asked him every day. True he had spent more than one night here, but only when one of them was sick or in trouble of some kind. This was different. Totally different. Mulder contemplated her trying to read her intent, trying to decide if she was really feeling the same things he was, and was pleasantly surprised to discover her eyes dilated in arousal. Sensing a change in their relationship, and amazed that it was coming from her and not him he nodded mutely, not daring to break away from her gaze for fear of destroying their fragile bond. She reached up a warm hand caressing his cheek. Mulder swallowed hard. Part of his brain was definitely in his pants, but there was a small portion setting off an alarm bell, that this was not exactly right. He was trying very hard to ignore it as her soft gentle hands reached around his neck and pulled his mouth down onto hers, silencing it. For a moment his lips held against hers, then with a soft sigh he gave into his desires and kissed her deeply, entwining his hands around her small frame and pulling her close to his aroused body. After an age, where their tongues explored each others mouths and their hands each others bodies, they broke apart. Mulder looked seriously at her, noting her robe had parted in the middle enough to see her desire flushed skin almost to her navel. As he stared at her, something tickled at the back of his mind. A sense that this was not right. It was so out of character for the Scully he knew. Still not entirely sure what it was he pulled back and really looked at her closely, no longer under a cloud of concern or passion. Blind intuition cut in and his lightning synapses made connections and drew his mind to an incredible conclusion that only he, Fox Mulder, would conceive. Scully looked at him, confused at his sudden change and withdrawal from her embrace. "I, I, this isn't right. What about your boyfriend Bobby?" Scully looked at him in mild confusion and for a moment relief washed through him as he thought his hormone addled brain had jumped to conclusions. But then she drew her brows together and spoke. "I broke up with him 2 nights ago I couldn't live a lie continuing to see him when I was only waiting for a chance with you." She slid her arms around his neck again, smiling at him seductively. "There is no Bobby." Mulder said matter of fact. "You don't have a boyfriend, at least not one I know about." Scully stiffened, her eyes became hard as ice, belonging to someone else. Mulder grabbed her arms from around his neck, pulling them away as they tightened. "You're not you Scully." he knew his words were not making sense. "You're Jacobs, and somehow you got into her head and now you're controlling her for some God knows what reason of your sick little mind!" Scully/Jacobs twisted from his grip and threw a fist at Mulder, catching him squarely in the jaw in surprise. As she raised her fist for another, more damaging blow, Mulder caught her around the middle, sending them both crashing to the floor, with him atop of her. Scully/Jacobs fought hard against him, but his controlling mind was unused to being in a female body and Mulder had no trouble flipping her and pinning her to the floor with his weight, taking care not to injure her too badly in the process. "I don't know how you do it, and right now I don't care but you better let her be now or I'll..." "You'll what? You'll kill me? Your precious Scully? You know I know you can't do that." Her voice snarled with acid venom. Mulder was thinking fast, trying to recall anything about Jacobs he could use against him, and finally remembering his own loathing of fire that Jacobs shared. Eyeing Scully's gas fire, he pulled her struggling body towards it, pinning her with his weight as he reached for the ignition. "Leave her alone or I'll fucking kill us all!" Mulder screamed at Jacobs, desperate now as his felt his own fear boiling over. Scully/Jacobs struggled, kicked and screamed. Mulder pulled one of her arms and held it as close to the flame as he dared, feeling the heat begin to blister at his skin as well as hers. Too late he noticed the sleeve of the robe had caught on the flame and she screamed again as it burnt her flesh. Writhing and pulling away, he pulled her back ripping the robe from her and throwing its smoldering remains away from them, little realizing it had landed half in the fireplace. As abruptly as it had started the limp heavy feeling Scully had been experiencing all evening stopped. The searing pain in her forearm hit like a wave of heat from a furnace. She sat huddled on her knees and looked up to Mulder, seated a few inches from her, not realizing or caring that she was naked. "Scully?" He asked with concern lacing his voice, somehow knowing it was really her again. "Mulder what happened?" She knew what she thought had happened but the events of this evening had been such a foggy blur she could not be sure she was not hallucinating them. "Is it..." he started to ask, but a noise from the bedroom interrupted him. With a speed that astounded them a man emerged. He was harassed and harried and quite obviously Ralph Jacobs. Mulder rose, drawing his gun and started after him, glancing back and a dazed and confused Scully and catching sight of her robe which had caught and was burning, staring a decent sized fire "Shit!" He turned back to Scully, pulling a throw from the couch over her shoulders and ushering her to stand. "Come on, Scully, we gotta get out of here." Scully's Apartment 9.14am They had made it outside with no further injury. Some neighbors had already called the fire department, and the police turned up as well for good measure. Before the firemen has even had a chance to tackle the by then moderate blaze, a small fireball erupted from the apartment windows, signaling that the gas main pipe has cracked. By the time they had extinguished the blaze, Mulder and Scully were long gone. Scully had been taken to the medical center to have her burn treated, which thankfully turned out to be mostly superficial. Then they had spent the rest of the night making statements to police and fire officials, who naturally didn't buy their incredulous story. Now they stood in the ashen remains of her apartment. What hadn't been destroyed in the fire was sodden and waterlogged by the attempts to extinguish it. Scully had been forced to borrow clothes from Mulder - a pair of sweat pants that she had to roll up at the waist and ankles because they were way too big and a tee-shirt that fell to her knees. And now she stood getting more and more annoyed at Mulder as he expounded his bizarre theories to Skinner, while Skinner was getting more and more annoyed with both of them. "You were told to cease this investigation Agents." His tone warned. "We did." Mulder interrupted, "For reasons unknown at this point Jacobs accosted Agent Scully in her apartment, somehow transferring his consciousness to her body. The only way I could think to get him to leave was to use the only thing I knew would scare him out. It's a damn good job I pulled his file and took the trouble to find this out about him isn't it sir." his voice was laced with sarcasm, which Skinner ignored. "And how was it that you came realize Agent Scully was not whom she appeared to be?" Skinner asked, seemingly accepting Mulder's theory at face value. Scully glanced at Mulder and he returned her look. "I ugh, she was behaving abnormally sir." Skinner had noticed the silent look they shared and prompted himself not to question the matter any further. "Agent Scully do you have anything to add to what Agent Mulder is saying." Scully looked up at him, her face still betraying her shock at losing her life's possessions. "Sir. I cannot comment of what Agent Mulder believes happened to me last night. I am convinced that I was, somehow, under Jacobs influence..." She left the remainder unfinished. "But you don't believe he 'transferred his consciousness' as Agent Mulder put it so eloquently." "Sir I'd be more inclined to suggest that he hypnotized me. Maybe his intention was to convince Mulder I was him, for, for some reason." She finished lamely. Skinner drew in a breath. "Nevertheless you disobeyed a direct order. I want to see both of you in my office at 1300 hours. And Scully? Get something smarter to wear." he motioned to her baggy clothes and withdrew from the building. Mulder stared incredulously at her and spoke after Skinner left "Scully I cannot accept that you could dismiss last night as the product of a parlor trick." Scully turned angrily to Mulder. "At this moment Mulder I really don't give a damn what it was. I've lost everything I own here." "Be thankful you still have control over yourself." Scully decided Mulder could be an ass hole when he thought he was right. Usually she'd get on and ignore it, but fear, shock and exhaustion made her bite. "Damn you Mulder. I have nothing left, Nothing! You realize now the bureau are gonna censure us for this?" "For what reason can they do that?" "Mulder they warned us off this case, they've handed us the rope and were just waiting for us to hang ourselves with it. Which is exactly what we've just done. Dammit we'll be lucky if we don't face criminal charges for this." She waved her hand at the carnage that had once been her home. "At least there was no structural damage." Mulder offered, trying to add levity to a tense situation. Scully stared at him; unable to believe he could make jokes at a time like this. "Go to hell Mulder." She bent down, spotting her charred gun amongst the wreckage. "You're damn lucky I can't shoot you with this, 'cause right now that's just what I'd like to do. Right now I don't want to see you, I don't want to hear from you, I just want you the stay away." She stormed off, leaving him wondering how he was ever going to apologize for his pigheadedness, and how long he would have to leave her to cool down before he tried. Room 402 Parkway And Rise Hotel, Washington D.C. 7.05am 'I must review your contract of tenancy upon the above named property with a view to termination should the official investigation reveal any mal practice on your part.' Great. Just great! Scully thought as she finished reading the letter. "My week just keeps getting better and better." She mumbled to herself as she shuffled into the kitchenette and plugged in the kettle. The letter hadn't been that unexpected. I mean, you don't really expect your landlord NOT to want to evict you after your apartment gets deliberately set on fire, destroying all your possessions and causing countless thousands of dollars worth of damage. She and Mulder would very likely face some form of prosecution for the fire, and the bureau had censured them for disobeying orders and misconduct, suspending the both for six weeks until a formal hearing could be arranged. She was reasonably sure they would be fired, but to have to wait six weeks without pay to find out was just adding to the punishment. The icing on the cake - at least until the eviction notice this morning - had been finding out her insurance was void. So now here she was, holed up in some crummy long stay hotel, with nothing but a few clothes she'd been able to afford to keep her going and nowhere to live, no money to replace her lost possessions, no job to bring in any money, and no friends. Well, not strictly true, she still had a few friends, but the only one who counted lately was Mulder, and after the way she'd blown up at him she doubted he was ready to approach her any time soon. She found her thoughts drifting towards him, wondering what he had spent the last week doing. Was he thinking about her? Was he trying to find her? Was he even bothered Don't be stupid Dana, she thought to herself. You stomped off and didn't even tell him where you were going. She snorted a derisive laugh and forced herself to think about something other than him. Maybe I could join Mom out in San Diego and see Bill and Tara. And little Matthew. She nixed that idea with a groan when she opened the next letter revealing her frighteningly overdrawn bank account. She pulled open the parcel, the only other post she had received this morning. Her new cell phone fell out, bubble wrap and foam stuffing spilling over the bed. Unwrapping the phone she methodically connected the battery and plugged it into the wall to charge. At least she had contact with the world again, she thought, casting her mind back to the charred melted plastic she had stumbled over when they had returned to examine the damage the next day. She was starting to wonder how she had survived a week without it. She smiled, her thoughts turning back to Mulder again and his dependence on his own phone. Pausing in thought for a second she switched it on, hoping that maybe he might call. Less than half an hour later the shrill of the phone rang out. "Scully." "Hey Scully it me." Mulder's voice came through the speaker, sounding peppy. "Mulder. What do you want." She cringed, not meaning to whine but somehow not yet able to allow him he luxury of her forgiveness. "I, I was just calling, see if you've calmed down enough to speak to me like a normal human being yet, but I see we still have some way to go." There was a hint of belligerence in his tone. Scully took a deep breath. She could either bite and start another argument, or back down. She chose to rescind her own hostility in the name of peace. "Sorry, Mulder, I've just had a really bad week." "Yeah, tell me about it. Two of my fish died, I left my fridge door ajar and all the food went bad, and my best suit got ruined when some fire-fighters decided to throw a hose pipe party at my partners apartment, can you beat that?" He sounded cheerful again. "Well at least you have a roof over your head." She smiled appreciating his attempt at uplifting her with humor. "You mean you've been sleeping down in cardboard city with all the other tramps. Funny I didn't see you down there on my way through the other night." "Mulder you're gonna kill me." She laughed, not able to stay mad at him when he was trying so hard to cheer her up. "Seriously though, Scully, where are you? I thought maybe you'd go to your Moms but I just get an answer phone." "Did you leave a message?" "Uh, yeah, a few actually." "Well, I'm sure my Mom will look forward to the sound of your voice when she gets back from California then." "You're not there?" "I'm staying in the Parkway and Rise Hotel." "The where?" He asked incredulous. "The Parkway and Rise. It's in..." "I know where it is Scully, I just don't know why you are staying in such a dive." "Does a little incident with a fire ring any bells?" She replied "There are plenty of more classy places you could have gone." "And pay with what? Shirt buttons?" "Hey, I've got a comfortable couch you could've had for the price of cleaning my bathroom." "For cleaning your bathroom I'd want more than a couch to sleep on in payment, Mulder." "Hmm, sounds interesting. I think I could come up with a few suggestions." She could almost feel his leer down the phone. "Thanks but I'll pass." There was a brief pause where neither of them spoke, before Mulder broke the silence. "Look, give me 15 minutes and I'll be over. That's if you don't mind some company?" "Be my guest, room 402." She rang off. She stood in thought for a moment, until she caught sight of herself in the mirror, grinning stupidly. Wiping the smile from her face, she continued her morning routine. Mulder arrived 45 minutes later, apologizing for the rush hour traffic. Scully forgave him in her usual stoical way and the settled down to coffee. "So what brings you over here Mulder?" "You are still my partner. At least for another five weeks 'til they censure our asses out the bureau." He was seated in the only armchair in the room. Leaning forward, coffee cup held in both hands between his knees, the morning sun streaming through the window behind him, casting him in silhouette as she observed from her seat on the bed. "You don't sound too bothered?" She inquired with an arched eyebrow. "Frankly I'm surprised we made it this far." "Well this isn't the first OPR we've been called to." "You think they'll give us our jobs back after that?" He retorted. "No I don't, but my bank manager is practically praying on it I can tell you." Mulder frowned. "Money worries Scully?" She hesitated; not sure she wanted to share the full extent of her problems with him and settled instead for. "It looks like I'm gonna have to find a new place to live, and I'll loose my deposit." She waved this mornings letter at him. He caught it and scanned its contents briefly. "I can't believe your landlord is holding you responsible for this." He glanced up at her, capturing her eyes with his. She shrugged in resignation. "Well the bureau and the local PD seem to take a different view. We're pretty lucky we're not in the slammer right now, people could've been hurt you know." "That, I seem to recall, was the idea." He grimaced, remembering that despite the personal cost, Jacobs had somehow gotten away. A small awkward silence settled in the room. Mulder broke it by standing. "Anyway this isn't strictly a social call, I at least have spent the past five days trying to get a lead on this guy, and I think I've come up with something. I've booked a couple of flights to Nevada this afternoon." He paused waiting for her response. When he got no reaction after a moment he continued." I take it you want to go after him? After what happened?" "Mulder No!" She stood, hands on hips, eyebrows pulled downward into a frown. "We don't have any official jurisdiction, our investigations would be illegal and unsanctioned...." "And its not like we've never done that before..." She ignored his interruption. "And besides where are we gonna get the money to fund this little trip to the desert of yours?" He stared at her. "I'm going after him and I know you want to catch him after what he did to you, Scully." Her eyes locked with his again. She wasn't even sure she believed Jacobs really had been in possession of her body. Certainly it fit the explanation, but where was the science behind it? She could see the determined set in his face and knew he would go with or without her. Remembering too many times in the past where she'd ended up chasing after him, she sighed and resigned herself to his little adventure. "Okay, okay. What times the flight?" "Four twenty. You want picking up?" He stood to leave. "Yeah, pick me up at, say two. And Mulder?" He turned, poised on the threshold of the door, his face questioning hers. "You better leave one more message on my Moms answer phone explaining why you left all those others." He smiled and nodded; about to leave when she called him back again. "And I don't want any of your usual cheap motels, you owe big time, you're paying and I have expensive tastes." Her eyes twinkled with humor and he responded, leaving her with the afterimage of one of his rare blinding smiles. St Olaves Hotel, Nevada 20.13pm "Wow." Scully whistled silently to herself as she examined her room. True to his word Mulder had booked them into a first class establishment. The room was richly decorated in deep rose and misty green. The bed was covered in dark pink satin sheets, and the bathroom was a luxury of soft gray and shell pink, with the biggest corner bath Scully had ever seen. And gold. Real gold plumbing. It was all a little too ostentatious for her but hell, Mulder was paying and she felt that after all these years of putting up with the crap he threw at her she was entitled to a bit of a treat. Briefly she wondered how long he could afford to keep them in this place. She had a suspicion that tomorrow he'd tell her to pack up and they'd end up in the local 'book by the hour' sleaze joint he normally had a talent for picking out. His knock brought her out of her reverie. "It's open." she called out and he stepped through. "Well. Am I forgiven?" She frowned, puzzled. "For what?" His turn to frown now. "Whatever it was I did that pissed you off so much." Her expression softened. "Mulder this must be costing you a fortune." "I told you not to worry about it." She nodded. "OK Rockerfeller, splash your cash if you must but don't blame me when Mr. Bank Manager starts sending you hate mail." He chuckled lightly. "I just feed those letters straight to my fish. Saves on my regular brand. You wanna start tonight?" She grimaced at him. "Mulder I've just sat on a plane and in a car for, God knows how many hours and miles, and now I'm standing in the best damn hotel room I've ever seen, with a very welcome looking bath next door, and you wanna start work?" He stared at her. "Besides." She continued. "I'm hungry." Now he smiled. "Ah well they have an excellent restaurant here. Top quality a la Carte and the finest wines available. I hope you bought some evening wear with you." He joked. "Yeah, you know I always carry a little black number just in case." She replied with cheerful sarcasm. He peered round the room playing along. "If I'd known that I would have given you cause to wear it much sooner. Miss Scully, may I?" He held out his arm and she took it thinking how Mulder could be a royal pain at times, but when he turned on the charm, he was hard to resist. Carswell Farm, Nevada 8.42am The brilliant, already warm sun glinted off the polished paint work of the rental sedan as Mulder parked it haphazardly a short distance back from the faded wooden homestead. The two agents stepped out the car and walked to the front door; dust kicking up into clouds behind them where their footsteps disturbed the parched earth. "So what makes you think we'll find out man here Mulder?" He glanced at her, squinting in the brightness. "Ralph Jacobs worked here as a farm hand for three years. In fact this was the scene of his last crime, which resulted in his arrest. He slaughtered almost the whole family, seven people in one go, which brought his total up to at least eighteen murders, though it may even be more than that." "Phew, Must have been a high profile case. Though I don't remember reading about it." "Sure you do, his trial was all over the nationals. They left out some of the more gruesome details though." "Why?" Mulder paused and stared. "Most of his victims did not die very pleasantly." "I wouldn't think being murdered is pleasant in any way." "Yeah but squeezing then life out of your victims while you rape them is pretty damn sick even by serial killer standards." Scully shuddered. "All of them?" She asked quietly, knowing that there had been a number of young children among his victims. "Yeah." Mulder's reply was soft and his eyes glazed over in momentary compassion for the innocent souls whose lives Jacobs had cut short. Scully, sensing Mulder's maudlin mood descending spoke to break it. "No wonder they locked him up in a nuthouse." "Pity someone forgot to throw away the key." They ascended the short flight of steps up to the door. "But that doesn't answer the question." "Huh?" "Why do you think he'd come back here?" He stopped, thinking for a moment how he could best explain his blind intuition, and settled for a shrug. The door was slightly open. Mulder pushed it inwards, exposing long darkened corridors to the harsh morning light. Inside it was so dark and quiet it felt like a crypt. Mulder entered first, switching his flashlight on, the beam cutting through the gloom and illuminating sparkling motes of dust that danced before them. He unholstered his weapon; Scully followed close behind, checking their rear. In a hushed voice he exclaimed. "Wow, either this place has really big rats or someone's been here recently." The beam of his flashlight scurried over the tracks in the dust. It took only three or four rooms before they found something useful. There was a dirty stained mattress and a half drunk bottle of liquor, and an open packet of potato chips next to it. "Hey look Scully." his voice still quiet, although the house was obviously empty aside from them. "Where?" She turned pointing her light in the same direction as his. "Wanna move the cheese?" Scully stared at him, not comprehending him at all and deciding not to press it. Mulder continued, ignoring her. "I'd say we've found our man." "Yeah, Mulder, and I'd say he's not likely to come back here if we leave the car out front to warn him we're onto him." Mulder paused. You bring anything less formal to wear?" "Like jeans?" He nodded; a sudden image of Scully in skin tight faded denim filled his brain. Not without effort, he forced it aside. "No Mulder, almost all my clothes got destroyed in the fire remember?" "Wanna go shopping?" She stared at him, half expecting him to be joking, but the look on his face told her he was deadly serious. Carswell Farm, Nevada 13.17pm Mulder and Scully arrived back at the homestead, Scully a little out of breath and obviously struggling in the heat. Mulder had indeed taken her shopping, buying them both something more suitable for a 2 mile hike across the parched Nevada landscape. It wasn't nearly cool enough in this heat, and the back of her light colored top was stained dark with sweat. She took comfort only in the fact that Mulder was coping no better. They also had a pack, with food and water, and one rolled up sleeping bag. She cringed at the thought of the possibility of spending the night in this run down shack, but accepted that Mulder's intuition was usually pretty accurate. They settled in the house, finding a room that he was not using and afforded good exterior views and waited. Carswell Farm, Nevada 21.49 pm "Mulder?" "Shh" he admonished her to keep her tone low. "Why are we here?" He looked at her, incredulous, not even deigning to dignify the question with a reply. "I mean I know why we came her, but I've been sat in a dusty run down old shack for close to nine hours now, sweating like a pig in this heat, when all I really wanna do is raid the mini bar in my air conditioned hotel room. Quite frankly I don't think he's gonna show." "He'll show." "When? Before or after I get pressure sores on my ass?" He chuckled. "You missing that big old corner bath Scully?" She smiled back. "When I saw that room I knew there had to be a catch." "Shh!" There was a noise. Outside. Mulder stood gingerly and peered out into the darkened Nevada night. "I see something" Scully stood, trying to look at where her partners eyes were directing her. "I think that's him!" "Oh yeah, I'd know him anywhere." The animosity in his voice was unmistakable. For the first time, Scully realized he was taking it personally, and wondered at it. He drew his gun, and nodded towards her. "Stay here." "Mulder, no! You're not taking him on alone." "Scully he attacked you, you..." "I can handle this Mulder. I think you know me well enough by now to know that." She admonished slightly hurt by his inflection. For a brief moment their eyes locked in the gloom, and he relented wordlessly. She drew her weapon and followed him on his descent down the stairs. Silently they exited the house. She turned left and followed round the back; he loped off to the side towards the barn where they had seen their prey. When Scully had traveled a suitable distance from the entrance, and was sure she could sneak round, she crouched and ran silently towards the back of the barn. She could see nothing but dared not use her torch in case she alerted Jacobs to her presence. Mulder entered the barn, hugging the shadows, gazing keenly into the dark and waiting for his eyes to adjust. He heard a noise. He twisted sharply, straining his hearing to make out the distance. Another noise, nearer this time. The darkness was fading to gray and he could just begin to make out shapes. One was moving towards him at speed. He raised his gun and fired missing his target by a good margin. The shape launched itself out of the darkness towards him and he fired again, but not before something hard smacked into his head, knocking him to the floor, the gun flying from his grasp. He could see Jacobs now, the whites of his eyes glowing in the dark. Jacobs moved over and leaned towards Mulder staring keenly at him. Mulder groped hopelessly in the dark for his lost gun. Scully heard two shots. She called out for her partner, no longer caring that she was endangering herself by identifying her location to their prey. As she rounded the barn for the door she was momentarily blinded by a light so bright it burned blue. Shielding her eyes, she reached for her torch, switching it on and aiming it into the barn to make out the shape of Jacobs kneeling stationary over the still form of her partner. Without thinking she raised her gun, firing squarely into Jacobs torso twice, watching him slump bloodied on top of Mulder. Racing into the barn she pushed aside Jacobs and shined the torch on Mulder. "Come on Mulder." She muttered, noticing a sticky pool of blood oozing from his head. He groaned, his eyes fluttered open briefly before closing again. Assured that he was not badly hurt she moved to Jacobs. It was dark and her shot was not the best ever but one bullet pierced his chest cleanly and blood was oozing from the wound in copious amounts. His eyes stared upwards in death. St Marys Hospital, Nevada 23.43 pm Scully entered Mulder's room. He looked groggy but he was awake, and appeared to be examining his hands in intricate detail. A large purple bruise was already forming on his temple where he had been hit, and a small butterfly stitch covered the cut. She reached up and stroked his hair away from the ugly weal, her eyes full of gentle compassion. "Hi partner." He looked over her face, curiously, as if seeing it anew. She frowned, wondering at his curious stare. "How you feeling?" He opened his mouth to speak. "Happy to be alive. Ow!" He winced as he tried to turn and discovered a tender patch. "Well, you're doing better than Jacobs at least." "He's dead?" He asked, eyes wide. "Yep." "You sure?" "I will be after the autopsy tomorrow. The doctors said you have to stay for a night, maybe two just in case, but otherwise you're not too badly beaten up. I guess its another night of corner baths and satin sheets for me while you're stuck in here then." She smiled devilishly. "Uh, yeah, sure." He sounded a bit disorientated. "You sure you're Okay?" She brushed her hand across his brow again. "I'll call a doctor if ..." "NO! No, I'm just dandy. I just have a hell of a headache though." She smiled tenderly at him. "Well, I'll say goodnight then. Oh by the way I spoke to Skinner." "Yeah?" "He's coming down tomorrow afternoon. He might be able to do a deal that will allow us to keep our jobs." "That's, that's great news." But by the tone of his voice he did not sound all that pleased. Scully dismissed it as the after effects of concussion. "Yeah, and what's even better is that the he already said the FBI will pick up the tab for the hotel too. Looks like you're gonna have to go back to your regular brand of fish food after all." She smiled at her own joke. "Yeah." He answered hesitantly smiling back; as if he didn't really get it but was too polite to say so. She paused and bent to place a light kiss on his forehead. "Night Mulder, sweet dreams." "Night Dana." She flashed a curious smile at him one last time and left. Marlett County Morgue 9.37am Scully got cleaned up and donned her familiar lab gowns. She pulled the sheet back over Jacobs corpse, wrinkling her nose in distaste at having to see this vile creature again. She noted with some satisfaction that one of her shots had been pretty accurate and death would have come within minutes. She glanced up at his face, about to start her dictation into the microphone, when something unusual caught her eye. His eyes were open, unblinking and staring, as if in death, but the pallor of his skin was all wrong, and his lips were full and rosebud pink, just as they had been in life. Automatically, she reached down to his neck to feel for a pulse, not at all surprised to find there wasn't one. She removed one latex glove and pressed the back of her hand to his arm. The flesh was soft and slightly warm. She frowned, puzzled. He died almost twelve hours ago; he shouldn't be still warm. Thinking back, she tried to recall the events of the previous night, remembering for the first time the blinding white light, and her mind returning to an earlier time when she had first seen that brief flash. A slow dreading realization was dawning over her. She stood motionless as her brain whirled with the possibilities. Was she still under hypnosis, was this all a hallucination. Had he really transferred his conscious to her before? And if he had, where was it now residing? It took her a fraction of a second for her to strip her gowns and grab her cell phone. It was answered in 3 rings. "Hello, this is Special Agent Dana Scully. My Partner Fox Mulder was brought in late last night, I was just inquiring as to his condition?" A pause while the operator relayed the details Scully had asked for. "Did he discharge himself or did the doctor? . . . I see. When? . . . . Yes I know today, but how long ago? . . . Thank you, thank you." She ended the call. Damn. Thinking quickly, she dialed the hotel. "Hello, This is Dana Scully in room 131, can you tell me if my partner Fox Mulder has checked out of room 133 yet? . . . He has, thanks. . . .No, not yet, I'll be checking out later though, thank you." She rung off again. Well he may have checked out, but she had no idea where he would have gone. Quickly she phoned the local PD and asked them to go out the Carswell farm to see if he was there. Telling them to approach Mulder with caution should they find him, she explained that she believed Jacobs may have hypnotized Mulder and he may resist them. She ordered them not to hurt him and rang off. Fox Mulder's Apartment 22.32pm Scully slammed the door closed behind her despondently. Another day had passed, the fourth since her return, and still there was no sign of Mulder. Having established that he had flown back to D.C, she had centered her search here. She had enlisted The Lone Gunmen, hoping their unique abilities at finding information might turn something up. Being homeless herself she assumed Mulder would not mind her staying and had temporarily moved into Mulder's apartment, hoping and dreading at the same time that each night she would come back and find him here. But he had not returned home, had not been to the office. Nor had he been to any of his favorite haunts, and Scully discovered nothing, other than that she knew more about her partners limited social habits than she had realized. Rubbing her eyes, she stifled a yawn, lack of sleep and emotional stress ensuing in total exhaustion. Tears of frustration and loss welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, fearing she would not be able to contain the deluge. Sighing heavily she entered the kitchen, pulling out some milk from the fridge and finding Mulder's bottle of expensive brandy in the cupboard opposite the sink. She had found the brandy on her first night here, a little surprised that he drank this kind of thing (she had always assumed he was more of a bourbon type, though she rarely saw him drink at all). Each night she had warmed some milk in a pan and added a generous splash of brandy, the warming brew allowing her at least some sleep. It was something her father used to do for them when they had been ill, and the warmth and flavor would always remind her of the comfort and security he exuded. Taking the mug of brandy milk into the bedroom, she stripped, donning an oversized tee shirt to sleep in and climbed into his bed. She pulled the pillow down into an embrace, breathing in deeply inhaling the faint scent of Mulder that lingered in his bed. She wondered if Mulder would smell her on this bed when he returned. That's right Dana, she thought. When he returns not if. You know he's coming back, you know he's alive you can feel him. She imagined him coming home in the middle of the night and finding her here like this. What would he do? Would he climb into bed with her? If he did, would she respond to his touch, telling him with her mouth and her hands how badly she wanted to be held in his strong arms, to be loved by him? She colored slightly at the thought, embarrassment caused by the memory of trying to seduce him while she was under Jacobs influence. He had figured out it wasn't her because he thought he knew her so well and she wouldn't do something like that. But one of these days, Mulder I'm going to surprise you, she thought. God, please just come back to me so I at least have that option, although I know I'll probably never do it, because you're right and it isn't me, although in a way it must be. Because even under hypnosis you can't make someone do something they don't really want to do. I think we both know that if, when, our time comes it will come from you. You see I'm a skeptic and although I can see all the evidence with my own eyes, and although I feel in from within you, I cannot believe it without physical concrete proof. And only you can provide that, and only then can I reciprocate. She realized that she had started crying, her face screwed up in anguish and she cried harder into his pillow, sobs of exhaustion and frustration overtook her and she drifted into a fitful sleep. Fox Mulder's Apartment 02.17am Scully woke gradually, aware that something had disturbed her but not quite sure what. A movement on opposite side of the bed reminded her and she opened her eyes slowly. It was Mulder. She would know him anywhere. He sat on the edge of the bed looking at her. She sat up and gasped "Mulder! Where the hell have you been?" Then remembering he might harbor the consciousness of the psychotic madman she reached for her gun, training it on him as she fumbled for the light switch. "Stand up and move away. Slowly!" Mulder looked at her in surprise, but complied, standing unsteadily and edging away from the bed as he raised his hands. Scully noted that his clothes were dirty and stained. He was stooped, favoring one side and obviously in pain. Dropping her guard, concern flooding over her, she lowered her gun and moved to his side. "Mulder you're hurt. Here." He stumbled to his knees but she pulled him up, lying him on the bed. He winced in pain as she reached around his left side. Pulling his tee shirt up over his head, she saw a large ugly red burn along the left side of his ribs. "Jesus Mulder what happened?" "It was the only way I could get rid of him. Play on his fear." "You burnt yourself? Like you did to me?" Mulder nodded, wincing at the memory. Scully's mind whirled. Was this really him? She never really believed that Jacobs had actually possessed them, more that he had a unique ability to hypnotize his victims, making them act the way they had. Quickly she assessed the situation. Mulder was acting, more or less normal for him. It had been five days since his encounter with Jacobs. Jacobs body was lying in a morgue, awaiting autopsy; there was no way he could have survived his wound. Mulder had obviously been driven half insane when Jacobs had gotten to him and had burnt himself during this time, thus breaking the hypnotic hold. Glancing down at his body, compassion and love filled her and she knew immediately that this was the man she trusted without question. "You're hurt, we need to get you to a hospital." She stroked his hair. "Not tonight, Scully, in the morning." She looked at him concerned, finally relenting. "Okay but you have to let me deal with this." She gestured to the burn, and he nodded. "Whatever you say Dr Scully." She smiled gently and walked to the bathroom. Filling up a bowl with warm water and grabbing the soap washcloth and a towel. Next she sought out some gauze and salve and a few other medical items she would need, giving thanks that he always thought to keep his medicine cabinet well stocked. Returning to Mulder, she discovered he had drifted asleep. Sighing she set her items down and reached down to Mulder's jeans. Hesitating for only a second, she stripped him of the remainder of his clothes, finding herself irrationally embarrassed at the sight of his nakedness and forcing herself to remain detached. She washed him all over, taking the time to examine him for injury and being pleased to note he was relatively unscathed apart from the burn. She colored slightly, noting his body responding to her touch, forcing herself to ignore his budding erection, telling herself it was an automatic response, she continued. He groaned and stirred slightly only when she sat him up to wash his back. Finally, when he was clean, she cleaned and dressed his burn; unable to avoid causing any pain he roused looking up at her. "More like Nurse Scully tonight." He smiled. "Go to sleep Mulder." She plumped his pillows and pulled the sheet up to his chest. She rose, grabbing a pillow and heading for the living room when he called her back. "Stay with me Scully." She looked back surprised. This was too weird, too close to her thoughts before she fell asleep. Was she dreaming now? Suddenly the surreality of the situation overtook her and she stifled an ironic grin. Making her decision she nodded slowly and padded back to the bed laying down on the opposite side to him. "Goodnight, Mulder. I'm glad you're back." "I'm glad I'm back too Scully." His eyes drooped and within moments he was asleep again. He awoke suddenly. He was lying on his side, and although he could see and hear, his limbs felt heavy. Wide awake now he immediately recognized the sensation. His mind was pushed to the back and Jacobs was in control. God no! He thought. He had been convinced Jacobs was gone, not daring to return home and endanger Scully until he was sure. But here he was, Jacobs taking control of his body again, having fooled him into believing he was free of him. Mulder tried to push back, to seize control as he had managed to do before, but he was too tired and too weak. His conscious lay helpless as Jacob controlled his body, turning his eyes to the sleeping form of Scully next to him. She had kicked the covers off and was lying with her night shirt barely covering her thighs. He felt his body begin to harden in desire. Oh God, will she know it's not me! Sickened by his bodies own reactions his arm stretched out under Jacobs control and touched her. He could feel all the sensations but he had no control over them. Scully murmured in her sleep and snuggled into the hand that was now caressing her cheek. Scully run! Mulder thought as his hand traveled down her neck and lowered to cup her breast, his thumb rubbing her nipple through the fabric of the tee shirt. Her eyes flew open, awake and she stared at him in wonder. His hand stopped it lazy circling, waiting for her approval to continue. Scully no, its not me! He cried out silently to her from within. Scully had woken up with the delicious sensation of Mulder's hand against her breast. She wanted it to continue its slow descent down her body; she wanted it more than ever. Her eyes caught his, darkened with passion. And in them she saw... something unexpected. It was not something she could explain. Looking into Mulder's eyes had always been like gazing into his soul, but in these eyes his soul was closed to her, and she saw... Her eyes widened in shock as her brain engaged. Jacobs! It wasn't possible but somehow she knew it was true. She pulled from his hand with a startled gasp, but he closed his strong fingers around her waist, cruelly biting into her flesh as he pulled her struggling form towards him. Scully opened her mouth to cry out, and he quickly pushed his other hand over it, shoving her jaw closed painfully. He moved his body on top of her. She thrust out her limbs trying to push him away, but he merely forced her legs apart, settling his body atop of hers. Her tee shirt rode up through her struggles, exposing her body to his. His weight crushed her, pinning her body between him and the bed as his hand moved from her mouth to her throat, tightening around her slender neck. She could feel his hard cock pressing against her thigh and her hands flew to his hips, trying to push him from her. If she needed proof that this was not Mulder, she had it now. Mulder would never do this to her, he would never hurt her like this, not even under hypnosis. Keeping his fist bunched around her throat he moved other hand towards the junction of her legs. "Now Mulder, what do you think of me fucking your woman with your body huh?" It was his mouth that said it, his voice that uttered the words, but it wasn't Mulder. Scully, sobbed, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Mulder, please, please!" she pleaded, trying to reach him through his eyes, scratching at the flesh on his back and shoulders vainly. He laughed a maniacal cackle. "He can't help you honey, he just watchin'." And his hand found his cock, holding it, pushing it impatiently against her to force his entry. She wriggled beneath him and he let go only to stroke his long fingers over her mound. Seeking out her entrance, he thrust a finger inside, forcing a gasp of sudden shock and pain at his intrusion. Mulder's mind revolted against his body's actions. Knowing what Jacobs was doing disgusted him. Knowing what he was capable of sent him frantic with fear. It was almost enough to drive Jacobs out. For a brief moment Jacobs control wavered and Scully sensed it taking possibly her only chance to escape. Bringing one leg up she twisted from his hand, her knee making contact with his genitals. He cried out and flinched away instinctively, loosening his grip on her throat. Seizing the opportunity Scully went on the offensive, ripping the dressing from his wound and digging her nails in, causing a scream of pain from him as he instantly released his hold. Pushing him from her she rolled, realizing her weapon was on the floor where she dropped it last night. She reached for it quickly grabbing it stepping backwards off the bed, putting as much distance between them as possible she aimed it shakily at him. Pain abated somewhat, he looked up at her with the confidence of the insane." You won't shoot." Her composure barely regained, she arched an eyebrow coldly. "Oh yeah?" "You shoot and he dies. You know that." "I think he'd rather die than live with your disgusting soul inhabiting his body." Her wavering voice betraying her inner turmoil. Their eyes locked and in his for a split second she saw the real Mulder. A look of compassion, love and understanding, and she fired. Mulder heard a crack and felt a sharp pain the bullet hit and he slumped backwards. He knew she an ace with her weapon, a better shot than he was, yet he had taken a potentially non fatal hit. Jacobs looked up through his eyes, and saw her take aim again. 'She'll do it Jacobs and you'll die with me.' he thought with absolute certainty. With a suddenness that took Mulder by surprise Jacobs consciousness left his body. Mulder felt the sudden release and looked up to Scully to see tears streaking her cheeks. Their eyes locked and he whispered "He's gone." It was the last words he uttered before the blackness descended upon him. Jacobs soul screamed in rage. He had been looking forward to his new life with the redhead by his side. Once he had pacified her, he was pretty sure she would comply to his will. He had not anticipated that she would kill this man she cared for so much rather than live with him. With nowhere else to go, his soul homed in on its anchor. With a sudden gasp the 'body' of Ralph Jacobs jerked into life in the morgue drawer. He felt deep searing pain, as he struggled to draw breath, only to find his lungs destroyed. In panic he flung out his arms, thumping against the sides of the drawer, trying to scream but emitting only a thin stream of congealed blood from his mouth. Within moments his body shut down and his soul was loosed into the ether to its final destination. Washington Medical Center 16.22pm Scully pushed open the door to Mulder's room. He appeared to be sleeping soundly, but when she touched his hand, he turned his head, eyes opening to look at her. "Hey partner." She said lightly. He smiled "Hey yourself." They shared a moment of silence while she studied his hand in hers; he gazed at her face. Eventually she broke the silence. "I spoke to your doctor. He says that you should make a full recovery. He said you were in such good physical shape before..." She stumbled remembering him (Jacobs) using his physical strength against her. "That you'll probably be fit to go home in a week." Mulder did not miss her pause for a moment. "Scully, I..." "I know what you're gonna say Mulder, and you don't have to. I know." Mulder's eyes connected with hers. "I was gonna say I thought you were a better shot than that." She laughed the tension that threatened dissipated. Taking a deep breath she filled him in on all the latest news. "My landlord is letting me back in my apartment, though its not going to be ready for at least another two weeks." "You staying at my place?" "Yeah. Hope you don't mind, but I figured someone has to make sure the fish get their fan mail!" At that he laughed out loud and winced a little at the same time and she knew this was definitely her Mulder. "Anyway Jacobs is definitely dead this time. He'd been autopsied and cremated, although the time of death doesn't exactly match to when he was shot." "It matches to when you shot me?" She nodded. He paused for a moment then asked, "Did you do it?" "No." Her voice was quiet and plain. Another silence played out between them, this time more strained. Mulder broke it first. "It's over Scully." Scully nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah." Mulder examined her face, noting for the first time a slight discoloration around her jaw and neck that had been inflicted when he (Jacobs) had grabbed her. "Scully I..." "We've already done this haven't we?" She interrupted. "I think there are things that need to be said." He gripped her hand, and their eyes met. "Mulder. I have to go." She pulled her hand from his and headed to the door. "Scully? One thing I need to know?" She turned in response. "What?" "You know, even under hypnosis the mind has ultimate control." "Yeah." "Do you still believe he controlled me.... his victims by hypnosis?" She shook her head. "No." "Good, because I need you to know that if I had had any control at all I would never..." His voice cracked and he paused. "I would never have hurt you." He finished in a whisper. "I know." She glanced down and then back up to his face. "I'm sorry." "You have nothing to be sorry for." "I tried to force myself on you Scully..." "He tried to force himself onto me." "But it was my body." He added quietly. "Mulder, If it had been you that night, I would have known and you wouldn't have needed to..." She left the sentence hanging, telegraphing her feelings silently through their locked gaze. Mulder experienced a moment of crystal clarity, but before he could respond she broke contact and turned, leaving him alone and wondering. Authors Notes: I'm from England and began this in June 2000. It was prompted by an idea I kept getting of Scully's apartment being burnt down. And I wanted to do something a bit angsty after my last two lighthearted/fluffy efforts. Quite how it got from those basic ideas to this I really don't know, but I'd just had an operation, was on really good painkillers and still bedridden so I'm gonna blame boredom and the drugs ;-) After I started this I couldn't quite finish it. Its been something of a labor of love! The title is latin. Roughly translates as Somebody Elses Soul...apologies to any students if I've mangled the language. I'd like the thank every one of you for glimpsing into my mind and reading this and once again I'm going to beg you shamelessly for feedback: Majikthize@hotmail.com. Pleeeeeese!