DISCLAIMER: I don't own or claim to own any of the X-Files characters. They belong to Chris Carter, TenThirteen Productions, and Twentieth Century FOX. No copyright infringement is intended. I do, however, own John and Cassie Singleton. If your name is John or Cassie Singleton, no infringement is intended. RATING: PG CLASSIFICATIONS: SA COMMENTS: Please give any and all comments that you have about John Singleton. He's kinda taken over my thoughts as well as my next few stories. The main dream explanation story will be next, or the third story in the "Dreams" series. The first one is called "Dreams in the Beginning". You don't really need to read it to understand this story, even though I will be referring to it a few times. You just need to know that John is a single parent of a seven year old girl named Cassie. He works for the FBI in the VCS and he hit his superior agent and was sent on one X-File case as punishment by Skinner. As you will be able to tell, he and Mulder really don't get along too well. Anything else? Any questions? Dreams In The Night By: Katilina katilina@geocities.com http://www.geocities.com/Area51/1513 "Come in!" Fox Mulder called in answer to the knocking on his office door, fully expecting it to be Dana Scully his partner of five years. Instead, a tall man stood in the doorway, his green eyes flashing. "John Singleton, what are you doing here? I thought you never wanted to come back to the X-Files division," Mulder commented, trying not to let the unfriendliness seep into his voice. He had promised Scully afterall.... "It's great to see you, too. The only reason I'm down here is to bring this to you. I thought it looked more like the X-Files than the VCS. What do you think, hotshot?" Singleton asked sarcastically as he tossed Mulder the file folder just as Scully walked in the door. "Singleton! What are you doing here?" Scully asked, shaking his hand warmly. "I brought Mulder and X-File, or so I think. What's your opinion, Agent Mulder?" Singleton asked, watching Mulder's face as he read. "X-File, definitely an X-File," Mulder mumbled as Scully sat down on the corner of his desk and crossed her legs. "Do tell, partner," Scully said, her blue eyes twinkling. "Five women have been killed by apparently the same killer. All the murders happened in the same hotel, with all the windows and doors locked from the inside," Mulder explained, still not looking up. "Livers?" Scully asked, a smile lighting up her face. "Intact," Mulder answered, chuckling. "I'm not going to ask," Singleton said, shaking his head. "Good, it's a long story." * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome to the Cincinnati Inn. How can I help you, folks?" the clerk asked, glancing from Mulder, to Scully, and then finally Singleton. Mulder and Scully had only gotten Skinner's permission to work on this case if they did so with Singleton, with Singleton as the primary agent. Singleton had been going through a rough time lately, his partner had recently quit the bureau, and he couldn't find anyone he liked. Mulder sympathized with him, he knew what it was like before Scully, but he would never tell that to Singleton. He was trying very hard not to like Singleton. He was a good man and a good agent. "The lady would like room 581, and we would like the connecting room to it, please," Singleton said, taking out his credit card, not telling the clerk that they were FBI agents. Mulder got the impression that Singleton wanted them working unknown on this one. "I'm sorry, sir, but you can't have room 581, it's a crime scene. I can give you 580 and it's connecting room, though," the clerk offered apologetically. "No, how about room 473 and it's connecting room?" Singleton asked, pushing the card forward. "473 is open, but 472 is occupied." "I'll pay you triple what you are asking for 472." "Hold on a minute, let me ask the manager.... Here are your keys, Mr. Singleton. Have a nice day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Why did you ask for these particular rooms?" Scully asked as she closed the door to the hotel room and sat down on the bed. Mulder sat closely next to her, their shoulders touching and their legs connected. "Well, the first murder was in 1121, the second in 1013, the third in 905, the fourth 797, the fifth in 689. The fact that 581 is a crime scene just proved my point. Each room had a difference of 108, meaning that...." "....this room is next," Mulder finished, staring at Singleton. "Good work, Agent Singleton," Scully said, reaching out to shake his hand, not noticing the look of distress on Mulder's face. "Hold on! You want to use Scully as bait, don't you? That's why you gave her this room and that's why you didn't tell the clerk as the front desk that we are FBI agents. Am I right?" Mulder accused, jumping to his feet. "The only way that is going to happen is if she approved of it. Which I was just about to ask her," Singleton defended. "No way! She can't put herself at risk like this!" Mulder yelled, outraged. "If she doesn't, more innocent women will die!" Singleton yelled back, clenching his fist. "Hey! Calm down, guys. This is ultimately my decision, isn't it?" Scully asked, grabbing Mulder's hand and pulling him back into a sitting position. "Singleton, I'll do it. Mulder, I love the fact that you're so concerned about me, but please let me make my own decisions and choices. It is my life. I can take care of myself perfectly fine, plus you two will be right next door. These are better odds than any other woman would have if she stayed here," Scully explained, running her hand up and down Mulder's back. "It's your choice, but I still don't approve," Mulder said abruptly, and then slammed next door to the room he and Singleton were sharing. "Singleton, I'm sorry about him. He's kind of overprotective of his partners," Scully explained, her eyes clouded. "His partners, or just you?" Singleton asked softly and then followed Mulder next door, leaving Scully alone to think about his question. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Singleton found Mulder laying on his back in the middle of one of the beds, just staring up at the ceiling. "Mulder, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. But, this is the only way it will work. We have no evidence on this guy at all. We need to actually catch him in the act," Singleton explained, sitting down on the other bed and facing Mulder. "I know, but why does it have to be Scully? She's been through enough, don't you think?" Mulder asked, a pained expression on his face. "Mulder, she has a better chance of catching this guy than a civilian woman. She has extensive training, and is in the top 90% of shooting accuracy at the bureau. Don't worry about her," Singleton soothed, trying to get Mulder to understand. "I know all that, Singleton. She is my partner. You just don't understand. Didn't you ever feel this way when you had a partner? The sense of overwhelming dread?" Mulder asked, rubbing his hand over his face. "Well, Nora and I were never close. In fact, we only worked two cases together before she told me she was pregnant, about 5 months along actually. After that, she was on desk duty. So, I actually don't know what you're talking about. Before I was in the VCS, I was an instructor at Quantico. So, I guess you could kind of call me a rookie, even though I've worked about a dozen case on my own," Singleton explained, swinging his feet up on the bed and mimicking Mulder's position. "Singleton, what happened to your wife?" Mulder asked bluntly, still staring at the ceiling. "She was hit from the behind by a drunk driver and sent spiraling into a tree, dying instantly. We never got to say goodbye. In one instant, I went from a married, family man to a widower and single father. That's why always try to be as blunt as possible and get my point across as quickly I can. My theory is that you better get whitener's on your chest out into the open, because you might never have another chance," Singleton explained, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry about your wife. I know about losing someone. God, I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. I don't even like you much. My sister was taken when I was twelve years old and she was eight. I've spent my whole life searching for her," Mulder said, sighing deeply. "Taken? By whom?" Singleton asked incredulously. "The government, aliens, a serial killer, we really don't know. All I know is that there was a bright light. I couldn't move, and Samantha slowly floated out the window, screaming my name," Mulder answered, not noticing Scully slip into the room. "God, man. I'm sorry," Singleton breathed, turning to look at Mulder and noticing Scully standing in the doorway. He gestured for her to come in. "I think that's my cue to leave," Singleton said, standing up. "If you need me, I'm going to go poke around some of the crime scenes." "Thanks, John," Scully said, smiling softly as he left the room. "Mulder, are you o.k.?" "Scully, I'm fine. I was just a little upset that you are intentionally putting yourself in danger. Scully, I hope you know that if anything ever happened to you, I couldn't live with myself, I couldn't live." "I know, Mulder. I know. And I hope you know that the same applies for me. That's why I get so mad when you ditch me. You're intentionally putting yourself in danger by not letting me come along to watch your back. But Mulder, this is different. You're going to be here, close enough to hear me if I even whimper. I'm going to be fine," she said softly, laying down next to her and wrapping her arms around his chest. He gently wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. It was definitely going to be a long couple days. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Singleton, we've been here for three nights all ready, and nothing has happened. How much longer are we going to stay here?" Mulder asked, shoveling some Chinese food into his mouth. Scully should be getting back from he r nightly run right about....now. "A few more days, Mulder. Something's going to happen soon, I can feel it," Singleton answered, picking up the phone and dialing a number. "Hi, Mom. Is Cass there?" Singleton asked softly into the phone, lowering the volume on the phone. Mulder silently went next door, trying to give Singleton some privacy. "Hey, Scully. How was your run?" Mulder asked, sitting down on her bed. "Hot. I'm going to take a shower. Feel free to turn on the television," Scully said, going into the bathroom. "But, Scully! I want LIVE entertainment," he whined, a grin on his face. "Not this time, G-man. Keep trying, though," she called back from the bathroom. Mulder just chuckled and waited for Singleton to get off the phone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * A man burst into Scully's room, a ski mask on his face and a knife in his hand. She didn't even have time to scream before he covered her mouth with chloroform and then dug his knife into her chest, her blood..... "Singleton! Wake-up! It was just a dream. Singleton!" Mulder soothed, shaking the agent. "Mulder! We need to get to Scully!" Singleton gasped, jumping from the bed. Mulder leaped towards the door and yanked on it. It wouldn't budge. "Scully!" Mulder screamed, pounding on the door. "Stand back!" Singleton yelled, aiming his gun at the doorknob and firing. The door flew open. Mulder and Singleton rushed into the room and found a man towering over an unconscious Scully, his knife ready. "Get back! Move away!" Mulder yelled, his gun pointed at the man. The man immediately dropped his knife and stepped away from Scully. He wasn't about to argue with two loaded guns. Singleton rushed over and handcuffed the man as Mulder ran to Scully's side. He called the police and an ambulance as he cradled her in his arms. It was finally over. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Singleton, how did you know?" Mulder asked, sitting down next to him in front of the Washington Memorial. "How did I know what?" Singleton asked, rubbing his eyes. "That Scully as in danger." "I just has a feeling." "It was your dream wasn't it? You dreamed she was in danger." "No, I was just lucky, I guess. Just lucky." "Luck. Sure." THE END You guys ready for this next one? Not even an X-File in this baby. Just a complete story bout Singleton's dreams. Thanks for all the feedback I've gotten on the first one and the support I've had with developing Singleton. I really appreciate it! Please send all comments to me at katilina@geocities.com