Faeries: Part 14. By The Pen and The Brain.
For disclaimer, see one of the other parts, I'm sick of writing them.

ThePen@hotmail.com

***
The Winslow family home sat at the edge of the forest, a large
two- storey structure with ivy climbing the walls and thick
glazed windows.  A tall, bone-thin woman answered the door when
Mulder and Scully knocked.  She was dressed in a dark skirt and
blouse, accentuating the extreme paleness of her skin and the
wispy white strands of hair flying loose from her bun.  She
looked at them with suspicion when she opened the door, her clear
blue eyes flitting from Mulder, then fastening hard on Scully. 
'You can't come in unless I've invited you,' she said roughly. 

Judging from her age, her heavy accent and her strange behaviour
Mulder decided that she must be Eilian-the grandmother. 

He realised that Scully must have reached the same conclusion,
for after a moment she stirred by his elbow.  'Mrs.  George?'

The woman sagged visibly.  'You're from the states,' she said,
obviously relieved. 

'Yes,' replied Scully, more than a little bemused.  'I'm Agent
Scully, this is agent Mulder.  We're here to-'

'Come in,' said Eilian briskly.  'You're letting all the warm out
standing in the doorway like that.'

She bustled them in and took their overcoats, hanging them in an
oak hall cupboard.  While she was turned away Mulder took the
opportunity to examine the room.  One or two woven rugs lay on a
polished wood floor, the furniture was all mismatched and
comfortable looking.  A fireplace burned in a corner of the
room.  All around the house were vases full of green leaves, red
berries sprinkled liberally throughout them.  He touched Scully's
shoulder and silently pointed them out to her.  'Rowan,' he said
to her.  'Protection.'

'Old wive's tale,' she replied. 

'Maybe,' said Eilian, coming up behind them, 'but it seems to
work.  You'll have to excuse the way I greeted you.  I thought
that you were someone else.  One of *hers*.' 'Who's?,' asked
Mulder curiously. 

Eilian leant in to whisper conspiratorialy.  'D.A.N.A.'

Puzzled, Mulder shot Scully a glance.  'Dana?'

She gave a tiny shrug in response. 

'Not Dana,' said Eilian, lowering her voice further.  'Thanu. 
It's a bad omen speaking *her* name aloud.  *She* is mother
Goddess.  The queen of the fairies.  The first of the Tuatha de
Danaan.  The last of the Daoine Sidhe.' She grinned at Mulder. 
'That's why your girlfriend gave me such a start.  It's the
colouring, she looks just like one ought.'

'Oh,' said Mulder, amused.  He turned to Scully.  'Is there
something you haven't told me about yourself, Dana?'

She quirked an eyebrow.  'Many things.  Does that bother you?'

He chuckled.  'You have to admit it's weird.'

'Spooky,' she agreed with a smile.  'But that's why they called
you, right?'

He smiled in response, then hailed down Eilian.  'You know that's
why we're here, don't you Mrs.  George?'

Eilian bit her lip and looked away from them.  'You're here about
the children.'

Scully shot Mulder a look.  'Yes,' she said.  'Did you know
them?'

Eilian sighed.  'I knew every last one of them, Agent Scully. 
All but the last were friends of my granddaughter.'

'Hannah,' said Mulder. 

Eilian looked shocked, then she descended on Mulder with
suspicion burning in her eyes.  'How would you know?'

Mulder took a slow step back.  'I'm sorry, Mrs.  George...'

'You *are* one of them!  Out!  Out!' She thrust a bony finger at
Scully, and Mulder stepped protectively between them. 

'No,' he said.  'We've been to the school.  The kids told me that
Hannah hadn't been at school...'

Eilian seemed to lose her energy and fell back into a seat.  'Can
you blame me?  Someone-some*thing* is after her.'

Mulder shook his head and responded gently.  'Mrs.  George,
there's no reason to suspect that Hannah will be a victim.'

'Then why is she being followed?'

'Who said that she is?,' Mulder asked carefully. 

'Hannah,' said the old woman.  'She's a perceptive child, Agent
Mulder.  She senses things.'

Mulder looked at Scully, then back to Eilian.  'Can we meet her?'

Eilian looked uneasily at the two of them.  'I don't know...'

Scully tried to reassure her. 'Please, Mrs. George. Hannah may 
be the only link in the case.'

Finally Eilian nodded. 

She led them up the stairs and along the narrow hallway until
they reached a door at the end. "Hannah's Room," a sign taped 
to the wood panels declared. The script was uneven and childlike,
marked out in bright coloured crayon. Eilian twisted the knob a 
little. 'Hannah?,' she said quietly. 'There's someone here to see 
you.' With that she fully opened the door and admitted them.

The first thing that struck Mulder about the room was the 
innocence of it. The large windows and high roof combined 
to accentuate the light atmosphere. A large collection of plush 
soft toys piled up on an old high bed. The carpet was littered 
with books and cloths. The walls were painted with Cicely 
May Baker murals: Tiny fairies, watercolour flowers, a 
veritable woodland in a child's fantasy world. Hannah herself 
was lying in this  melee on her front, tartan pinafore rucked 
up over her knees, stockinged legs waving in the air. She was 
clutching a purple pencil with which she was putting the 
finishing touches on a sketch of a bluebell.

Beside him Scully cleared her throat. 'Hello, Hannah.'

Hannah smiled back. 'Hello.'

'I'm Dana Scully and this is Fox Mulder. We're from the 
F.B.I. in America,' said Scully.

'Oh,' said Hannah. She put down her pencil and sat up, 
crossing her legs and pulling her skirt down over her knees. 
'You want to talk to me about *them*, don't you?'

'Who?,' Mulder asked her.

She bit her bottom lip. 'Nanna says I shouldn't say their 
names aloud.'

'Why not?,' Scully queried.

'It's bad. I'll write it for you.' She turned her drawing over and 
drew the letters "T-H-E-E-N-A  S-H-E-E". She passed the 
sheet of paper over to them. 'It's not how you *really* spell it-
but it's how it sounds.'

Scully furrowed her brow. 'Daoine S-' she began, but was 
stopped when Mulder clapped a hand over her mouth.

'Bad,' he murmured into her ear. 'Call them "them".'

Scully just looked at him. 

'Your grandmother said you thought someone was following 
you.'

'I don't *think* someone's following me, mister,' said 
Hannah. 'I *know* someone is.'

'Do you have any idea who it is?,' Scully asked her.

'It's lots of them. I don't know their names. They're all the 
same.'

'Puck, peaseblossom and mustard seed,' murmured Scully in a 
barely audible voice.

Suddenly Mulder pitched backwards as something wove 
between his legs. Scully steadied him, and he looked down at 
a massive white cat curling around his ankles.

'Jesus,' he muttered under his breath.

'Tinkerbell!,' exclaimed Hannah.

'*Tinkerbell?*,'  he heard his own incredulous voice say. He 
saw Scully's shoulders begin to shake and had the nasty 
suspicion that she was fighting to keep the laughter back.

'What a gorgeous, uh...cat,' he said to Hannah and knelt down 
to pat it. It ingnored him entirely and slunk over to Scully 
where, putting it's front paws on her leg it stretched 
luxuriously.

Hannah grinned. 'Tinkerbell likes you.'

Mulder leaned forward to murmur, 'Tinkerbell has good 
taste.'

She leant down to run her hand along the spine of the cat and 
Tinkerbell arched ecstatically into her hand. Mulder watched 
her for a moment, rubbing her fingers under the cat's chin, 
then he turned his attention back to Hannah. 'Do you know 
*why* these, ...er, people have been following you?'

'They want me to play with them,' whispered Hannah. 'But I 
won't. I know what happens to people who play with them. I 
don't want to play with them. I don't want to get drowned in 
the Lake of Children, like Chrissie and Beth did.'

'I'm not going to let that happen,' said Agent Mulder gently. 
'Agent Scully and I are here to find these people and stop 
them.'

'Hannah, where do you think they may be at the moment?,' 
Scully asked, rising to her feet.

Hannah shrugged. 'The forest?'

'You're not sure?,' Mulder asked.

Hannah shook her head.

Mulder sighed. 'Okay, well, Agent Scully and myself will probably
be in Hayle for a while, so maybe we'll come visit you again.'

They turned away, but before they could leave Hannah pulled on 
Scully's sleeve and motioned for her to bend down. When she did 
Hannah reached a small plump hand into the collar of her blouse 
and produced the pewter amulet.

'You should really wear it on the outside,' she said. 'That way it
won't need to be protection. It will be warning enough.' She 
traced the interwoven knot with her finger. 'I like it. It reminds
me of him.'

'Who?,' asked Scully.

Hannah smiled. An expression too old for her passed through her 
eyes. 'The one in your mind and your heart,' she replied.

***    

"Faeries", by The Pen and Brain. Part 15 of very, very many.
 Okay, if you've just jumped into the story. You should know by now
that you have to read the rest, otherwise you'll be totally lost.
If you're interested and you can't find it anywhere (It's a monster
and at the moment you'll only find 1 to 5 on the archive) give me
a buzz at ThePen@hotmail.com and I'll either send it to you or
show you where to find it...
For those of you who are tuning in again: Hello! And welcome!
Disclaimer: Fox Mulder (swoon) and Dana Scully (cheer) belong
to Chris Carter (stimulate that chakra, man) and 1013 (down, 
brainwaves!). And Twentieth Century Fox (who, I might add, are not
on my Christmas Card list ever since they waged war on 'Phile sites.)
And now, on with the show...

***

Mulder was waiting for her downstairs, sitting at a scarred kitchen
table. She came down, hesitating in the doorway. He looked up from a
heavy leather-bound book and motioned her to a chair opposite him.

Eilian smiled at her as she slid into the seat. "Would you like
something to drink?"

"Coffee, if you have some?," she replied.

"No," said Eilian, the smile still playing at the corners of her lips.
"I have something just as good." She pushed a chipped mug across the
table. "Birch and cinnamon tea."

Scully raised her eyebrows and glanced to her partner.

"Delicious," he said by way of reply.

She took a tentative sip and found the tea was thick and sweet,
caramel coloured with cream swirls of milk that dissappeared under her
teaspoon. She inclined her head towards the book in front of Mulder.
"What's that?"

"Book of spells," he replied cryptically.

Eilian cuffed him gently across the back of his head. "Hush, you'll
scare her. Recipies, Dana. Most of them."

"The rest are spells," Mulder said.

Scully just glared at him, then hid her smile behind the mug of tea.
"What sort of spells?"

"Assorted," he said in a distracted tone of voice.

Eilian peered over his shoulder, glanced up at Scully and laughed.
"'Twon't work if she's already in love with you, Fox."

Scully rose halfway off her chair. "What?"

He snapped the book shut, feigning innocence. "Nothing," he said with
false nonchalance. She narrowed her eyes at him, but let it slide.

He looked up at Eilian. "Mrs George, may we speak to Hannah's mother?"

The older woman looked uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot
before sitting down at the table. "She's...different, Fox. She doesn't
speak much."

"We won't ask many questions."

"I really don't think it would be a good idea," Eilian insisted. "I'm
sure she wouldn't be able to help anyway."

"Why?," asked Scully curiously.

Eilian tapped her head. "She's not all there sometoimes. Most of the
time."

"Mother?"

Both Mulder and Scully jumped at the sound of the voice, quiet and
husky, but echoing strangely around the room.

Scully stood up from her chair. "Mrs Winslow?"

The woman transferred her gaze to the diminutive agent, her green eyes
luminous. "Yes?"

Mulder stood also. "I'm Agent Mulder, this is my partner, Dana
Scully."

"Dana?," the woman asked in a bemused way.

"Kate-," said Eilian over Scully's reply.

"We would like to talk to you about Hannah?," Mulder asked carefully.

Kate looked even more confused and pushed a dark lock of hair back
from her eyes.

"Your daughter," Scully prompted her, shooting Mulder a puzzled look.

"Hannah," said Kate.

"Kate-," Eilian protested again.

"Is Hannah-," Kate began to shake. "Is Hannah-"

Alarmed, Scully reached for her. "Mrs. Winslow?"

Kate's knees folded and she sank to the floor murmuring to herself.
Eilian was at her side in a moment, kneeling with Scully on the wooden
floor.

"Mrs George, is she having a seizure?," Scully asked frantically.

"Of sorts," Eilian replied.

Scully felt her anger rise with the noncommittal reply. She shook her
head to clear it. "Is she epileptic?"

"No," Eilian said, "Nothing like that. Her soul is uncomfortable in
it's current vessel. Frankly I'm surprised she's survived as long as
she has."

Scully glanced at the older woman. "Has she had any seizures before?"

"Oh yes. It will pass."

No sooner had Eilian spoken these words than Scully felt Kate sag, her
head lolling back against Scully's supporting arm, face blanched
white. She opened her eyes and the brilliance was dimmed by pain and
clouded by tears.

"Kate?" Scully kept her voice gentle, leaning over the woman. "Do you
know where you are?"

Kate's eyes swivelled to Eilian. "I'm going to be ill," she said in a
surprisingly clear voice.

Scully helped her upright and got her to the sink, keeping a
comforting hand on the clammy nape of her neck.

"Mrs George, will you get Kate a warm shirt, please?" Scully looked
to Eilian, fighting to keep the grimace off her face. "Mulder, from
the bathroom, a facewasher or something." She pulled the soiled blouse
from Kate's shoulders, wadding it up into a ball and leaving it on the
sink. Then she froze.

On Kate's hunched back were two gashes, identical to the gashes on
Christina's, but entirely healed into thick white scars.

She heard Mulder come up behind her and he sucked in a breath as he
saw the wounds.

"My God."

She turned towards him. "These-"

"I know."

Eilian appeared in the doorway with a knitted cardigan which she
draped around her daughter's shoulders.

"Mrs George," Scully began, "How did Kate get these gashes?"

"I think you'd better go now," said Eilian, wrapping the trembling
body in her arms.

"Kate-," Mulder began, but Eilian cut him off sharply.

"Now."

Mulder looked puzzled, but nevertheless he motioned Scully to the
hallway. "We'll see ourselves out. Thankyou for agreeing to see us.
Tell Hannah we'll speak to her again."

He grabbed their coats from the hall cupboard as they left, throwing
them into the back seat of the rental car.

"Mulder, did you see those wounds?"

"I saw them," he said grimly.

"They were identical to the gashes I found on Christina's back, only
totally healed."

"I know."

"Do you understand what this means?" She turned in her seat and
watched him. "The severe mental instability, the petit mal seizure,
the scars-"

"Scully-"

"Peta Winslow may be right. That family..."

he began to fossick around in his pockets until he found a folded
sheet of paper.

"What's this?," she asked curiously, taking it.

"You tell me," he replied, his eyes still on the road.

She unfolded it, smoothing the creases with her fingers as she stared
uncomprehendingly at it. A list of assorted herbs and plants, a small
number of directions. Then it struck her. "The herbal concoction
toxicology pulled up."

He nodded, his jaw set. "Your "potion"."

She looked at the spidery writing. "Where did you get this?"

"Eilian George's recipie book," he replied.

"Love potion?," she asked lightly.

He chuckled. "I tore it out when Kate had her seizure."

She folded the sheet up again, tucking it in her jacket for
safekeeping. "It all adds up, Mulder. Kate Winslow. She's obviously,
uh-"

"Not all there," he supplied.

She nodded. "Something has triggered something in her head. Someone,
maybe. Her mother. She takes the kids to the forest, reenacts whatever
happened to her when she got those scars and then drowns them."

He shook his head. "Scully, do you honestly believe that woman, Kate
Winslow, could do that?"

"MPD, Mulder. Multiple personalities. It would explain the seizure.
The erratic behaviour."

"No." He cut her off. "That woman is a physical and emotional wreck."

"That only promotes my point," she moved her hands emphatically.
"She's right next to the forest, her behaviour is strange to say the
very least, she has access to Eilian's spell book-"

"It's not her."

"The coincidence with Hannah is too much. There was no struggle,
whoever killed these kids knew them."

He shook his head again, firmer this time. "By your reasoning it could
very well be Eilian herself."

"What about the gashes on Kate's back?," she asked him.

He shrugged. "Old wounds, Scully. You said so yourself. She might not
even know she has them."

She laughed incredulously. "They're on her own back, Mulder. A person
knows their own body."

He looked at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I don't
know about my own, but I know every line and curve of yours."

She glanced at him, then looked quickly away.

Silence.

"Do you have a theory?," she finally asked.

He grinned lopsidedly. "You won't like it."

"Do I ever?," she shot back.

"Faeries." He waited for her reaction.

Scully pondered this for a moment. "Tell me you didn't just say
"faeries"."

He was silent.

She sighed, let her head rest against the seat for a moment. "I think
the fresh country air has gone to your head."

"Something has," he suggested softly.

She let his words warm her for only a moment. "Can we keep our minds
on the case, please?"

he chuckled and pulled into the Hotel carpark. "We're meeting for
lunch, can you wait until then?"

She stopped him on the stairs leading up to the hotel. "Mulder, wait."

He turned towards her.

"About last night."

He felt his heart stop, but he fought to keep the pain from
registering on his face. "Last night?," he asked carefully.

She swallowed, looked away, then met his eyes again. "I'd like us to
start again."

For a moment he could say nothing, just stood studying her face, the
perfect, pale features, the burnished copper hair, the eyes that
looked past the barriers into his soul. "I love you."

She smiled.

He found the expression exquisitely breathtaking and he took another
step closer. She ducked her head, but he caught her chin in his hand
and brought her face to his own...

"Fox! Dana!"

She jerked back in surprise and Mulder groaned, softly murmuring in
her ear, "I'm going to have to kill him."

"You'll have to beat me to it."

                                 ***
End of part 15, continued in part 16


Faeries part 16 by The Pen and The Brain.
For disclaimer, see part 15.

***
"Faeries?"  Alec repeated the word with a grin.

Mulder just nodded.

Alec turned the grin on Scully. "He thinks faeries have been killing
children?"

One corner of her mouth twitched up in a brief smile, otherwise she
made no response.

Alec shook his head, his grin fading. "Mulder, there are no such
things as faeries."

"How do you know?," he asked calmly.

Alec frowned. "I've never seen one."

"Have you seen the Pope?"

"No."

Mulder shrugged. "So, how do you know he's real?"

Alec gave a short bark of laughter. "Other people have seen him. No-
one's ever seen a faery."

Mulder smiled. "You haven't been speaking to Eilian George."

Alec let his head fall back again and he stared at the ceiling for a
moment, before looking to Scully again. "*You* can't believe him,
*Doctor* Scully."

"It's a theory," she replied after  small pause.

Alec stared at her incredulously, then turned to Mulder. "Jesus,
you've got her well-trained, don't you?"

Mulder glared at him, one hand automatically to touch her arm. She was
stiff with indignation, her jaw set, her eyes furious. "Listen, Alec-"

"Alright, sorry. Point taken." He lifted his hands to placate them. "I
just find it incredible that *you*, Dana, a *doctor* would let your
personal feelings prejudice your opinions on this matter."

Scully's eyes narrowed. "What are you suggesting?"

"You have a scientific mind, Agent Scully. You know that what he
believes is ridiculous."

Her expression grew more dangerous. "What he *believes*?"

"*Faeries*, Dana? The little people. Tuatha De Danaan. Daonie Sidhe."

"The legends had to come from somewhere, Alec," Mulder finally spoke
up.

Alec didn't respond, but sat silently, watching the two of them
closely. After a long pause he sighed and stood up. "All right. Well,
I can only hope that this...theory doesn't lead to more deaths,
Mulder." With that he left.

Silence fell over the small table, Scully calmly buttering a slice of
bread, Mulder staring at his own fingers plucking at the chequered
material of the table. Finally he looked up.

"So, did you buy that Myths and Legends book?"

Scully looked puzzled and frowned slightly at him. "It's upstairs in
my suitcase. Why?"

He folded his napkin up and placed it on the table beside his plate.
"I want to find some basis for my theory," he replied with a half
grin.

She raised her eyebrow and pursed her lips. "In a book of myths?"

His grin grew wider. "Bear with me here, Dana. If we find an old
legend that concurs with the current happenings, it proves-"

"It proves we have a suspect taking advantage of local history."

His smile didn't falter. "Do you have a better idea?"

Her lips curved up in a dangerous expression, her eyes alight with
suggestiveness. "Perhaps."

He tried to mask a chuckle. "Can we keep our minds on the case,
please?"

"Maybe we should have a look around the forest," she suggested.

He grimaced. "Maybe."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting. "But?"

Shrugging, he stood up. "Alec and his team have been through the
forest with a fine tooth comb. They didn't bring anything up."

"Maybe they weren't looking for the right thing," she replied as she
also stood.

He looked down at her, astonishment in his eyes. "Are you implying
that my theory is correct, Scully?"

She just looked at him, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her
lips.

"Silly question," he relented. "The book was in your suitcase, you
said?"

                                 ***

Dusk was at the window, turning the sea black and covering the bay
with shadows. Scully uncurled herself from the couch, stretched and
pulled the blinds down on the frosted panes. Mulder muttered something
incoherent and she flicked on the overhead light. He was sprawled
across an easy chair, "Myths and Legends of Cornwall" less than an
inch from his nose.

She stood behind him and, taking his head in her hands, tipped his
face back to her. "You'll ruin your eyesight."

He turned his head, kissed the centre of her palm and put the book
down on his lap. "Is Alec meeting us for dinner?"

She shook her head and returned to the couch, packing the papers
strewn on the floor into a manilla folder. "He's got two men keeping
surveillance on the lake."

Mulder sat upright. "Another one's gone missing?"

She shook her head again. "It's better to be safe than sorry," she
said by way of reply.

He grinned as he came up behind her. "That's always been Alec's
credo." He took her armful of papers and trailed after her into her
room. She closed the blind in there as well, shivering as she felt the
cold radiating off the panes. She switched on the bedside lights to
banish the shadows and the filtered light gave the room a cosy feel.

Mulder had flopped down on the bed and was resting his head on his
hands, her files forgotten beside him on the covers. She smiled
slightly at the sight of him and moved to kneel beside him, her hands
on his shoulders kneading away the tension.

He sighed and leant back against her. "I'm not making any sense out of
the case," he said drowsily. His eyelids fluttered as her strong
fingers hit an especially sore spot. "I'm stumped."

He heard her chuckle. "I never thought I'd see the day..."

he let himself relax further into her touch. "I've had a mental
block."

She brushed his forehead with her lips. "At least no-one's gone missing
since we've been here."

"That's something," he agreed. "We haven't got much time left,
though."

He felt her nod her head as she sat down.

"It's been three days," he continued, "and we're still no closer to
solving the case than we were back in Washington."

"Don't get discouraged," she said.

"I'm not getting discouraged," he replied. "I'm getting frustrated."

"Don't get frustrated either," she said, letting her lips graze his
cheek.

He opened his eyes and met her gaze. "You're trying to distract me."

"Damn right." She leant forward again, kissed his temple.

A rough chuckle escaped his lips. "It's working." The words were
barely out before he sealed their mouths.

She shifted to increase the pressure of her lips, letting one hand
rest on his jaw, the other on his knee. She felt one arm go about her
waist, pulling her closer, until she could feel the rapid rise and
fall of his chest.

His hand was creeping up under her shirt when there came a loud
knocking on the door.

She began to laugh, smothering the sound in the crook of his shoulder.

"Was that the door?," Mulder growled.

The second round of knocking precluded her reply, followed closely by
a male voice calling, "Doctor Scully?"

Scully pulled out of her partner's arms. "It's Aaron."

"Aaron?," Mulder repeated incredulously.

"Doctor Aaron Carter," she replied, "from Penzance Hospital."

Another muffled cry outside the door. "Dana!"

Mulder sat up straighter. "He calls you Dana?"

"I gave him my name-"

"You *let* him call you Dana?"

"Let me just get the door, Mulder."

"Fox."

She let a smile pass briefly over her lips. "Fox. It won't take long."

"Shouldn't I meet him?"

"I don't think your existence is a blow he can handle right now," she
responded. "I'll only be a moment."

"I'll be here," he replied, only a glitter of humour in his eyes
lightening the tone of his voice.

Scully smoothed her hair, gave herself a moment to recover her
equilibrium and opened the door.

Aaron Carter lounged casually in the doorway, a dogeared pile of
papers under one arm, the other hugging a bottle of some description
to his chest. Scully sighed inwardly.

"You didn't call, so I thought I'd drop by," he purred, unabashedly
looking her over, taking in the crumpled slacks and the blouse, loose
at the neck and pulled from her waistband. "The woman at the desk said
that you were up here. Obviously you weren't expecting tonight."

"No," she replied, motioning a hand at his attire, a well-pressed suit
and dress suit. "I left my cocktail dress at home."

He gave her a lascivious grin. "And where's home for you, Dana?"

"Elsewhere," she said curtly. "Are those my reports?"

"I thought we could go through them over dinner," he suggested with a
leer.

"Dinner," she repeated flatly.

Uninvited, he brushed past her into the main room and took a seat on
the couch. "For two. Do you have any candles?"

She sighed and swung the door shut, realising that she wasn't going to
get rid of him as easily as she had hoped to. "Dr. Carter-"

"Please," he interrupted her," Call me Aaron."

"On a professional basis I'd prefer not to," she replied.

He stood up again, leaving the files and the bottle on the coffee
table and crossed the room towards her. "Who says I'm here on a
strictly professional basis, Dana?"

She swallowed, disliking his invasion on her personal space.

"Dana?" His face loomed closer and with a jerk she pulled back, her
hand automatically going to her hip to reach for her gun, which was,
of course, not there.

"Back off," she warned him.

Instead he moved closer. "You've been sending out signals. Don"t
pretend you haven't."

He was a tall man, bulky if not muscular. She didn't she'd be able to
push him away. She could strike him, but she thought he'd react like
a wounded bear and she didn't like her chances if he started a brawl.
Where the hell was Mulder?

Behind Aaron came a polite throat clearing. The doctor turned and saw
Mulder standing in the centre of the room, hands on his hips.

Aaron stood back from Dana. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise you had
company."

"Apparently," said Mulder in his monotone voice.

Dana crossed the room to her partner, and picked up the files from the
coffee table. Mulder gently touched her arm, murmuring "Are you O.K.?"
When she nodded he turned his attention back to the other man, letting
the anger and possessiveness flare in his eyes.

The blond man met his glare and sneered.

Mulder smiled pleasantly. "I'm Agent Mulder. Dana's...partner."

Aaron barely acknowledged the careful pause and he didn't take his
eyes off Scully, now sitting on the couch paging through the files.
Aaron looked increasingly frustrated. "What exactly are you looking
for?"

She didn't react to the petty tone of his voice. "A link, Dr. Carter."

"Aaron," he muttered, shooting Mulder a wary look. "What sort of
link?"

With a sigh Scully put the files down. "I don't know. That's why I
asked you for the reports." She dropped them on the coffee table.
"These are not complete."

Aaron frowned. "Yes they are."

"No," Scully said. "They're not. I asked for full blood work,
toxicology, any surface wounds. Everything."

Aaron gestured pathetically at the papers. "This *is* everything."

"For three of the murders, Doctor. I need more. Where are the others?"

Aaron shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking from Dana to her
partner. "They're in my car."

Scully glanced quickly at Mulder who had choked back something that
sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "Why don't you get them?," she
suggested sweetly. "Mulder and I will meet you downstairs in the bar."

Reluctantly Aaron nodded and left the room. Mulder heard him cursing
quietly to himself as he stomped down the stairs. Dana's shoulders
started to shake, he face hidden. It took him a moment to realise she
was trying to suppress her laughter. He extended his hand to help her
up. "Can you believe that guy? Is he really a doctor?"

She grinned in response. "I'm wondering the very same thing."

He picked up the sheaf of papers. "Is there anything in here?"

She shook her head. "No. These are the autopsies for Janet, Henry and
Christina. The first murder, for which there was no thorough autopsy.
And the last two-"

"Both of which you already know off by heart," he completed.

"No gashes," she said. "Except for Christina."

Mulder sighed. "Okay...well, let's work around the only link we have."

"Hannah."

"Exactly." He walked to the door, then back to the couch again and
perched on the armrest. "What if Hannah's the one?"

"The one what?"

"The one the murderer wants," said Mulder. "What if the others have
been accidents. Wrong place at the wrong time. Or they're mistaken for
Hannah."

Scully frowned a little. "Assuming this is correct, most of the
victims look nothing like Hannah, save Bethany who had red hair. Two
of them were boys, Mulder. Unless the murderer is blind..."

He nodded, accepting her point. "Well, what if the murderer is a hired
assassin? Given very vague directions as to which child to kill-"

She cut him off. "Who would have an assassin to kill little Hannah
Winslow?"

He shrugged. "It's just a theory."

"And where do the gashes come in?"

He shrugged again. "I don't know. We don't even know if the gashes are
a common factor."

She just watched him for a moment, then, with a shake of her head she
said, "I think you're reaching." She stood up and walked to the door,
where she paused. "At least you've given up your 'faery' theory."

"Anything to please you," he replied with a secret smile.

                                 ***

Faeries, end of part 16, continued in part 17



The remaining files provided Scully no further 
enlightenment. Obscure comments like "deep scratches" and 
"unidentifiable wounds" meant that she had no real way of 
telling whether or not the other children bore Christina's 
gashes. Scully had no doubt Dr. Call-me-Aaron Carter had
performed the autopsies, but she had no great desire to talk to 
him again, anyway. Two hours over dinner with the man and 
Mulder had been near homicidal. Besides, she reasoned, it 
was a lousy lead anyway. The wounds on Christina's back 
were nearly healed-she had incurred them, almost certainly, a 
very great time before she disappeared.

Mulder had gone to bed early, professing the onset of a nasty
headache, but Scully was still awake, sitting up on the hotel 
bed with her back to the wall and her legs stretched out before 
her. Wearily she glanced at her wrist watch. 2 AM. All noise 
had ceased from Mulder's room over an hour ago and she 
knew if she didn't follow suit she'd be useless in the morning. 
Useless and crabby and nasty.

At this point in time she didn't much care. Still, with another 
sigh she flipped the light off and sank into the mattress of the 
bed, willing her mind to shut down long enough to afford her 
at least four hours of sleep. Unbidden thoughts of Melissa 
came to her head, as they often did at times like this. She had 
never been particularly close to her sister. They'd been too 
different to see eye to eye, the bond that held them as children 
growing weaker when as adults they'd gone their very 
seperate ways. Yet in the months between Dana's mysterious 
disappearance and her sister's death, they'd found each
other again. And learnt to respect the other's differences.

*People do not have to be identical to be close to each other*, 
Dana realised. *Mulder and I are living testament to that*. 
"You and Fox have hold of two different ends of the same 
stick," her mother had once told her. Melissa had made the 
same comment a few weeks later, adding, "The result is the 
magnetism you both feel, Dana. The electricity."

Scully had laughed, regarding it as a light-hearted joke, but 
now she had to question her own response. Being close to her 
partner. A look. A touch. The smallest smile could leave her 
breathless. But she realised the response was not so much a 
physical reaction as a mental one. She knew that he was an 
attractive man. Saw the effect his intense looks and sculpted 
physique had on other women. Saw too often the longing 
gazes or forward passes they'd made at him. But she'd
always tried to look further. Beyond the shell into the soul. 
And somehow-before Mulder-she'd never been satisfied. 
Mulder's intelligence shone from his eyes, his devotion and 
his dedication evident. He was strong and stubborn and often 
frighteningly intense. His emotions he hid carefully behind a 
barrier, a wall which had only crumbled once or twice before 
her. "He's right on the edge," Melissa had once said. "And 
you find that wildly exciting." *Do I?* Dana wondered. *Is 
this...attraction I feel merely a psychological rebelling against 
the more in control man? The more safe man? Bryan,
for instance*.

"Go with it," Mulder would have said. "Trust your heart." 
Dana sighed again, rolling over onto her side and staring at 
the glowing digital clock. Two-forty-five A.M. She *really* 
needed to get to sleep. 

                                 ***

"I looked into the Winslow family, like you asked me to, 
Fox," Alec was saying.

Mulder looked up from his lunch, a thick vegetable soup, 
laced with what he was pretty sure was an illegal amount of 
parsley as a garnish. With a grimace he pulled yet another 
green stalk from between his lips and added it to the 
increasing damp pile on his side plate.

"I *said*-" Alec began.

"I heard," Mulder cut in impatiently. "Did you pull anything 
up?"

Alec looked smug. "I did." With a self-satisfied grin he 
deposited a thin, yellowing folder on the table. Mulder just 
looked at it until Alec's enthusiasm overcame him. As usual it 
didn't take long.

"Eilian George's husband-Walter George-was the head of 
police in this neck of the woods."

Mulder's eyebrow barely twitched. "And...?"

"*And* in this report he declared his daughter was 
kidnapped."

Scully looked to Mulder, then back at Alec. "Kate's sister?"

"Kate," said Alec.

Mulder shrugged. "So she was returned. What does this have 
to do with this case?"

"No," said Alec, "apparently she wasn't returned."

Scully looked startled. "But we just saw-"

"Apparently, she was "exchanged"."

The pieces fell into place with Mulder and he sat upright 
from his slouch.

Scully looked even more confused. "I don't understand."

"The Kate Winslow you met yesterday is *not* the Kate 
Winslow Eilian George gave birth to."

"A changeling," said Mulder.

"That's ridiculous," said Scully, glaring at Mulder for a 
moment.

Alec shook his head quickly. "No, Dana, there are marked 
differences. Change of eye colour, temperament-"

"-Alec-"

"The sudden inexplicable appearance of two gashes on the 
child's back."

That brought her up short. "Inexplicable?"

"They were fresh wounds. But they didn't bleed."

"How could that be?"

Alec shrugged, a shadow of a smile still on his lips. "No-one 
knows.Eilian George reported a light-"

Mulder's eyes widened. "She was there? She saw it happen?"

Scully shook her head. "You'll have to disregard her account, 
Mulder. You saw the woman, she's a mess."

"You would have been too if your daughter had been 
kidnapped right before your eyes," he retorted.

"She *wasn't* kidnapped," Scully insisted. "We know this. 
We met the woman yesterday."

"Barely."

She sighed. "So what exactly are you suggesting happened 
that night? Faeries came through the window of Kate 
Winslow's bedroom, spirited her away and left a faery baby, a 
changeling, in her place?"

"It would explain the scars," he replied.

"Why?"

"Think about it, Scully."

She did for a moment, then stared incredulously at her 
partner. "Removal of faery wings?!"

"You said it."

She shook her head vehemently. "No."

"It's a reasonable scenario."

Her eyes widened, then narrowed at him. "I have a *more* 
reasonable scenario. Eilian George- for whatever reason- 
hurts the baby. Fearing permanent damage she slices the 
infant's back and makes up this ridiculous story about a faery 
raid."

Mulder flicked open the file and jabbed at the report. 
"'Marked Differences.'"

She didn't look at the folder, responding only, "Physical 
trauma.'

'Why make up a faery story, Dana?," he asked. "Why 
something so implausible if it wasn't untrue?"

"You know how superstitious these little towns are. She was 
preying on-"

"Excuse me," Alec cut in.

Scully and Mulder both looked at him, surprised, almost as if 
they had forgotten his prescence.

"Eilian George wouldn't make light of the legends, Dana."

She said nothing, realising that she was right.

"What we have to do is find the connection between Kate's 
abduction and these murders."

Mulder thought for a moment, tapping the handle of his 
spoon on the table. "They want their changeling back."

"Who?"

"The Daoine Sidhe."

Scully bit her lip. "So why are they going after the children? 
Why not Kate?"

"They're going after Hannah. We ascertained that yesterday," 
Mulder said.

She shrugged. "Well, why go after Hannah, then?"

"I should think that the "little people" would have a poor 
sense of time, so they're trying to take the young child instead 
of the adult."

Scully suddenly smiled, amusement sparkling in her blue 
eyes.

Mulder stopped. "What?"

"I can't believe I'm listening to this," she said. "I can't believe
it's making sense."

He grinned back at her. "Maybe the fresh country air has 
gone to your head."

"*Def*initely."

Alec looked from one to the other, a bemused expression on 
his face, seemed about to comment, then changed his mind.

Suddenly a young man entered the room where they were 

eating lunch, He was wearing a navy jacket and his dark hair 
was damp and mussed. Mulder recognised him as one of the 
policemen Alec had commissioned.

"Sir...s" he said as he reached them. Then stopped and added 
a stammering "Ma'am."

Alec sighed. "What is it, Jonas?"

"Another one's gone missing."

Alec looked shocked. "Another child? How? We had such 
extreme precautions!"

"When did this happen?," Scully asked the young policeman.

Jonas looked even more flustered. "Several hours ago, 
ma'am."

Alec flushed with anger. "And you're only just reporting to us 
now?"

Shuffling for a moment before he answered, Jonas shot 
Mulder the look of a small animal caught in a trap. "Umm, 
the grandmother reported it to us when her daughter came 
back, but we thought, kids being kids-"

"You thought she'd just run off to play," Mulder supplied.

Scully touched his hand under the table and he glanced at her
gratefully. She transferred her gaze to the officer. "It was 
Hannah Winslow."

"Yes," he said, obviously surprised.

Alec's eyebrows shot up. "How did you-?"

"Have you searched the town?," asked Mulder.

"I've had five men scouring the town since Eilian George 
came to us. Nothing."

Scully heard Mulder heave a sigh, his fingers tightened 
around hers for a moment.

"What about Kate, the mother? If they left the house 
together..."

Jonas shook his head. "She won't speak."

Scully frowned, puzzled. "Won't? I don't think I understand. 
Doesn't she want to find her daughter?"

"Mrs. George said that she just fell through the door-alone-
and hasn't reacted since."

"Have you seen her?," Scully asked.

"We went to speak to her first thing. She wasn't there."

Mulder cocked his head. "How do you mean, "not there"?"

"She just sat," the young policeman replied. "Her eyes were 
all glazed and she just sat and stared out the window. I don't 
think she even knew we were there."

"Sounds like shock," Scully said quietly to Mulder.

"From what?" he murmured back.

She shrugged in response, her eyes worried.

Mulder shook his head, standing up from the table and 
extending a hand to Scully to help her do likewise. "Alec, 
keep an eye out on the lake. Scully and I will go speak to 
Eilian George."

"Again," Scully added without a smile.

Alec shook his head. "No. This time I'm coming with you. 
This is my investigation."

Mulder shrugged. "Suit yourself." He took Scully's arm and 
led her out to the car while Alec paid for the meal. He let his 
hand drift from her elbow to her shoulder, her throat, tracing 
a line across her jaw. "This sort of thing should never 
happen," he replied.

She turned her face into the gentle caress, her eyes seeking 
his. "Are you okay?"

He nodded slightly, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "I'm 
coping. It's just...hard"

"I know," she replied, her breath warm on his fingers.

"All right," said Alec from behind them, his voice forced and 
overly loud. "Let's get this show on the road, eh?"

Mulder grimaced, recognising his friend's phenomenal lack 
of tact. He let his hand drop from Scully's face, fingers 
catching on the ribbon around her neck as if by accident, the 
teasing glide of his fingers against her softness as arousing as 
it was brief. Her breath caught imperceptibly, her eyes turning 
a shade darker and she hurried to hide the passion from Alec 
by ducking into the car, pulling her coat after her and 
shutting the door.

                                 ***


Faeries, part 17, continued in part 18


Faeries, part 18, by The Pen and The Brain.
For disclaimer see part 1.

"Let me get this straight," Alec was saying as he slid into the
driver's seat. "When you spoke to Kate Winslow she was 
lucid."

"Barely," Mulder replied.

"What was the daughter like?"

"Down-to-earth. Very mature. Unusual," Mulder said. "The 
whole family is unusual."

"Eilian vaccilated between the two extremes possible for a
personality. Kate drifted in and out of our conversation, then 
had a fit and threw up and Hannah started quoting 
prophesies," Scully said.

Mulder's eyes met hers in the rear vision mirror. 
"Prophesies?"

She met his gaze in the mirror and felt the blood rise to her 
face, remembering the young girl's words. *He's in your heart 
and mind*. She transferred her gaze to Alec, then back to her 
partner. His mouth opened in a silent "Oh." She grinned her 
reply then looked down quickly as Alec looked over his 
shoulder at her.

"She knew she was the next victim?," Alec asked her.

Mulder answered for her. "She thought someone was 
following her."

"Who?"

"Faeries."

Scully shook her head. "Mulder, that was Eilian speaking. 
She's been fed those legends from birth."

"Faeries?," Alec repeated. "Fox, you're not suggesting faeries 
again?"

Mulder stiffened. "I'm just repeating what the girl told us."

Scully sat forward in her seat, letting her chin rest near 
Mulder's shoulder, hoping her prescense would help to calm 
his agitation.

Alec let the silence sit in the car for a moment while he 
ruminated, then, "Had she seen these..faeries?"

"I got the impression that she hadn't," Scully replied.

"Eilian told us what to look for, though," Mulder added.

Alec raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

Mulder hid his quick grin. "Small in stature, red hair, pale 
skin."

Alec smothered a chuckle. "Well it seems we need look no 
further, our murder suspect is closer than we thought."

Scully responded with a light-hearted glare.

"I don't know," Mulder murmured. "She said nothing about 
the most beautiful blue eyes on the planet."

She couldn't repress a slight smile and she reached up, 
touched the back of his neck, a feathery caress.

He released an almost imperceptible gasp and broke eye 
contact, fastening his gaze on the rutted road.

She quickly his her groin and sat back in her seat again.

"Here we are," said Mulder in a strangled voice.

Alec looked at him curiously. "Are you all right?"

Mulder nodded, using the excuse of unfaltering his seat belt 
to avert his eyes from his friend's.

Alec glanced back at Scully, puzzled, and she shrugged.

Eilian let them in without a word this time, just stood silently 
as Mulder introduced Alec, then let them into the kitchen. 
The rowan was even more prevalent in the old house as it had 
been the last time, the red berries studding every corner, every 
surface, the scent of the leaves heavy and cloying. Alec shot 
Mulder a curious look, but Mulder's attention was elsewhere.

In the midst of the chaos of vegetation a man was sitting at 
the kitchen table, his head in his hands. He had looked up 
when the agents entered the room, his brown eyes bloodshot.

Alec ducked his head for a moment as if in deference to the 
man's grief. "I'm sorry, James."

The man nodded, bit his lip and rubbed a fist across his eyes, 
trying to erase the last remnants of tears. Scully felt 
immediately sorry for the man.

Taking a deep albeit tremulous breath breath Alec introduced 
Mulder and Scully to the man, James Winslow. Hannah's 
father.

"Is there any news?," he finally asked. Mulder noticed how 
carefully neutral the man's voice was. He wasn't allowing 
himself to hope, unsure of whether he could deal with 
disappointment.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Scully gently. "We've heard nothing. We 
have full surveillance on the lake and officers sweeping the 
town-"

"There's still a chance she's just wandered off," Mulder said.

"Hannah doesn't wander," James said. "Especially not now."

"Well, we're doing all we can," Alec said in a comforting 
voice. "We all want to see Hannah returned."

"The real Hannah," said Eilian ominously from the doorway.

James sprang up from his chair, anger replacing the misery in 
his eyes. "Don't start that with me again Eilian!," he snarled, 
furious. "Don't you dare! Not with Kate. Not with Hannah."

Stunned by the force of his rage, Scully took an involuntary 
step back. She felt Mulder's steadying hand on her shoulder 
and realised that even there, in Eilian George's kitchen, his 
touch could cause tingles of sensation in the depths of her 
stomach.

Eilian remained unmoved. "Denying it will not make it 
unhappen, James."

He flung himself back into his chair. "Jesus."

"They've taken her into the forest," Eilian said. "You won't 
find her in town."

"I agree," said Mulder calmly.

James looked shocked. "You don't! You *can't*. There's 
nothing in the forest."

"Maybe," said Mulder, doubtfully.

James smacked his hand against the table, making Alec jump.
"Goddamnit! How am I expected to find my daughter if 
everyone thinks she's been taken by faeries?"

Scully cleared her throat. "Mr. Winslow I agree, to the point 
that the best place to look for Hannah would be the forest. 
Our men have scoured the town and experience tells us that 
the children are not being held in the town. The forest would 
provide cover for whoever has been taking the children."

Scully's words seemed to calm the man and he looked 
helplessly up at her. "Please, Ms. Scully. I love my daughter."

"We'll get her back," Scully reassured him.

Mulder just watched her.

In the other room Kate just rocked in her chair, staring out 
the window with unseeing eyes. James looked at her for a 
moment then wrenched his eyes away. "I want my wife back 
as well."

Alec nodded in understanding. "Can we speak to her? Just for 
a moment?"

James looked distraught. "You can try, but I don't know if 
she'll respond. She hasn't spoken since she got back." He 
gestured to her as he stood. "We tried to get her to show us 
where Hannah was taken, but she wouldn't  budge."

"She doesn't think she can reach Hannah on this plain of 
existence," suggested Mulder.

James looked even more downcast. "I think Kate is on a plain 
of existence all of her own..."

Scully patted the man's arm as she moved past him and he 
looked to her gratefully, tears shining in his eyes again.

"Kate?," Alec asked the woman gently.

She didn't respond, not even a flicker of reaction in her deep, 
glazed green eyes.

"I'm Inspector Alec Stephens. I'm here to find your daughter."

Scully looked from Alec, his handsome face gentle and 
relaxed, to Kate, rigid, rocking slightly in her seat. "I'd like to 
get her to a hospital," she said quietly.

"No," James said vehemently. "No hospitals."

Scully turned to him. "Sir, your wife is not well. She's 
bordering on catatonic. She's suffering from shock, which can 
very easily slide into clinical depression or post-traumatic 
stress syndrome. We need to get her into an environment 
where we can watch her."

"No," he repeated insistently.

She tried again. "I don't think you understand how serious 
your wife's condition is, Mr. Winslow-"

"I said *no*!"

She sighed and Mulder touched her arm. "Kate would 
probably be more comfortable in familiar surroundings," he 
said.

"Well at least let me request a home-stay nurse..."

"No nurses," James Winslow said. "I'll watch her. I don't need 
any strangers by her bed."

Scully started to protest but Mulder stopped her with a look,
remembering his own days in the hospital by her side. 
Distrusting every nurse, every doctor in the room. He saw her 
eyes soften, realised she had, once again, understood him.

"Well, at least let me check on her," she said finally, tearing 
her gaze away from his.

James looked warily from the red-haired agent to his wife, 
still silent, rocking in her chair. "Check on her...make sure 
she doesn't hurt herself. Make her better."

"I'll try," she replied, grateful for at least this small 
allowance.

"We'd better go," said Alec from his place by Kate's side. He
straightened and automatically smoothed his jacket into 
place. "I'll meet you at the car."

Mulder nodded and Scully began leaving instructions for 
James. "Try to coax Kate into performing her usual everyday 
routines. Eating, sleeping, getting dressed, etcetera. Make 
sure she stays warm, try not to let her go outside without 
someone to watch her."

James just nodded mechanically, processing the information.

"Here's my card, call me if you have any problems, or if 
there's any change. *Any* change," she repeated more firmly. 
"If she speaks, if she reacts at all, I want to know about it." 
She was sure that James would follow her instructions to the 
letter, but she was still thankful for Mulder's steadying hand 
in the small of her back as she guided her into the lobby.

She was pulling her coat on, fastening the buttons with her 
fingers that refused to stop trembling when he spoke up 
behind her.

"Let me."

She started to turn around, but his arms came around her 
shoulders, fastening the buttons for her. She closed her eyes 
and let herself lean back into him, a shaky sigh escaping from 
her lips. He finished the buttons, but let her stand there, his 
arms still around her.

"You did the right thing, Scully, no matter what you think." 
His voice at her ear was little more than a husky whisper.

"I know that," she replied, just as quietly. "So why do I feel 
I've just let them down? She *should* be in a hospital, 
Mulder..."

She felt him shake his head, felt his arms tighten around her 
for a moment, then he released her and pushed her gently 
forward out the door.

                                 ***
Continued, eventually, in part 19.
		      ***


Faeries  part nineteen, and we've hit the home stretch.

Disclaimer: You ought to know the drill by now.

"Faeries" (an epic) by The Pen and The Brain.
			===>, {*}
Any requests, queries, comments and recipes for brownies 
(I'm totally serious here) can be sent to me - The Pen - at 
ThePen@hotmail.com. I love getting mail and I'll reply as 
soon as I'm able. You can flame me too, if you like. It shows 
that you care.

***


"Mama"

Kate could feel Hannah at the edge of her conciousness. A 
bright spark that flickered and faded spasmodically as it 
fought to hold sway over the powers wrangling for control.

The shield  that seperated her from her daughter - from her 
world - was like a sheer curtain, showing enough of the other 
side to make her ache, but not enough to center on the 
location. She couldn't let go of her daughter. If she surfaced, 
even for a moment, she would lose her in the dim shadows of 
memory. So she held the tenuous contact and trusted James 
and her own "mother" to watch her corporeal body.

Hannah cried out again, in fear, not pain and Kate tried to 
send love and calm to the child, the same way she had during 
the trauma of birth. She was rapidly losing contact with her 
daughter. Unless she managed to get closer to the 
transference point she would lose all bond.

She felt James fussing around her physical self, gentle hands 
smoothing her hair, guiding her up the stairs to her bedroom, 
his quiet voice murmuring words which held no meaning for 
her. Dimly she felt the hard wood of the hallway turn to the 
plush softness of the carpet, then the cold, crisp sheets of the 
bed.

Silence. Then the muffled sobs as James began to cry. She felt 
the tendrils of agony crawling around the room, staining the 
wallpaper with pain. She felt sting of sorrow burrow into her 
heart like a thorn, but her concern for him was overshadowed 
by her longing for her daughter. Hannah would be so scared.

***

and the colours were too bright and the sounds were too loud 
and mama mama and the pain was with her diminished 
because of the distance. daddy. da. i'm so scared. and the 
hands were touching and they moved through her flesh like 
liquid and she could sense christina here. and joshua here and 
she was screaming as the air swallowed her like water.

***



James was woken by the scream of his wife. He sat bolt 
upright  and reached for across the fathomless distance of the 
bed and snatched at her hand. It was slippery with fear, so 
wet that it slid from his grasp as she lunged out of the bed, 
the nightdress plastered to her body. Her face sheened with 
perspiration was as white as bone and her eyes burned dark 
holes into the blank mask of her expression. The bed was 
damp as he clambered over her side to catch her before she 
reached the door. Too late she was gone and as he tried to 
follow her the doorhandle stuck in his hand, refusing to turn, 
refusing to budge.

"Kate!" he yelled desperately the name burning at the back of 
his throat and the sound of his voice wrapped in cottonwool. 
And the door was jammed, the metal buring with cold in his 
hand. 

He sank first to his knees, his dry palms dragging down the 
wooden door. Then to his stomach, his head hitting the frame 
and the slow ooze of blood from his temple soothing the 
terror. And as the world turned first grey then black he heard 
the latch click in the door and it swung slightly open stopping 
against his hip.

***

"What's the time?"

Mulder turned to his partner, "Just after nine," he said 
quietly, noting the dark shadows under her eyes. She hadn't 
slept last night. "We don't have to be here." He touched her 
hand under the table, felt her fingers tangle with his as she 
returned the gesture. "This is Alec's case."

"We have to stay."

"Surveillance details, Scully. I'm sure Alec wouldn't mind if 
we caught an early night."

She shook her head minutely, keeping her eyes ahead.

Alec had called his men into a meeting at eight to run 
through surveillance, they had dragged themselves back 
looking exhausted and depressed. The search through the 
town had been - as Eilian had predicted - useless. As was 
the scouring of the surrounding woods.

The narrow fluorescent lit room made everyone look grey and 
sapped of energy. Even Mulder slouched next to Scully in a 
wooden chair, his fingernails scoring the scarred table top.

Another of the officers - Danny, she thought - was saying: 
"Tommy's still out by the lake, I'm relieving him at 
midnight"...

Mulder leant closer again. "We could be doing something so 
much more... productive."

She shot him a look and he ventured a smile, a barely veilled 
challenge. She felt her breath quicken and she steadied it 
with an effort, suddenly aware of the silence that had 
descended on the table. She wrenched her gaze away from his 
hypnotising dark eyes and fastened them instead on the blank 
notepad placed on the table before her.

Alec was watching them curiously. "Fox, would you care to 
share?"

Mulder looked up at his friend, "How many officers did you 
say you wanted stationed around the lake?" he asked.

Alec looked slightly puzzled. "I didn't, but now that you 
bring it up, I want six men on surveillance."

Mulder shook his head descisivly. "Scully and I were just 
debating the wisdom of putting so many people out."

Alec raised his eyebrows. "Do you want to catch this guy?"

He shrugged in reply. "Do you want to scare him into finding 
a new place to drop the bodies?"

Sighing, Alec sat back in his chair and dropped his pen on the
table. "So what are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting that we abort this meeting, send out general 
surveillance - two men. And start out fresh in the morning."

Alec quirked an eyebrow. "Are you pushing for an early 
night, Fox?"

Mulder flashed a grin. "The sooner we get to bed, the better," 
he replied with a wry twist of his lips.

A ragged cheer went up.

Alec ran a hand through his hair, defeated. "All right. 
Ummm. We're all exhausted, so let's call it a day and meet 
again tommorow at eight-thirty."

Most of the officers were standing even before he finished 
speaking, and they filed out of the room to conglomerate in 
the dusty foyer.

Scully looked at Mulder as the last officer left. His eyes were 
dark, burning. His gaze made the blood rise in her cheeks. 
She stood to exit and he grabbed her wrist, his fingers easily 
circling the fragile bones. She was ready for him as he pulled 
her towards him covering her lips with his own, his hands a 
rough caress down her back and around her waist, pulling her 
hips against his until she fit snugly against him.

She pulled back, glanced to the half-closed door, then back to 
Mulder, laughter in her eyes. "Feeling better?"

He looked disgruntled. "No."

She touched his cheek and disengaged, stepping around the 
door into the foyer.

He watched her through a haze of arousal, took a moment to 
compose himself and followed her.

She was standing beside Alec, in animated conversation with 
one of the other officers. He came up behind her and adjusted 
her collar, his fingers brushing her neck, then went to wait 
for her outside in the cool air.

***
End of part 19, continued in part 20.
ThePen@hotmail.com


Faeries - Part 20
By The Pen and The Brain
Thepen@hotmail.com
See disclaimer in part 1

                          ***

The room was in disarray when they opened the door, files
spread over the coffee table, half-empty cups and side
plates littering what few uncluttered surfaces that were
available.

Scully sighed as she perused the destruction. "And I
usually keep such a *tidy* house."

Mulder shed his coat and slung it over the back of the
couch, dislodging a pile of photographs. Christina's
dead, drowned eyes stared accusingly up at him.

Exhausted he shut his eyes, suddenly aware of - and
overwhelmed by - the sheer enormity of the task they
had been set.

He felt Scully come up to stand behind him, then a whisper
of cloth as she lifted her hand, perhaps to touch his
cheek, smooth the hair on his brow.

She hesitated, then drew her hand away without contact.
"The funeral is tomorrow," she said. "Do you want to go?"

"No," he replied quickly, keeping his eyes tightly shut
against Christina's betrayed face.

"Mulder-"

"I don't want to waste another moment we could spend
searching for Hannah."

He thought he heard a tiny moan escape the back of her
throat and when she spoke her voice was quiet.

"Mulder...She could be dead."

"She could be alive," he responded fiercely.

She was silent, then she moved, her hand brushing his
shoulder.

That was all it took.

Mulder turned to her, catching her in his embrace, arms
tight around her, his mouth seeking hers in a flurry of
emotion, tearing a rough gasp from her. He pushed himself
up against her. Hard. Dragged her jacket off her shoulders
and let it fall to the ground. She was wearing a silk
blouse and his hands were warm through the thin material.

"Mulder-". She flattened her hands against his chest and
felt his ragged breaths rising and falling against her
palms.

His fingers were on her buttons, then against her skin and
she was burning, dissolving, his touch creating a fire
that consumed her. She let her head fall back as he moved
to investigate her throat, his lips open against her
skin, his hands burrowing into her hair.

She felt the quickening in her body and reluctantly she
pushed him away.

He looked confused, a flash of pain coursing through his
features.

"Not yet," she said gently.

His lips tightened, his eyes dark. "I'm sorry. I'm moving
too-"

"No." She stopped him quickly before he sank into the mire
of self-castigation. "I just think that we should get some
sleep tonight."

"You didn't sleep last night." It wasn't a question.

She shook her head.

"My insomnia must be catching." He traced the shadows
under her eyes with his thumbs, his touch feather-light.

"I was just too wound up to sleep."

"You should let me wear you out," he said with a suggestive
leer.

She stifled her answering smile. "How?"

"Recreational sports."

"Jogging?"

"Or we could jog."

Her smile faded after a moment. "Mulder, about this case-"

Her turned from her quickly, busying himself tidying files.
"It's nothing."

"It's *not* nothing." She grasped his arm and pulled him
around to face her. "I understand how difficult this case
must be for you-"

He stared into her intense gaze. "Scully-"

"No." She cut him off. "If there's anything - *anything*,
I want you to talk to me."

He tipped his head back and looked at the ceiling.

Her voice was gentle. "Let me be here for you."

He looked quickly down at her, tears welling, threatening
to drown him.  "What did I do to deserve you, Scully?"

Her nose crinkled at the sentimental phrase. "You mean, 'Who
did you tick off?'"

He acceded with a nod, then looked at her with raised
eyebrows. "You're *sure* you just want to sleep tonight?"

"Positive," she replied.

"All right," he agreed, reluctantly. "If you change your
mind during the night my offer still stands."

"To wear me out?"

"Don't forget your trainers."

She shoved him playfully towards the door. "Go to bed,
Mulder. You'll be impossible in the morning."

                           ***

He was still awake at 2:39, reclining on his bed in the
blue light reflecting off the water into his room. He
fidgeted restlessly under the covers and stared at the
play of light and shadows against the wall. There was no
way he was sleeping tonight.

He kicked off the covers and swung his legs over the side
of the bed. Despite the rooms heating the floor was cold
as he walked towards the door. Suddenly the handle turned
and Scully stood in the entrance, her eyes shadowed and
her face half hidden in the night. She met him halfway,
turning her face up to recieve his kiss, her arms coiling
around his neck.

He cradled her face in his hands and watched her watching
him. She was saying something, her eyes dark with worry,
not passion.

"I knew you'd come." He tried to tug her towards the bed,
but she resisted.

"I've had a call from James Winslow. Kate's gone missing."

"What?" He was already reaching for his clothes.

"She ran out a few hours ago."

"And he didn't follow? Why has he only rung now?"

She bit her lip. "He hit his head."

"Fortuitous," he muttered.

"We need to get round there, I'll call Alec and tell him
to meet us at the Winslow's home."

"Wait-"

He grabbed her arm as she made to leave. "We have to try the forest."

She looked incredulous. "Mulder-"

"No! Listen to me. Whatever you believe, *she* thinks
Hannah's been taken by faeries, and *that's* who she's
gone to find."

"Mulder, you're still working on the basis that she's
intellectually  coherent," she said, frustrated. "She might not
be! The shock of this whole thing pushed her into
extreme shock. She was near catatonic, in all probability
not thinking logically."

He snatched up his gun and dipped the holster on. "We don't have
enough time to argue this, Scully. Are you ready?"

She nodded, pulling her cell-phone out of her pocket as
she followed him into the hall. "Alec? It's Scully.."

The lights were off and Mulder nearly fell down the stairs
in his haste. He waited impatiently for the night-doorman
to unlock the front door.

"He's on his way,' said Scully.

Mulder looked at her, harried. "He's left his surveillance
at the lake?"

"Constable Peter Allen is still there."

"Jesus," muttered Mulder. "Keys."

She handed them to him and got in the car. "Where are we
going?"

"The forest," he replied, unflinchingly.

                                ***
The mist was heavy on the ground, obscuring the dangerous
branches and holes scattered on the forest floor. It was a
crisp quiet night, and the moon lent the trees an
unearthly light.

Guns drawn the two agents picked their way
carefully through the undergrowth, silent. Everything seemed 
highly defined, every sound excruciatingly sharp, every detail exact.

Scully glanced at Mulder's profile, saw the puffs of white
his shallow breaths made in the air. And then, suddenly,
she saw movement in the trees just beyond him.

"There!" She took off, almost without thinking.

Mulder snatched for her and dragged her back to his side,
wrenching her coat off her shoulders.

"What are you doing?," she hissed.

He succeeded in pulling her coat off and swiftly turned it
inside out, then forced it back into her hands. "A
backwards coat will prevent you from being led astray by
piskies," he said. "Humour me."

She shoved her arms back into the sleeves and began to
pursue again. There was a light ahead, blue and
flickering between the trees. She could hear Mulder say, "Spread
out," and then she came upon a clearing, almost false in
its perfection.  The trees were straight and of an even
height, running the circular patch of clover in an
identically spaced pattern. And in the centre of it was a
wild man.

He was tall and achingly slender, with long limbs and a
narrow, sharp face.

She lowered her gun.

He was naked and pale, but not shivering in the damp cold
of the forest. He was watching her warily with eyes that
reminded her somewhat of Kate. She took another step
towards him and he flinched, seemingly poised for flight.

"Stay where you are," she ordered.

He snarled at her, a long string of vowels that made no
sense to her, "Ceiran a luatha ne sidhe!," and started
towards her.

Her gun rose again. "I said: stay where you are."

"Scully!"

She heard Mulder call her and for one brief instant she
looked behind her. Nothing. 

"I/We want my/our daughter back, little sistermind."

Her head whipped around again and the wild man was beside
her, his hand around the muzzle of the gun, pointing it
down and away.

She felt the first bite of fear. "Step away, sir." Mercifully
her voice was unfaltering. She felt herself strengthening.

He looked at her in the eyes, green clashing with blue,
his face so close that she could smell the earthy scent of
his skin.

His mouth opened an inch from hers and he spoke:
"Tiedra."

She only had time to register that he hadn't breathed the
words, rather that they had emenated from the figure,
before the air spun around her, pierced with blue light,
and she was gone.

                           ***


Faeries : Part 21
By The Pen and The Brain
See disclaimer in part 1

                        ***

Mulder saw the light through the trees, and in the unusual
precision of the night Scully's gasp caught at the edge
of his awareness. He had been picking his way carefully
through the undergrowth, trying not to make a sound, but
when he heard her breath he began to run, caught in the
grip of some terrible apprehension.

He yelled her name again and burst into the clearing. He
stopped abruptly when he saw the faery crouched over her
prone body.

The creature was amazingly graceful as it moved, lifting
Scully with itself. It had a strength that belied the
frailty of it's limbs. It hadn't seen him, it's attention
directed towards the red-haired woman it held gingerly in
it's arms. When it turned to depart the clearing Mulder
saw a pair of diaphanous wings hanging limply, unfurled
against the faery's spine.

Then he came to his senses and drew his gun. "Hey!"

The creature spun, startled, to face him.

"Put her down.' Mulder gestured to make the action
clearer.

The creature didn't move.

"Put her *down*!" He felt his anger rise and he tightened
his grip on his gun.

"You are on the brink of the crossing, othermind. You had
better go back."

Mulder sensed the voice had come from the faery, but it
hadn't opened it's mouth, nor was the warning *spoken*
in the true sense of the word, but conveyed in a means other
than vocally. He advanced on the creature with a sure,
steady walk.

"You will breach the crossing if you don't withdraw."

The creature's eyes were wide and flitted from Mulder's
face to his surroundings and back again. It fidgeted,
nervous.

"I won't withdraw without her," Mulder said firmly.

"She's one of ours."

"She's *mine*." Desperate, Mulder tried to will the
creature into obeying. Surprisingly, it did, gently
sitting Scully down on her feet.

"Now walk away."

It moved aside and Mulder followed it with his gun,
watching Scully out of the corner of his eye. "Scully, are
you okay?" She didn't reply, but she was upright.
"Scully?" He turned to the faery. "What did you do to
her?"

Scully made a sound like a sigh and he whirled around to
find her going down. He reached for her instinctively
and she folded against him as if all life had spilled from her
body.

Furious, he turned back to the faery - and found it gone.

His anger quickly faded to concern and he lowered Scully
to the forest floor, smoothing her hair from her white
face and checking her slender wrist for a pulse. It was
faint, but steady and he felt her breath warm on his
cheek when he leant over her.

"Scully." He shook her shoulder, trying to rouse her. Then
again, harder. "Scully!" Her eyes opened then, and suddenly,
terrifyingly, he knew that she wasn't there. He felt fear well
in his stomach and he just barely saved himself from retching.
She was alive. She was breathing.

There must be *something* someone could do. He picked her
up and tucked her coat around her while her copper head
lolled against his shoulder, her blank eyes staring past
his worried face into the dark abyss.

                           ***

Alec paced the Winslow kitchen, livid. Despite all his own
concerns, despite all his misgivings, he had followed
Mulder's demands that Kate be left in the care of her
husband, and now she was gone. *And* to top things off
after dragging him off surveillance, leaving only Petey to
hold down the fort - God help us - the two agents hadn't
even bothered to show.

He turned back to James Winslow and noted with grim
satisfaction that the nasty lump that had been rising on
his forehead had finally seemed to stop swelling. "James,
you can't remember *anything* that may have prompted this
attack."

"Nothing."

"Did Eilian-"

"I said nothing to her, Mr. Stephens." Eilian's voice was
sharp and she stood ramrod straight in the corner of the
kitchen. "I had nothing to say to her. She is a mother who
has abandoned her child."

James stood up and furiously kicked his chair at the cabinets.
"Stop it! Stop it you hideous woman! *You* talk about abandoning
children? You've *never* loved Katie! *Never*!"

Eilian was standing over him in a heartbeat. "I *always*
loved Kate. She was my flesh and blood!"

"She *is*! She still is!"

"Not of *my* flesh! Not of *my* blood!" She was yelling
now, her face purple with anger. "I have cared for and
clothed and fed a stranger, a stranger who couldn't even
do the same for her own daughter!"

"That is a lie! That is some imbecelic lie that you have
constructed to shield yourself with! And it's taken over
your life, Eilian. Walter knew it! Right down to the last
breath he loved his daughter and you broke his heart with
your lies and your deception and a hatred of your own
creation!"

Eilian threw her arm out and swept a pile of dishes onto
the floor. "Kate wasn't even meant to live!"

The room went silent.

Eilian's face blanched white and she sank into a chair,
resting her head in her hands.

James watched her with contempt. "And there's the rub, eh,
Eilian? Kate was meant to die like the others."

"What others?," asked Alec.

"Kate wasn't her first child. The first died in a serious
miscarriage, and the second of cot death."

"Jack was enchanted by the faeries, just as Kate was
stolen by them," Eilian muttered.

"The faeries are in your mind. They do *not* exist." James
was adamant.

Eilian lifted her eyes to meet her son-in-law's. "Then who
is your daughter?"

Before he could make a reply there was a loud knocking at
the door.

Alec tensed. "I'll answer it."

He opened it to a desperate Mulder.

"Where have you been?" Then he saw Mulder's limp armful,
and his mouth fell open. "Jesus! What happened to her?"

"We ran into a stranger in the woods."

"The murderer?"

Mulder shuddered. "God, I hope not."

Alec shut the door after them. "Will she be okay?"

"I don't know," replied Mulder. "Where's Eilian?"

"She and James had a head-on in the kitchen-" Mulder was already
hustling that way. "Wait! Fox, I don't think it's a good idea that-"

"Can you help her?" Mulder pushed into the kitchen and
presented Scully to Eilian.

The older woman swept Scully's hair out of her eyes and
peered at her. "How long has she been like this?"

"12 minutes," replied Mulder. "I got here as soon as I
could."

"Good," approved Eilian briskly. "Lay her down on the
lounge. I'll be with you in a moment."

James watched Mulder distrustfully from his shadowed
corner. Scully's blank expression was too familiar. He
turned his face away.

Mulder didn't pause to switch the light on, but arranged
Scully comfortably on the couch and sat with her until
Eilian arrived with a steaming towel, a bucket and a
bottle of viscous green liquid.

"What are you doing?"

"We have to purge the spell from her body. It won't be
pleasant for her. Have you got a weak stomach?"

Mulder winced. "No."

"Good. Hold her head upright."

Eilian forced the liquid down Scully's throat and lay her
hand against her forehead.

Mulder looked at the bottle. "What was that?"

"Hemlock,' Eilian replied distractedly.

He stared at her in disbelief. "*What?*"

"A *very* diluted form."

"You'll make her sick!"

"*That*, agent Mulder, is the aim."

Before he could react Scully began to retch weakly.

Eilian bent her over the bucket and pulled the copper hair
off her face. Mulder squeezed his eyes shut and tightened
his grip on her hand. He was surprised and relieved when
she returned the pressure. It was not long before the
heaving convulsions that wracked her body ceased and she
was still, panting.

She threw her head back, and he saw her throat working
as she attempted to speak. Finally she turned her watering
eyes towards him.

"Oh my God." She clutched at the hot towel Eilian had
given her. "Mulder, what happened? There was a man..."

"He hit you on the head, or something."

"What did you give me?"

"Hemlock," said Eilian.

"*Hemlock*?," repeated Scully incredulously. She turned to
Mulder. "You *let* her give me hemlock?"

He shrugged helplessly and stood up. "I have to go back to
the forest."

Scully struggled to sit upright. "Oh no you don't," she
said firmly. "Not without me."

"Without you," he said, just as stubbornly.

"No."

"Yes. Scully, look what just happened."

"Getting clonked on the head has never stopped me before,
Mulder. I'm coming with you."

Mulder knew the tone of voice well, and he hid his smile.
She was okay. Stroppy, but okay.

Eilian turned a gentle but determined glare on her. "You
need to rest."

Mulder made a sound of approval and exchanged a look with
Eilian.

Scully fought to control her temper. "Mrs. George, may
I have a word with agent Mulder?"

Eilian hitched herself up, rather reluctantly. "Mind what
I said, girl. You've had a very traumatic experience."

Mulder waited until she'd left. "She's right, Scully. I
don't think it's a good idea to go back to the forest."

"Why not?," she asked, stonily. "You are."

"Scully, *I* didn't-"

"Don't coddle me, Mulder," she cut in. "Not now. I think
we've moved past that point in our relationship."

"I'm just trying to look after you," he said planitively.

"And I appreciate it, but I'm not going to let you go into
that forest on your own." Her expression said *case
closed*.

"What do you think it was?," he asked after a pause.

"What? the man in the forest?"

He nodded.

She considered. "I don't know. A gypsy, maybe. Maybe even
another wild man, like that woman in Jersey. *You* think
he was a faerie."

"I'm willing to accept it as an option."

She shook her head as if trying to supress her smile, then
gave up and flashed him a grin.

There was a hesitant knock at the door, and Alec poked his
head around the corner. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting,
Fox, but we really have to go. Pete Allen has reported
something unusual in the forest."

"What do you mean?" asked Scully.

"He says he's seen lights and voices, but he can't find
their source. I'm going to contact the other men and meet
you at the lake."

Scully stood up and gritted her teeth against the sudden
throb of pain in her head.

Alec watched her worriedly. "Dana, I'm glad you're alright, but-"

"I'm fine," she said sharply.

Alec managed a light smile and looked at Mulder. "You
*did* warn me about this," he said ruefully.

Mulder nodded in patient understanding and held the door
open for Scully as she moved past him.

Alec watched them go, then turned to his friend.
"I guess I'll see you at the forest, no?"

Mulder nodded again and started to leave, but Alec grasped
his arm.

"Fox, be careful out there, okay?," he said worriedly. "I
don't know what's out there, but don't go rushing in and
getting yourself killed."

Mulder looked concerned. Alec was worried, really worried.
"Alec, have you heard anything-"

"No," he was quick to dismiss it. "I just don't want Dana
going home in a box." He tried to laugh it off as he left,
leaving Mulder looking after him in consternation.

                           ***




The forest was cold, damp and miserable. It had started to drizzle and
the rain plastered kate's nightdress to her body, hindering her
movement and limiting her speed.

She was close now, so close that she felt she could just reach out and
topuch her daughter, stroke the peach-down cheeks amd smooth her hair
away from her tear-stained eyes. Hannah had stopped crying and had
succumbed into silence - a silence that scared Kate. But she could
still feel her heart beating strongly within her breast, steady
against against her own pulse.

She couldn't keep theis state up for long without withdrawing
permanently from her physical body - she looked down and saw the blood
on her legs, her cut and bleeding feet. She felt no pain  - and this,
more than anything, caused her to increase her speed. She didn't have
much time left.

                                 ***

It had clouded over quickly and the forest was so dark that Mulder and
Scully could barely see a thing outside the beams of light their
torches threw forward.

The silence was impenetrable and Mulder found himself holding his
breath, not wanting to disturb the perfection of quiet.

They moved slowly, cautiously, frequently catching the other's eye :
*This way?* *Let me go first.*

Mulder stumbled and Scully caught his arm.

"I'm okay," he murmured.

She let go. "And _you_ don't even have to do it in heels."

He chuckled, glad of the reprieve from silence.

"You're sure we're going the right way?"

He squinted at her in the darkness. "Fairly."

"*Fairly*?"

"Ninety-eight percent. Why?"

She looked reluctant. "I just thought that we should have been there
by now."

He looked at her. Her face was bone white and her eyes looked huge and
dark, staring back at him. "You feeling allright?"

She shrugged. "I'll live."

"You want to go back?"

"No!"

Her vehemence startled him and she continued more quietly.

"I want to see this through."

He understood completely. A case like this, as personal as this this,
hit close to the hear. To leave it before completion was unthinkable
and would leave a terrible blank space in both mind and memory.

He wanted to show her that he understood and he reached out to touch
her, but a scream precluded his move.

Scully started violently, she hadn't been ready for the noise that cut
through the air like a laser through soft butter. The cocoon of
silence broke around them. Burst into the sound of leaves and small
animals, and Mulder fancied he could even hear his own heart, or hers
for that matter, pounding hard with shock.

Scully pulled out her gun and looked at Mulder. He had already his
drawn, but it was shaking with the trembling of his ungloved fingers.
She started to speak, but once again the scream blotted her voice out.

It was distinctly male, low, rough with terror.

It was frighteningly human.

Scully started to run towards the sound, but Mulder snatched at her
desperately and motioned that they should move slowly, silently.
Whatever the man had found he had confronted already. It would do
neither of them any good if they went charging in without thought and
ended up sharing his fate.

He began to move in the direction of the screams, Scully's hand
srushiong his own as she walked beside him.

As they crept towards the lake the woods became gradually lighter
until it was bright enough to swutch off the torches. Mulder could see
Scully searching confusedly for the source of the light. It came from
neither above them, nor ahead of them. Rather it seemed to radiate
from the very leaves, the bracken underfoot. Even the shadows seemed
to glow.

The rain shimmered in the light. It appeared stationary, like diamonds
hanging in the air. Mulder had the feeling that time had ceased, that
they had stepped off the narrow path of reality into...what? He felt
dizzy, woozy, like his head had been wrapped in cottonwool and that
pressure was building between his ears.

Scully had stopped moving and was standing against a tree, eyes
closed, short, sharp breaths causing the shuddering rise and fall of
her chest. Alarmed, he spoke her name and mercifully her eyes opened.

"The amulet."

She shook her head wearily. He crossed to her and thrust his hands in
her pockets. She wouldn't have thrown it away. She couldn't have. His
fingers fumbled against the dense metal and he pulled it out.

The satin ribbon was tangled in his palm and he cursed as his numb
fingers struggled to pull it into a loop. Finally, with a sob of
relief, he dragged it over Scully's head.

There was a roaring sound as his ears popped and his eyes smarted at
the sudden sting of pain.

Beside him Scully gulped in great breaths of air as she sagged against
the tree.

"My God..."

He was angry, furious, thankful. "You should have worn it," he growled
at her. "Why weren't you wearing it?"

She was clutching at it now, white-knuckled in her fist. "It was
burning," she said, simply. "Back in the clearing it was burning with
cold and it was hurting."

She looked around as she straightened up from the tree. "What
happened?"

He shook his head, then something the faerie had said triggered his
memory - "We've breached the crossing," he said.

Her eyes were puzzled, but he didn't pause to explain and instead
pulled her inexorably closer towards the white light.

The first thing he saw was the ripples of light reflecting off the
waters of the Lake of Children. He heard Scully's gasp and knew that
she hadn't expected to stumble across it so suddenly, without warning.

He scanned the lake first, but the only movement came from the rain
falling on it's surface, water meeting water.

"Mulder, look." Scully moved towards the prone figure on the ground in
the shallows of the lake. He was on his front, his face in the water,
but still she could tell that it was Alec's constable. She sighed and
moved to the body, rolling it over without any hope.

"He's dead."

Mulder had come up behind her. She nodded, tiredly.

"Drowned?"

"We'll have to wait until a post-mortem is conducted."

He touched her shoulder. "What do you think?"

"I think so, yes." She stood up and stared acros the lake at the dark
trees on the other shoreline. "Damnit, Mulder. He was here." She was
full of anger , of disappointment. "He's dumped Hannah and we've
missed him."

He wanted to comfort her, to pull her into the circle of her arms and
force the pain out of her eyes and her vpoice. "Dana-"

"Goddamnit. God*damn*it!" She pushed him voff and glared at him. "it's
going to happen again, isn't it Mulder? It's just going to keep
killing the children, one by one by one! Hasn't it done enough damage?
Come out!" She hurled her words across the lake where they were lost
in the rain. "Come out, you bastard!"

He did snatch her into his arms now. Pinning her from behind to his
body until her taut anger had softened into quiet breaths. She bent
her head forward, defeates and he watched the graceful arch of her
neck.

Over her sigh he heard a humming sound that gradually grew louder.
Scully stiffened and he released her to pull her further from the
waters edge.

A moment later the lake burst into flame and he reeled back. Scully
screamed his name and when he looked up he saw the fire reflected in
her eyes.

The water hissed and fizzled, but the flames leapt higher and burned
brighter, without smoke or steam.

The humming grew louder until the trees seemed to shudder with the
sound. Mulder could feel the vibrations shimmer through his body from
the soles of his feet up his spine into his teeth and the roof of his
mouth.

"Mulder, what is it?"

He could barely hear her voice over the cacophony of sound.

"Mulder?"

He held up his hand to silence her and gestured to the woods beyond
the dancing flames.

A haze of light was rising from the leaves, sparkling, shining,
humming.

"Daoine Sidhe."

He looked at her. Her eyes were full of blue light and her mouth had
fallen slightly open.

He wanted to kiss her.

He wanted to devour her.

Then the wonder in her eyes turned to fear.

He whirled around to stare past the fire and saw what she had seen.

A figure was on the far bank. It had long, dark hair and wore a white
shroud.

>From the distance it looked like a child and the name "Hannah" was on
Mulder's lips, before he realised that the figure was a grown woman.

"Kate!"

Scully's shout was lost in the wind and the fire, but she set off
along the bank before he could stop her. He followed her quickly along
the edge of the lake, but as he did he saw Kate step into the lapping
water. Or *on* to it, to be more correct.

He stumbled to a halt as she took another step.

Her lips were moving, but he couldn't make out the words. Her eyes
were raised to the canopy of light that hung above her. She took
another step, then another. The water dipped under her weight, but she
remained afloat as she progressed towards the middle of the lake.

Mulder saw the flames part like living curtains then close behind her,
throwing sparks into her hair and against her clothes, where they
glowed like stars before they went out.

Scully was staring, awed, at the other woman. Mulder could see her
struggling for an explanation.

"There must be a...a bank or something," she said. "Under the water.
She's walking along it...maybe a submerged pier - it would explain
where Henry Baxter was found."

"Scully, think about it," he admonished her gently, his eyes never
leaving Kate.

"Well, what then?," she demanded crossly.

He shook his head. "We have to stop her."

"What is she-?"

"A transference," he said. "Scully, she's bargaining with her
ancestors!"

Now that they were closer, Mulder could hear the words she flung into
they sky.

"Mia e de liamore! Fiorde fiedre! I want my daughter back! I want my
Hannah!" Tears mingled with perspiration that streamed down her face.
Her eyes were wild. "L thwaite, io e simprate! Mama! Mama io e
simprate!"

The noise and the flames rose to a crescendo  and the lights swung
down and obliterated the fire.

The darkness was sudden and complete.

                                 ***


Gradually the light from the stars and the moon returned, and then the
sound of splashing surfaced over the silence.

"Help! Help me! Help! Please, someone, help!"

Scully reacted first, flinging off her coat and diving into the lake.

"Hannah, hold on!," she yelled as she swam strongly towards the
thrashing figure.

The girl went down once, then again, and Mulder shouted in alarm.

Scully looked up, and then the water swallowed her whole.

"No!" The cry was torn from his lips. He was about to follow her into
the water when she resurfaced - gasping, but triumphant, with a limp
body in tow.

She staggered on to the bank and gently laid Hannah down. The girl was
pale, very pale, and as Mulder hurried over Scully turned her onto her
side. *Oh god, please be okay.*

"Scully-", he reached for her.

"She's okay-"

He stared at her.

"She's okay. She's breathing."

He saw that she was right. Hannah's chest rose and fell steadily, and
after a moment her eyes opened. Huge, brown eyes. Deep and young and
innocent. Above all else, innocent. Somewhere along the line she had
lost the ancient knowledge, the curse of her ancestry, so that when
Scully wrapped her in his woollen coat all Mulder saw was a frightened
child.

                                 ***

Penzance Hospital
9:31am

"Shock, mainly. A little water in her lungs- but not enough to cause
alarm." Scully shook her head. "No signs of exposure, no malnutrition.
Wherever she was, she was remarkably well looked after."

James seemed reluctant to ask the next question. "Did she...? Rather I
mean, were there any-?"

"There were no gashes, Mr Winslow. No surface wounds." Scully smoothed
her hand through her hair and looked around the room. It was just a
small conference room, but Doctor Carter must have pulled some
strings; somewhere he had found her a dry change of clothes, and both
she and James Winslow had been plied with cups of coffee. Half-decent
cups of coffee, she admitted to herself somewhat reluctantly.

Mulder had been sent back to Hayle to retrieve Alec.

"No surface wounds," said James. "Does that mean that Hannah may have
something worng *inside*?"

She sighed. "No, I'm sorry, I phrased that incorrectly. What I meant
to say was that while Hannah exhibits no physical signs of her
abduction, she may experience some psychological trauma." *Abduction*,
she thought, *God help me, I'm even starting to sound like Mulder*.

"You mean how she's unable to remember anything?," James asked.

Scully nodded. "Hopefully her amnesia will only be temporary." She
somewhat doubted it. "Also, she may experience some nightmares,
sleeplessness. Dizzy spells are not uncommon, but don't hesitate to
take her to a doctor if you have *any* concerns."

James nodded and ducked his head, as if searching for answers in his
cup. Finally, he looked up. "And Kate?"

Scully sighed. "Nothing, I'm afraid. The police are still searching."

"Will thet charge her?"

"They've a warrant out for her arrest," she replied carefully.

"You're avoiding the question, Agent Scully."

"Maybe. We'll see."

It seemed to be all the answer he needed. "She was just trying to
protect her daughter," he said sadly.

"From what, James?"

He couldn't answer.

                                 ***

"You saw exactly what I saw, Scully," insisted Mulder, stabbing the
air with his fork.

"Yes, I did," she agreed calmly.

"A woman walking on burning water."

"A woman who *appeared* to be walking on burning water," she corrected
him.

Mulder spluttered into his glass of wine. "Appeared to be? *Appeared*
to be?" he scoffed.

"It could have been an irregularity on the lake floor. Or-" she spoke
over his incredulous laugh, "or, maybe, your eyes were decieving you.
it wouldn't be the first time."

"Do I sense some tension?" Alec cut in goodnaturedly.

Scully looked up and smiled at him as he took a seat at the dining
table and scanned the resturant idly.

"Alec," said Mulder.

"Has our food arrived yet?"

"*Alec*."

He looked at Mulder. "Yes?"

"What was the phonecall about?"

Alec paused in his action of spreading his napkin across his lap.
"It's strange," he said, brow furrowed.

"Strange?" Mulder prompted, curious.

Scully shot him a look.

"Odd. It appears the lake is disappearing."

"Drying up?" asked Scully.

"The water level is not going down so much as the ground is going up.
There's only a foot or so of water left in most places. But it's still
level."

Scully looked triumphant. "Shallow water," she said to Mulder.

"It wasn't so shallow when you dived in after Hannah," he retorted.

"You two," said Alec insistently. "It's a mystery for the agricultural
scientists, not the police."

"Is there any sign of Kate?" asked Scully, swiftly changing the
subject.

"Nothing," said Alec. "It's early days yet. We have men combing the
forest, but I doubt they'll ever find anything."

"And Hannah?" asked Mulder.

Scully found his hand under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"She understands that her mother is gone," said Alec. "She still
doesn't remember anything of the time that she was missing. James is
making plans for them to move to Scotland to live with his parents for
a while."

Mulder looked shocked. "What about Eilian? Are they leaving her
alone?"

Alec looked depressed. "Mulder, you have to put yourself in Jame's
shoes-"

"She's an old woman, Alec."

"They're looking into homes."

"Oh God." Mulder dropped his head and bit down on his bottom lip.

"It's the best thing for her, really," said Alec, somewhat
desperately.

Scully tore her gaze from Mulder and looked at Alec. "Keep an eye on
her, won't you?"

Alec nodded, looking miserable.

Fortunately, the food arrived and they were spared any more
conversation.

"When does your flight leave?" asked Alec over coffee.

"Tomorrow morning," said Mulder.

"I'd like to see you off," said Alec. "Since I'm here in London
anyway-"

"It'll be very early," said Mulder warily.

Alec's smile faltered a little. "Fox..."

"Just remembering what you were like at school," said Mulder.

"Hey," protested Alec," I was an early riser!"

"Only if you hadn't gone to bed that night."

Alec chuckled and a smile spread over Mulder's dark features. "The
plane leaves at 4:15," he said. "In the morning."

"Oh God!" said Alec. "Can't you put it off?"

"I don't know. Scully?"

She looked up. "'Scully' what?"

"Do you want to miss the flight? It would give us time for some
sightseeing." He sounded like an eager child.

"Sightseeing?" asked Scully. "Gretna Green?"

"Stonehenge," said Mulder. "Call it a pilgramage, if you will."

"I'll call it an ice cubes chance in hell, Mulder," she replied.

He grinned-he hadn't expected any differently. "Spoilsport."

"Lunatic," she retorted.

"God, you two behave like an old married couple, sometimes," exclaimed
Alec. He shot Mulder a sly glance, then stood and offered Scully a
hand. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Mulder?"

"Oooh," said Mulder, "that'll get you in trouble."

Scully shot him a withering look and, standing, led Alec to the dance
floor.

                                 ***



Well, here we are again. Over the last couple of parts I've been
terribly weak and cowardly and leaving the intro and disclaimer to my
hero Geoff (all hail the mighty Geoff!) who has been just the most
...incredible partner-in-crime. He has taken my hastily written,
scrunched, torn, travelworn notebooks and transcribed them onto the
computer. Geoff - you are the greatest. I can't thank you enough.

And to everyone who has stuck by me from day 1 and to everyone who is
reading the whole thing from scratch, and to everyone who is reading
this intro and thinking "Whoa, this is *waaay* too soggy!"-thankyou.

One of my absolutest favouritest authors told me something I'll never
forget: "Do *not* post an unfinished long story". Karen, I hold that
dear to my heart and will *never* do it again. (Pen forgot rule 2:
don't do this AND move overseas halfway through- Imp).

To everyone, class - as per mentioned above, "Day 1" was nearly half a
year ago - which makes you all *very* patient. I hope I haven't let
you down.

Thankyou again to Geoff, to Steph for reading my obsession, to
everyone who prodded me into finishing and finally to my own personal
source of sanity and inspiration: The Brain. You truly are a *most*
purple african violet.

And now, on with the show.

***

Faeries - Part 23b (Epilogue)
By The Pen and The Brain
ThePen@hotmail.com

You remember part 1? Disclaimer's in there (see, that wasn't too hard,
was it?).


The flight home was long and uneventful but, as usual, Mulder found it
easier to adapt back into U.S. time than the other way around.

Still, Scully didn't trust him to drive and opted for flagging down a
taxi outside the airport rather than taking his car out of long-term
storage. Mulder protested feebly, but eventually gave in. The quiet
swish of tires on tarmac and the sound of the rain on the car roof
nearly put him to sleep. He could see that Scully was also being
lulled into drowsiness by the strangely comforting movement of the
cab.

The streetlights caused an intermittent stripe of light across her
features and that, partnered with his own tiredness lent her an almost
unreal, ephemeral quality. He reached towards her across the back and
caught his eye with a slight smile that barely tilted the corners of
her mouth. He felt it like a warmth in his soul.

The taxi slowed to a halt outside Scully's apartment, and the driver
got out to help with the bags. He gestured to Mulder's, and spoke with
a heavy accent. "These too?"

Scully looked at Mulder. "I'd like you to come in," she said. I can
run you home later."

"Yes," said Mulder.

The taxi driver nodded, satisfied, and deposited the bags on the
sidewalk. It was quite late at night, so few lights were on. Though
Brian's-or where Mulder shrewdly assumed Brian's were-shone like a
beacon through closed curtains.

"Two doors down, Scully," he said to her with a dismissive gesture to
the telltale window. "Looks like someone's waiting up for you."

"Looks like," she agreed calmly as they entered the building. She
checked her mailbox, but it was empty. "Brian must have taken it in
for me."

Mulder took a moment to digest this. "He has a key to you mailbox?,"
he asked her.

"He has a key to my *flat*," she replied. He stared at her, amused,
until he realised she was serious.

"And I thought I was special."

"Oh, I give keys out to all prospective men," she replied lightly.
"It's all part of my overall plan for Getting A Life."

"I'm serious, Scully," Mulder said. "When did you give him a key?
Why?"

She looked up from her handbag where she was fossicking around for her
own keys, and saw that he was quite concerned. "Don't be so paranoid,"
she said gently. "He used to feed Queequeg. I just haven't got around
to asking for them back yet."

"Promise me you will," he said. "Next time. Promise me."

"He's not one of Them, Mulder," she said with certainty.

"Nevertheless," insisted Mulder, "it makes me uneasy knowing someone
can get access to you that easily. We have to take extra precautions.
Especially now."

"By 'especially now' you mean post-relationship as opposed to pre-, I
assume?"

"Post-relationship?," he asked. "*Post?*"

"You _know_ what I mean," she said, trying to slow the inevitable rise
of her temper.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Dana," he said. *We're tired* he told
himself. *We wouldn't be this volatile if we weren't*. "By 'especially
now' I simply meant it's going to be even more damn easy for Them to
break me once they get wind of this - and make no mistake, They *will*
- and since there's no way in hell I'm giving you up I'd like us to be
as careful as we can."

"Within reasonable bounds," she said.

He looked down at her. Her eyes were liquid and her cheeks pale.

"We won't treat this like it's a criminal activity. I don't want to
have to meet you in seedy hotels that rent rooms by the hour. I don't
want mysterious notes slipped under my door, unless-" she tried a
small smile, "-unless they're accompanied by mysterious roses. I want
to able to tell my Mom."

He hesitated.

He eyes widened. "My *Mom*, Mulder!"

He nudged her gently. "Do I have to tell mine?"

Try as she might, she couldn't prevent the grin that dawned across her
face at his little-boy-lost query, so she put her arms around him and
hid it in the crook of his neck. She felt a silent chuckle run through
his body.

"Not a great way to keep this thing under wraps," he murmured into her
hair.

She tipped her face up to his. "You're afraid someone's watching?,"
she said, with her breath against his lips like the lightest of
kisses.

He was having a hard time concentrating. "What?"

Her hands crept lower down his back and settled on his hips. "Skinner,
perhaps?"

He moaned against her mouth. "God, Skinner is not an image I want in
my head right now, Dana."

"Cancerman then."

The word "quiet" buzzed against her lips, then his arms tightened her
and stole what was left of her breath. He made a lazy exploration of
her face with his mouth, trailing kisses along her cheekbone, on her
eyelids, the tip of her nose. Her breathing was slow and steady as she
dissolved into him, relaxing, letting him hold her up and support her.
Her handbag fell to the ground and spilt its contents onto the hallway
floor, but she didn't care.

The noise did bring someone to his door, though.

Mulder opened his eyes to see Bryan appear two doors down, the wide
and welcoming grin fading first into bewilderment, then irritation.

"Hello, Bryan," said Mulder.

Bryan glared at him. "Fox."

*Oh good*, thought Mulder, *more powerplay.*

Scully had disentangled herself by this point and as she turned to
face Bryan Mulder noted - with some satisfaction - that she looked
flushed, woozy and thoroughly kissed.

A sunny smile quickly replaced the lawyer's scowl. "I trust you had a
good time in England, Dana?" he asked her, the double edged question
tempered with a saccharine tone of voice.

She bent to retrieve her handbag. "It was business, Bryan."

Mulder stooped to help her, letting his hands brush over hers as she
swept the contents of her purse back into her handbag and shoved her
key into the front door lock.

"I-er, watered your bonsai," Bryan tried again.

"I'll bet you did," muttered Mulder.

"Thankyou," Scully said.

Bryan evidently took this as a sign of progress and sent a veiled look
of triumph Mulder's way. "Would you like to come in for a cup of
coffee?"

Scully flashed a glance at Mulder and saw his countenance rapidly
darkening. "Now?," she asked.

Bryan's grin didn't quite make it to his eyes. "If you didn't have
anything else planned." This with a split-second glance at Mulder.

*Alright,* Scully said to herself, *enough with the games, boys.*
"I think Mulder and I will just go to bed," she said, her voice and
demeanour almost 'detached politeness' personified.

Bryan deflated and Scully could almost *feel* the testosterone surge
from Mulder's corner as he turned his back on the other man with a
smug grin.

"But thankyou for the offer, she said to soften the blow. Bryan
accepted the defeat gracefully and turned to depart.

*Keys*, Mulder mouthed to her.

"Goodnight Bryan." She turned the handle and slipped into the darkened
apartment. Mulder struggled in a moment later with both their
suitcases, then stood with his hands on his hips as watching as she
went around switching on lights, checking window latches and house
plants in her usual routine.

Finally she whirled on him. "If you're *that* paranoid I'll change the
locks!," she exclaimed.

He stepped out of the shadows into a pool of light and she saw the
laughter in his eyes. "I just don't want him to surprise you in the
shower."

"*You're* the one letting yourself in, Mulder," she said, approaching
slowly.

"That's different. *I* have only the best intentions."

She raised a single incredulous eyebrow. "Somehow I doubt that."

He reached out a hand for her. "Come here."

She grasped his hand and stepped into the circle of his arms.

"Thankyou," he said.

She looked up at him. "For what?"

"For Hayle. For putting up with me."

She kissed his chin. "Don't be an idiot."

"I mean it," he protested. "I know it was a hard case for you too."

"I did what I would have done in any other situation."

He smiled into her hair. "Not quite."

"Anyway, it's over now."

"For us." He pulled away slightly, so that he could see her face. "I
wonder if Hannah will ever remember. And I wonder if Kate will ever
return to reclaim her daughter. And-"

Scully reached up and put her hand over his mouth. "That kind of
thinking will drive you mad."

He kissed her palm. "I'm flattered you don't think it has already."

She laughed quietly, the sound bubbling up from within and escaping
her lips.

Mulder looked at her, marvelling at this woman who had faced so many
demons, whose nightmares rivalled his own - and yet could still laugh.

She was so brave and strong.

He envied her and admired her and loved her more than he had thought
would ever be possible.

Reaching down he took her hand and watched her fingers entwine with
his. They were strong, slender fingers, dextrous and infinitely
gentle. He knew the touch of those fingers in his hair, on his face,
flattened against his chest.

He raised his gaze to hers and found her watching him, her solemn blue
eyes deep and haunted.

"I don't know how I'd live without you," he said suddenly, tightening
his grip on her hand.

She looked uneasy. "You'd survive," she said.

"Would I?" He heard the tone of his own voice and wondered. "I want to
believe that."

"You *have* to believe that," she said. He saw a flash of anger
coupled with fear engulf the tiredness in her gaze. "You can't give
up. Please promise me you won't give up."

"Scully." He spoke her name sharply, then more gently: "Dana."

She seemed sapped of all energy, close to fainting. When he pulled her
into his arms again she was shivering.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't take this on yourself."

"I'm so sorry."

"This isn't your cross to bear, Mulder."

"I love you."

She lifted her mouth to his and silenced him with a kiss.

He thought he tasted the salt water of her tears on her mouth, but
when she pulled away her eyes were dry. He took her chin in his hand.
"Do you still want me to stay?," he asked her.

"More than ever," she replied with just a shadow of a smile.

He slid the palm of his hand down her throat and felt her pulse
beating beneath the milky skin. His breath shuddered in his body as he
realised how fragile she really was, how easily the breath could be
stilled in her body.

"Don't." She caught his hand.

"I can't," he replied.

"Don't," she repeated and drew his hand to her breast.

"Dana," her name escaped his lips and hung in the air.

"I want you."

Three simple words that had the power to knock the breath from his
body and weaken his knees.

She tugged his overcoat off his shoulders and he left it pooled on the
floor. His jacket followed suit, and his tie - a complicated knot that
tightened under his fumbling fingers - was dispensed of by her with
three short, sharp jerks.

"Do you know what you do to me?," he murmured.

She slid her hand up the length of his neck and stroked his cheek,
rough with the days stubble. He mirrored the gesture, smoothing his
thumb over the sweep of her cheekbone. She turned her face into his
caress and kissed the palm of his hand, then tangled her fingers in
his hair and drew him down to recieve her kiss.

There was a fire in his belly that leapt when she touched him and for
a moment he felt every soft curve and gentle slope of her imprinted on
his body. He realised as his hands rediscovered her slight figure that
he had already committed the feel of her to memory, where it lingered
like the scent of her had lingered on his skin after...after before.
He could describe with his hands the exact angle of her waist and the
precise weight of her breasts. He dragged his mouth from hers and bent
to taste her throat.

Scully rocked back under his searing kiss, and even as she lost her
footing she felt his arm tighten around her waist as he supported her.

"Sorry," he muttered into the crook of her neck, sounding anything
but.

"No problem," she replied breathlessly, regaining her balance and
drawing far enough away to have a go at his shirt buttons.

He took the initiative and slid the material of her top up her sides
until she had to relinquish her ongoing struggle with his buttons so
he could pull it over her arms and off.

Her skin gleamed white in the warm light shed by the lamps. Mulder
drew further away, held her at arms length so that he could consume
her with his gaze. Suddenly ridiculously self-conscious under that
penetrating stare, Scully began to cross her arms over her body.

"Don't," he said, pulling her to him, his arms reaching around her
back to her bra clasp.

"Shall we do this some place else?," she asked.

"Are you uncomfortable?," he replied back. A challenge.

"Yes. No," she said hastily. "I'm just...Bryan has a key to this
apartment."

"Do you want me to get it off him?" He abruptly made a beeline for the
door and Scully had a sudden vision of him flushed, rumpled, half-
unclothed, knocking at Bryan's door and grouchily demanding her key
back.

She was half-tempted to let him, but he did a quick U-turn and was
back in her arms a heartbeat later.

"Or we could move this to your bedroom," he grinned affably. "Either
way. I'm easy."

"Ominous words," she said, mocking him with a raised eyebrow.

He took her hand again and led her down the corridor to her room. "How
many times have I longed to do this?," he asked, shooting her a
sidelong glance.

She shrugged back. "You tell me?"

"It seems like forever." He kicked off his shoes and socks.

She stepped out of her heels and into his waiting embrace, feeling the
warmth of his skin against hers with a surge of joy difficult to
disguise. "You should have said something."

"I did," he said, brushing tiny kisses across her cheek. "Every day I
told you."

"Then I should have paid more attention."

She tucked her fingers into his waistband and pressed her hips against
his. He felt his body leap in response and he stifled a moan against
her mouth.

Her lips curved in a smile under his and she unbuckled his trousers,
sliding them over his slim hips and rocking up against him again. He
gasped and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth, then soothed it with
his tongue.

She slid her hands up the smoothly muscled plain of his torso. Her
eyes fell closed as she concentrated on the texture of his skin. She
moaned again when her fingers circled his flat nipples, but kept
still, letting her explore him in her own time, at her own rate.

She continued her blind exploration, her hands feathering over his
broad shoulders. "Mulder?"

"Hmmm?"

"Touch me."

He didn't have to be asked twice. He spanned her waist with his hands
and slid her trousers over her hips. She looked tiny, fragile without
her suit as armour, but her intensity filled the room and Mulder had
to catch his breath when he looked at her. She was luminous in the
shadows of the room. Cream and gold with her eyes huge and dark with a
desire that he knew was mirrored in his own countenance.

He slid his hand up from her waist and cupped her breast. Her eyes
fluttered shut again, then opened, wider, darker than before. He
caught her gaze, held it and stroked her thumb over the slight peak of
her nipple. She gasped his name and arched against his hand, her knees
suddenly giving way.

He drew her down to sit on the bed and knelt in front of her,
unclasping her bra and drawing the straps down her arms. He traced his
fingers back up inside her arm and brushed the curve of her breast.
She dropped her head into the crook of his neck and tasted his skin.

"Dana." He spoke her name like a prayer, his voice rough under the
strain of his passion.

She slid her hands into his hair, pulling him closer, wanting the
completeness she felt when she was near him.

He bent his head and his lips brushed her breast. Feather-light.

She quivered, desire coursing through her veins, making every inch of
her body alive to his touch. His mouth was searingly hot against her
flesh and she cried out when his lips moved to her nipple, teasing,
tasting, his hands coaxing her backwards on to the bed, moving lower.

                                 ***

Her spine arched in a poignant mix of agony and ecstasy, her throat
tight, her teeth gritted. Then her mouth opened in a wordless, cry
passionate cry. She fell, sweating, sobbing on the land, marvelling at
the body that had betrayed her, her fragile fingers and spindly limbs.
There was a new weight against her back, comforting and warm. With joy
she turned and saw for a fleeting second a lacy shawl of silver, shot
with rainbow colours and an elegant tracery of veins, that swung back
around her and nestled against her shoulderblades.

Wings.

She felt the emptiness of her womb like a hollow pain, but the little
mind stirred at the edge of her consciousness. Content. The little
voice was unafraid as she nestled into her mother's thoughts and
against her father's arms.

                                 ***

Finis! Thanks for reading, everybody!