From: shinkai@mlode.com (Susan Shinkai) Subject: Completed story: The IM Files - The Invisible Fire Date sent: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 21:29:50 -0800 Title : The IM Files - The Invisible Fire Author : Shinkai E-mail Address: shinkai@mlode.com Rating : PG Classification - SR Spoilers - Fire, Fallen Angel Keywords - Scully/Mulder romance Summary - The 3rd installament of a series which follows the "Meeting the Invisible Man" alternative reality. Based of the episode "Fire" but this time Phoebe knows Scully is Mulder's ex-wife and Scully isn't about to let Phoebe mess with Mulder mind OR body. Intro: If you haven't read "Meeting the Invisible Man" you won't have any idea why Mulder and Scully are acting so strange. This story is based on that history, not the one we all know and love. In the IM Files (The Invisible Man Files) history, Mulder and Scully had befriended each other in England while Mulder attended Oxford. The young Scully was raped and became pregnant. Mulder married her to provide for and protect her. After losing the baby to a miscarriage, Scully's fear of intimacy clashed with Mulder's darker, obsessive nature. Despite their profound love for one another, they divorced and went their separate ways until reuniting 8 years later in the FBI. The IM Files chronicles the rekindled romance through the re-telling of classic X-Files episodes (or so I hope). Each story is a complete but the plot bits from the original episodes are told in less detail to save me from rewriting someone else's script. I endeavor to keep all facts not related to my modifications the same, although I may take liberties with plot points that annoyed me in the original. Thanks and acknowledgment (or blame if you don't like the story) goes to Connell for encouraging me to write this stuff despite serious concerns that I need to get a life. Disclaimer: The characters and situations depicted in this story are not the legal property of the author or her agents. This use is not intended to be an infringement on the rights of the legal owners. Use and distribution of this story is for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only. THE IM FILES - THE INVISIBLE FIRE Mulder and Scully had spent the morning in court. They were tired and still had a lot of work to catch up on. Mulder wanted nothing more than to go home with Scully and take a nice hot bath with her. Unfortunately since they returned from Wisconsin and the "Fallen Angel" incident, then had to testify before the OPR, she had insisted he not come over for a while. Not just to avoid any questions of conduct but because Mulder's rebellious and endangering behavior. She thought he needed time to "cool off". They found the car unlocked and a cassette tape on the dash board. "What do you think it is?" Scully asked. Mulder studied the tape and responded "10 to 1 you can't dance to it." He put it in the tape deck and a familiar female voice with a British accent proceeded to tell them how a member of Parliament was killed by a car bomb armed by a similar tape, detonated by the door opening. Suddenly the door flew open and a young women stuck her head in. Scully was shocked at first then drew her weapon which hovered in front of Mulder's face. "It's all right," he said pushed Scully's gun aside "it's an old friend." Mulder stepped out of the car and closed the door as Scully stared at him. "Aren't you going to thank me for saving your life?" the woman asked Mulder. "One tends not to make the same mistake twice." "I'll try to remember that." he responded sharply. "Oh, don't tell me you left you're sense of humor at Oxford 10 years ago?" she said coyly. "No actually it's one of the few thing you didn't drive a stake through." he replied bitterly. She drew closer and whispered "Some mistakes are quite worth making twice." Scully knew Mulder wanted to talk to this woman privately but she couldn't stand it anymore. She got out of the car and looked over the roof to see her put her arms around his neck and kiss an acquiescent Mulder. She tapped the roof to get his attention. He looked sheepishly at her and said "Dana Scully meet Phoebe Green, the terror of Scotland Yard." he thought. The two woman looked at each other intensely. Phoebe heard the name "Dana" and studied the petite red head and concluded it had to be the same woman Mulder had married and divorced while he was at Oxford. Scully was no less surprised. She never met Phoebe but knew she had hurt Mulder terribly ten years ago, and that he would never talk about that relationship to anyone. Phoebe spoke first. "Not THE Dana, the one you divorced years ago?" Mulder nodded painfully as she continued. "What a coincidence ! She's your partner in the Bureau now. I guess that means you don't mind working with old acquaintances. That's convenient." Scully tried to maintain her composure and simply said "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Inspector Green. Your reputation precedes you. As an analyst, of course." "Of course." she replied. Phoebe wondered how she could have missed such an important detail as who Mulder's partner was when she gathered information to track him down. Still, she knew he was unmarried so their partnership may well be platonic. Then again maybe not, judging by the look on Scully's face. Mulder finally spoke. "What bring you here to the colonies?" Phoebe smiled sweetly and said "I have a case I think you might be interested in." "Let's go back to my office and discuss it." he said calmly as she climbed into the back seat of the car. Mulder wasn't sure putting them in the same car was a good idea but he also knew that now was not a safe time to be alone with either one of these women. Once at the office, Phoebe explained the case in more detail. Someone was burning up members of Parliament alive, leaving little or no trace evidence. The killer had sent love letters to the victims spouses and the next target was Sir Malcolm Marsden, who was vacationing in Cape Cod. "I thought my old friend Mulder couldn't resist a 'three-pipe' problem." Phoebe said seductively, ignoring Scully totally. Scully understood the private joke but was never much of Sherlock Holmes fan, even if Mulder was. He offered to help by running it the Arson unit. Phoebe left to check in with Scotland Yard and Scully stared hard at Mulder waiting for him to make the first move. "I was merely extending her a professional courtesy." Mulder explained to Scully. "Oh was that what you were extending." she replied sarcastically. She recognized all to well his flushed features that signaled that he was either angry or aroused, or both. Mulder insisted he wouldn't get involved in the case but Scully doubted that he could avoid being drawn into an international X-File. After all, weren't all the X-Files 'three-pipe problems' by nature? Scully was determined not to be jealous of Green. Mulder's feeling for his old 'flame' wasn't any threat to their current relationship, Scully told herself. Still, she knew how reactive and impulsive Mulder could be and given the right catalyst, he might give in to her obvious ploy to regain his interest. This thought haunted her later that afternoon while the FBI arson specialist described how an accelarant, like jet fuel, could be used to burn quickly and completely. Scully regarded Phoebe as an emotional accelarant acting on Mulder. He decided it would be best if she kept closed tabs on her partner, for his own good. Scully's plans, however, were ruined almost immediately when Mulder told her she wouldn't be his partner on this case. "Scully, you're off the hook on this one." Mulder said after they returned from the Arson unit. "Why? What so special about this case? A serial killer with delusional tendencies using an unexplained phenomena as a murder weapon. It's just another X-Files." she responded, trying desperately to sound casual. "No it's not. For two reasons. One, I don't want you to have to deal with Phoebe. She loves playing mind games just to see how far she can push you." "Give the woman some credit. It's been ten years." Scully replied, more to convince herself than Mulder. "You don't know her like I do. And secondly, there something about me I haven't told you about me..." "What, that you're afraid of fire?" Scully said knowingly. Surprised by her remark, he started to ask "Scully, how did you..." "Give ME some credit. I've known you for eight years, Mulder. And I'm a good investigator. There's not much I don't know about you." She smiled and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "But you see that's why I should work with you on this case - for your own safety. Phoebe will expect you to charge into the flame...." "You missed my point, Dana. She KNOWS I have a phobia of fire." Mulder announced. Scully was taken back. He had never admitted his phobia to her over the many years they had know each other, yet Phoebe knew even though they were only together a short time. Scully began to worry that Phoebe had more influence over Mulder than she expected. "She knows about your phobia and still brought you this case?" "It's classic Phoebe Green. Mind game player extraordinary." He sighed heavily and averted Scully stare. "She made me confess my every fear and insecurity, my hopes and fantasies before she would make love to me. Then she forced me to face my fears and live out my fantasies which would have been fine if she would have supported me instead of ridiculing me. Then I found out she had been seeing other men, which was bad enough, but she told them about my weaknesses. That's when I withdrew into the Invisible Man, and made a front for everyone else to see." "Oh my God, I had no idea." Scully took his hand to let him know she understood his pain. "Mulder, if she hurt you so much why..." "Why did I keep seeing her? It wasn't just physical attraction although that certainly was a part of it. She was like pure excitement and adventure. She dared me to do things I would have never dreamed of. And she was brilliant. She could argue circles around me." Scully felt relieved that Mulder had finally admitted to his past but the enthusiasm in his voice disturbed her. "So she shows up knowing the power she has over you and makes you walk through fire, is that it?" Scully asked, hoping he would deny Phoebe had any power over him still. "Phoebe Green is fire." His voice sounded too excited to Scully. "So why do you have to face her alone, now?" She knew he was looking forward to the challenge but was he also anticipating the chase? "Because I'm not the man I was 10 years ago. I need to prove that to myself and to her, once and for all." he said with determination. "This case is an X-Files type of case; it's what I do best. She won't distract me this time. I'll need to go up to Cape Cod tomorrow, to check out the situation." Reluctantly Scully agreed. "Just remember if you need me..." "You're just a phone call away. Thanks for understanding. Sooner or later a man has to face his demons." he kissed her then gather his files and left the office. In the vacation home of Sir Malcom in Cape Cod , a caretaker known as Bob used a paint brush to add on the finishing touches to the trim round the doors. But it wasn't paint that was being applied to the walls, but a combustible fuel which would make an ideal fire accelarant. Sir Malcolm, his wife and children and even their chauffeur liked Bob. What they didn't know was that the real Bob was buried in the rose garden and that this man's name was Cecil Lively from England, and he had a way with fire. Later that night Scully called Mulder concerning a case he had left pending. He told her to not worry about it until he returned. It felt oddly like distrust. "So, what do you want me to do while your off chasing fire starters?' He thought for a moment, wondered what Scully would not feel awkward doing on her own. "You can familiarize yourself with old cases. They're often related to new occurrences. It could help re-open the old cases if you noticed a connection." "Mulder, you have a photographic memory and you've read every file, several times. What help is it if I read them? You always find the connections first." She began to sound frustrated. "OK, I don't know. Check the cases pending in the VCS. See if anything looks strange." he wondered to himself. "Don't you trust me to work on the cases you've already opened?" It sounded more like a challenge than a question. "Of course I trust you, it's just that I've already established a confidence with my contacts and I don't want you to..." "Mess things up?" she finished. "No, it's just that you..." "Don't believe?" He was silent, thinking of a response. Scully took the silence to mean she had struck a nerve. "Fine, Mulder. I'll just baby sit your phone while you and Inspector Green find what, or rather, who is burning." "Dana, don't get upset. I didn't mean for you to think I didn't trust you." "What else was I suppose to think? You either don't trust me or you think I'm a poor agent." She verged on losing her temper and gripped the phone mercilessly. "And you call me paranoid. Look, those are my cases and you don't know enough to make any headway with them. I'd brief you, but I don't have time." His voice raised a bit louder than was necessary. "What do you have time for? Dinner with the Inspector?" Scully hated to admit she wasn't immune to jealous thoughts but there it was. "How did you know?" he questioned suspiciously. "I didn't. Until you just confirmed it." She heard Mulder as he swore into the phone. "Honesty - that's all I ever asked for you." she added, trying to calm herself. "It was only a meeting to give me the background on each case." he whined. She suppressed her jealousy long enough to said "Maybe it's a good thing we've been seeing less of each other. I think this 'cooling off' period should continue indefinitely. Until we can make some decisions about this relationship" He was silent for almost a full minute. Finally he replied "If that's what you want." Her tone changed to an unemotional business-like timbre "I'll monitor any new cases coming in and I'll notify you if any of your 'contacts' call with time sensitive material." Then she added in a more compassionate voice "Call if you need me." He said good bye and hung up, knowing he always needed her but couldn't face her until he settled things with Phoebe. An unusual fire occurred at a local bar in Cape Cod. Reportedly, a man ignited his arm and then the entire place caught fire and burned to the ground. The intensity of the fire pointed to the use of an accelarant which was the hallmark of the arsonist attacking members of Parliament. Mulder and Phoebe interviewed a witness who was hospitalized due to her burn injuries. She was reluctant to be talk to them because she had been at the bar after lying to her live-in lover about her whereabouts that night. Mulder convinced her they would handle her statement discreetly. Phoebe used this to remind him of "a certain youthful indiscretion atop the tombstone of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" and the other enjoyable aspects of their past relationship. He told her to stick to the case but his memory was charged with passionate moments he shared with her and they began to overshadow the memories of the hurt she caused. Phoebe asked Mulder where Scully was. He answered simply "She's not involved with this case." Phoebe saw this as an opportunity to breakdown his barriers once again. "I guess you two are not as close as it appears." "It's not that...." "You needn't worry about her. She seems very capable of handling things on her own." was her calculated comment. A pained expression crossed his face "Yes, she has always been able to cope with the most difficult cases." "Does that include you?" she teased. "I'm afraid so" he replied with a smile. He couldn't stop himself from revealing more about his current relationship with Scully. "We don't always agree on our case resolutions. She's very skeptical of any paranormal event. She won't contradict me in her reports unless she has hard evidence but she won't back me up either." Phoebe had found his weakness once again. She knew better than to press him too hard. She remember all too well the slap he gave her the last time she tried to turn him away from Dana. She would be much more subtle this time. She would be a counter point to all the things that bothered him about Scully. Mulder was sure that the man who started the fire in the bar was their suspect, despite the logical conclusion that he burned to death in the blaze. He was certain that he had some kind of immunity to fire by virtue of being able to control it. Phoebe accepted his premise and redirected his attention to the use of the accelerant. While she wanted to hook Mulder again, she also needed his sharp mind to help solve this case. Mulder was surprised that she didn't balk at his notion of a human torch. She remarked that she had seen thing she couldn't explain and had learn to accept them as real despite conventional logical. "To quote, Sir Doyle's detective 'Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth'." she pointed out. She continued "Sherlock Holmes was a very clever character. He wasn't overly burden by the fear of being ridiculed, operated outside the confines of traditional police work and simply sought the truth. I'm not at all surprise at the similarities between him and you, Mulder." Mulder felt strangely proud of being compared to his imaginary idol. Phoebe drew closed was they walked and he discovered he didn't seem to mind. His mind was slowing giving into the urges his body had from the time he first saw Phoebe again. Whatever else she had done to him, he couldn't forget the pure ecstasy of surrendering to her when they made love. With Scully still refusing to have sex with him, it had been nearly two years since he'd reached orgasm inside a woman. He'd settled for waiting for a sign from Scully that she was ready but no signs were forthcoming especially considering their argument the night before. Suddenly, new opportunities seemed to be available to him. Phoebe pointed out that Sir Malcolm and his family had a reception scheduled in Boston, and that maybe they should cancel it because the arsonist might take advantage of the public appearance. She knew Mulder would jump at the chance to set a trap and she was right. She coyly added she had arranged for a room at the hotel the reception was being held at and would spend the night there. She emphasized the need to be care and discreet, although he wasn't sure if she was talking about the trap or them. Mulder's mind focused on two points - catching the arsonist and spending the night with Phoebe. His ability to see beyond those two goals was clouded by the excitement of the moment. Meanwhile, Scully decided that since she had never worked and arson investigation, she should conduct her own research into this case. Just for the experience, of course. She could share her profile and finding with Mulder, especially if their investigation turned up nothing. In light of her discussion with Mulder the previous night, she knew jealousy and suspicion didn't suit her but dealing with the fact of a case was what she did best. she thought She knew she loved him but just like before she had to do what was necessary to survive. The essence of his life wasn't about romance and sex, it was about the X-Files so that's where she needed to be. . When Scully called Mulder, he had just checked in to the hotel in Boston. When she asked where he was he answered hesitantly. When she told him she needed to come up to show him what she had found the course of her investigation, he didn't know how to answer. How could he say he still loved her but wanted to sleep with Phoebe that night. He knew Scully would never forgive him if he told her Phoebe could give him what he desired. He had always been honest with Scully but could he be honest with himself? Was it worth losing Scully forever? All he could say was "I'm anticipating having my hands full." Scully knew exactly what was happening as if she could read the doubt and confusion in his mind. She replied "I'll see if I can get a courier to leave the information at the hotel for you." She heard a sigh of relief then added "Call me if you have any problems." She was giving him an opportunity to come clean and admit to his intention. He said nothing. Scully knew at some point, he would talk and then they could be partners again. The practical Scully had no other expectations, but her emotional side wanted to tear Phoebe Green's black heart from her chest and protect Mulder from the hurtful past. Mulder agonized after hanging up, wondering why he let himself hurt Scully. He'd thrown Tom Colton down a flight of stairs for just calling her names but now Mulder was preparing to betray her every trust. He convinced himself that he had to face Phoebe on his own terms, that he could walk away from her the moment he lost control. Sir Malcom's driver had taken ill but the caretaker was more than willing to step in to drive them to Boston. After arriving at the hotel, Bob took the children upstairs was the others proceed to the reception hall. Mulder, dressed in a tuxedo, waited in the foyer as Sir Malcolm and party entered the room. Lady Marsden stopped and looked at Mulder and asked "Pardon me, but have we met before? You look very familiar." Mulder responded professionally " Special Agent Mulder, FBI. I'm working with Inspector Green." She shook her head "No, I know you from somewhere else." Confused by her insistence, he offered "I attended Oxford for four years, about ten years ago. Perhaps we met there." "That's possible. But I think it was somewhere else." She proceeded onward. Phoebe eyed Mulder as Lady Marsden stepped away and teased "So Mulder, trying to get friendly with Lady Marsden?" Embarrassed, he stuttered. "No, I...I...she just thought she knew me." "I doubt you travel in the same circles." she replied a sense of snobbery in her voice as she followed the couple into the reception. After two hours and no sign of the arsonist, Phoebe returned to the foyer to check on Mulder. With no sign of eminent danger, she began chatting with him. He was at his sarcastic best when she asked how he was doing. She smiled at the witty man she planned to seduce. "Do you think we can indulge ourselves in a dance?" she suggested. He looked around and resigned himself to his fate. Taking her in his arms, they swayed gently to the music. He slowly relaxed and she whispered in his ear "I've thought a lot about you over the years. I made some horrible mistakes and I hope you can forgive me for my youthful foolishness." Mulder swallowed hard. His body seemed to press itself close to her, yearning for a sense of intimacy. His memory slipped back to images of Phoebe caring for him, making him feel alive. He forgot that it was all a lie. A persistent voice in his head told him that he loved Dana. It grew louder as Phoebe brushed her lips on along his neck. Phoebe sense Mulder's distraction and began to demand his full attention. Encouraging his body to react as it always had to her touch, she pulled him close and kissed him along his shirt collar. He did nothing at first but soon responded with impassioned moans, lost in the insistent sensation. she thought Scully arrived in the lobby of the hotel and paged Mulder. When she received no response, she asked were the reception for Sir Malcolm was being held. She had decided that it was her duty as his partner and friend to force Mulder to face her and Phoebe at the same time. His insistence that he had to deal with himself was just another one of his delusions. She had promised herself he would never be alone, and that included facing his past as well as future. Stepping off the elevator into the foyer of the reception hall, Scully noticed a odd young man leering at her. He seemed out of place in this fancy hotel and her FBI agent mind made a mental note of his features. Then she was distracted by the view of Mulder and Phoebe dancing together. she thought to herself. Over Mulder's shoulder, Phoebe could see Scully entering the foyer. Not below deliberately antagonizing Scully, Phoebe kissed Mulder deeply, with his back turned to his partner. Scully watched but remained calm. She knew exactly what was happening. It wasn't a seduction; it's was an emotional kidnapping. "Why, Inspector Green, I'd though you would be more discreet." Scully announced out loud. Mulder froze but refused to meet Scully's eyes. Feigning shock, Phoebe said "Agent Scully, glad you can join us. I thought you had become consumed in your work." Mulder tried to push away but Phoebe held him tightly against her. He stood there helpless, like the prey being fought over by two predator. Scully gave Mulder a causal look. "Sorry I couldn't find any couriers this late so I brought the files myself. You really need to see this." She presented the folder. Phoebe took the file, still clinging to a recalcitrant Mulder. "How nice of you to bring the file 'round for US. Is there anything else we can do for you before you leave?" Unfazed by Phoebe's cold remarks. Scully smiled and said "As a matter of fact there is something you can do." She surprised the couple by grabbing Phoebe firmly on the shoulder and pulling her away from Mulder. "Leave him alone!" Phoebe stared hard at the smaller woman with a dangerous look. "What do you think you're doing?!" Scully ignored her and continued on her attack. "Indiscretion seems to be a way of life for you, Inspector Green. Playing up to Mulder in public is bad enough but Sir Malcolm, in the airport no less." "What are you talking about?" a defensive Inspector asked. "I did some research trying to find your arsonist. I reviewed surveillance video from the airport to see if someone was stalking Sir Malcolm. Apparently someone was - YOU. As soon as his family was out of sight you kissed him in a manner that made your encounter with Agent Mulder look like handshake. Tell me, is this some new protocol from Scotland Yard for handling members of Parliament?" Phoebe wasn't used to direct confrontation. She tried to redirect Scully's attention. She opened the folder and said "So what did you find related to the case?" But Scully would have none of that. "I found out you did a terrible job as an investigator." Mulder stepped away knowing the fire was starting and it had nothing to do with the arsonist. "There was a servant named Cecil Lively who worked for two of the murdered victims." Impatiently, Phoebe responded "Yes I know but further investigation showed it was just a coincidence." "If it's just a coincidence, why does it seem so contrived? " she countered. "If you really believed in extreme possibilities you would have found the name Cecil Lively among the victims killed in a tenement fire in 1971. I dug further and found him listed as one of several children killed in a Satanic ritual in 1963." "So you're saying a twice dead man started these fires?" Phoebe hissed back to her. "No quite. U.S. Immigrations recorded a Cecil Lively arriving from Great Britain 2 weeks ago. Port of Entry, Boston." Scully shot back. Taking the full impact of Scully's finding, Phoebe exclaimed "Good God, he is here!" Suddenly the alarm panel, next to the elevator, lit up. Scully looked at it and announced "Fire on the 14th floor !" "That's where the children are!" Phoebe cried "I'll get them!" Mulder ran up for the stairs. "Mulder, wait!" Scully called and ran after him, worried that his phobia would paralyze him. Phoebe went to pull the alarm and warmed Sir Malcolm. Mulder stared down the smoke filled hall and flames shot out of the room. He proceeded down the corridor, fear gripping his heart and smoke filling his lungs. Panic welled inside him as he hyperventilated and became dizzy. Half way down he collapsed into unconsciousness, as much from fear as from smoke inhalation. Scully came rapidly behind him. She checked his pulse quickly and surmised he was in shock. She pulled his body back to the stairs, and pushed him below the level of the rising smoke. Then she rushed back down the hall to the children's room. Crouching low below the flames and smoke, she peered in the room. It looked empty. She called out and there was no answer. She backed away but passed out in the hall, overcome by the heat. Fire/Rescue arrived shortly and brought her and Mulder out to safety. Mulder revived quickly once he was brought into the fresh air. Scully had inhaled much more smoke and required minor treatment with oxygen. She refused to be transported to the hospital, choosing to remain with Mulder at the scene of the crime. A crowd had gathered in the foyer, surrounding the hero who brought the children to safety, the driver known as Bob. If Scully was fully conscious she would have recognized him as the same suspicious man who watched her as she first entered the foyer. Since Scully refused to go to the hospital, Mulder offered his room for her to rest. The hotel doctor provide oxygen in case her condition worsened, as well as a mild sedative to help her rest after the injury. Helping Scully into the elevator on the way to his room, Mulder shot Phoebe a cold stare as if to say "This is all your fault." She looked away with embarrassment but tried to concentrate on completing her investigation. Lady Marsden looked at the pair of FBI agents and remarked to her husband "I'm sure I've met him before and I think I've seen her before as well. I just can't remember where." Once in his room, Mulder removed Scully's smoke tainted clothes and put her in bed. He clothed her with his clean shirt and laid down next to her. He stayed at her side, watching over her as she slept restlessly in his bed. She would occasionally cough and wheeze, so he would gently rub her back and stroke her hair. He quietly whispered "I'm sorry, Dana. I should have trusted you." Scully woke up and realized she had nothing on but Mulder's dress shirt. She felt an arm wrapped around her and saw Mulder sleeping beside her, dresses just in his black silk boxers, the ones she had given him for his birthday. As she stirred Mulder shot up and said "Are you OK?" with a worried look upon his face. She coughed a bit and cleared her throat then said "I'm fine." He handed her a glass of water and said "You were really out of it. I'm glad you're back with us." He softly kissed her cheek. As her throat cleared, she asked "Did the children get out all right?" "Their fine. Apparently the driver got them out of the room before the fire spread." he reassured her. "I called Scotland Yard to fax a picture of Lively to the hotel. Maybe we can locate him on the hotel security video shot before and after the fire." Scully suggested. Mulder responded "It hasn't come yet but we'll get on it as soon as it gets here. For now just rest a bit longer." Scully curled into his arms and smiled at him. "I guess I can't say too much about indiscreet behavior." "At least we don't have an audience." he observed as he gently hugged her. "But I'd better get dressed before anyone decides to check up on us." He started to get out of the bed but Scully held him for a moment longer. He saw tears in her eyes. "Hey, are you sure you're OK?" "I almost lost you back there." she sighed. He couldn't believe his ears. She had risked her life to save him and she was worried about him. "I lost it out there. It wasn't even the smoke that took me out I panicked. I couldn't move." he confessed. "It could have happen to anyone." she reassured him. Upset at his own weakness, he got out of the bed and said angrily "But it happened to me and it almost got you killed. I hared out, plain and simple." Knowing Scully would try to comfort him and knowing he didn't deserve it, he went into the bathroom and shut the door. Scully shook her head, wondering why Mulder always chose to torment himself instead of accepting the blame and learning from mistakes. Perhaps that's why she stayed with him. Maybe someday, with her help, he could accept who he was, weaknesses and all. After all, that flawed man was still the only man she loved. Scully started to get dressed when she heard a quiet knock on the door . She finished dressing to at least look presentable and opened the door. There was Phoebe Green, awake and alert. Scully said nothing and walked back into the room. Phoebe followed and said calmly "I just came to check on you and Mulder." "I'm fine and so is Mulder, now that he's not with you." she answers with an uncharacteristic bitterness. "Agent Scully! I thought we were going to be professionals about this." "That was before the fire broke out and you let him go up there to face it. Forget about professionalism for now." Scully raised her voice and let loose her anger. "You endangered his life and the children's lives by bringing him here. On top of that, you were practically assaulting him when I interrupted your dance. I realize you made think I'm just a meddling ex-wife but he's also my best friend and I just can't watch you play games with his life." "I was under the impression that YOU were trying to get him back yourself. Could you just be projection your frustration on me?" Phoebe shot back. "Sorry, I refuse to play your games. Mulder can choose his company however he pleases. I just want to make sure he does have to deal with venom spitting vipers like you." Scully answered with cold calmness. Determined to face the sharp-tongued Yank, Phoebe challenged "Can't you handle the competition?" "No, I can't handle the nausea." was Scully quick reply. This was more than Phoebe had bargained for. Scully was holding back nothing to defend Mulder and get her out of his life. Mulder had reentered the room. Standing behind them self-consciously in his robe, he listening to them argue about him. "Phoebe, I think you'd better leave now." She took a deep breath and replied sharply "If that's what you want." He nodded sternly. "Well then. Oh, by the way, Sir Malcolm and family will be leaving immediately." "For the Cape ?" he asked. "No for England. They're anxious to put this incident behind them. Since we're fairly sure of who the arsonist is we can be on the look out if he tries to follow them back." "Will you be returning with them?" he asked with just a hint of regret in his voice. Phoebe smiled for an instant, knowing his guard had slipped once again. "I'll ring you at the Bureau before I leave." Scully shot her a look that said "Watch it!" As Sir Malcolm and family left the hotel, Scully went to the lobby to pick up the fax of the picture of Cecil Lively. The composite picture drawing of the suspect from the fire at the bar the previous night was also waiting for Mulder. The two pictures matched and she instantly recognized the face as the man who she saw in the elevator just before the fire. She called Mulder's room and told him they needed to go immediately, that the arsonist was following Sir Malcolm. Mulder met her on the garage and they got in the car. As soon as Mulder saw the picture he grew pale. "That's the driver! The one who rescued the children last night." The Marsdens did not have a phone in the car so Mulder notified the Cape Cod police to meet them at the house to warn them. When Sir Malcolm, arrived at his house he saw the police cars around the driveway. "Good God what's happening?" he cried. Lively smiled to hid his guilt "I'm sure their just here to ensure the safety of your family." One of the officers pulled a gun on Lively and warned Marsden that the their driver was indeed the arsonist. He responded "Put that weapon down. This man is only substituting for the driver. Bob save my children's lives." The officer dropped the weapon and asked where the driver was. "He was ill last night. He should still be in his room." The officers went to search the house. Lady Marsden was shocked. "I don't believe it. He's been with the family for years!" Sir Malcolm responded "All the same, we can't be too cautious. Bob, can you take my wife and children to their room and watch over them?" "My pleasure, Sir." he replied with a wicked smile that couple didn't see. "I'll stay with you, Sir Malcolm, just in case." Phoebe added. As Mulder and Scully pulled up, Phoebe and Sir Malcolm were indeed kissing. Mulder looked at Scully and said "How come you're always right?" "Not always" she replied confidently "Just when it's important." Phoebe saw the car arrive and pulled away from Marsden. She resumed a professional air and said "Mulder, we're trying to located the driver now." "How did he get away?" he demanded. "The real driver appears to be missing. The man driving was the caretaker." she answered. "NO! He's Cecil Lively !" Scully said holding up the picture for her to see. Phoebe was startled by the image and gasped "He's upstairs with the children." They ran into the building and meet up with the police officers who directed them to the charred remains of a man in the bathroom. Mulder regarded the victim and said "I think we found the missing driver." Scully picked up a bag with a small can in it marked "jet fuel". She said "And I think we found the accelarant as well." Suddenly they heard a scream from upstairs. They rushed towards the bedrooms and found the bedding and paintings dotted with flames. Lady Marsden cried out for her children and Bob. Phoebe took her hand and said "We need to get you out. Bob is the arsonist. The officers will get the children..." "No" interrupted Mulder "I'll get them. The officers need to find Lively. And be careful this - this whole house is rigged to burn." "Mulder, are you sure you'll be OK?" Phoebe asked concerned he would collapse again. "Oh yeah. There's no place I'd rather be" he said preparing to face his demons. Scully looked at him and knew he wouldn't fail his duty this time. As a show of her faith in him, she made no attempt to stop him and offered to cover the downstairs exit in case Lively was still in the building. Mulder nodded to her in understanding and proceeded down the hall to the children's room. Phoebe lead the Marsden's outside while the police searched the rooms and Scully stood guard at the front door. Mulder found a locked door and heard the children within. He tried to force it open when suddenly Lively stepped into view at the end of the hall, grinning wildly. Before Mulder could react, Lively snapped his fingers and the entire ceiling and walls were engulfed in flames. Lively disappeared from view as Mulder felt the unspeakable fear grow in his heart. He backed away from the approaching flames, dropping his weapon, and crouching helplessly in the corner. His mind went blank for an instant then he heard the cries of the children within their locked room. Immediately, he gathered his courage and willed his body to face the flames to reach the room. He broke down the door and the children rushed into his arms. Tears of joy flooded his eyes as he pulled them from the growing inferno. His voice stayed calm and in control as he instructed them "Stay low! We need to get outside." Meanwhile outside, unexpectedly, one of the patrol car exploded into flames. The officers rushed outside to see what happened. The Marsden huddled under cover on the front porch as Phoebe re-entered the house, searching for Lively. Scully remained at the doorway when she heard a laugh behind her. She whipped around and drew her gun sights on Lively, walking down the stairs. "FREEZE!" she ordered "FEDERAL AGENT !" "You won't fire because you don't know if a spark from that round might blow this whole house to kingdom come." he commented as he calmly walked towards her. She faltered at the thought but kept her weapon aimed at him. He was confident she would heed his warning and continued towards the door, arrogantly. Scully thought quickly of her options and came to one conclusion - just step out of his way and wait until he's outside. Suddenly Phoebe came from the side and shouted "Look out Scully , The accelarant!" and threw the fuel on Lively. Scully quickly jumped back and Lively stumbled out the front door, temporarily blinded by the chemical in his eyes. Once outside, Lively started to laugh again and ignited him hands into flames. Horrified, the officers and the Marsden's looked on as Lively posed himself, arms up raise to show off his burning body. Mulder came down the stairs with the boys who ran to their parents. Seeing what she had done, Mulder turned to Phoebe and shouted "Are you crazy? Don't you get it? Fire can't kill him ! It's his weapon!" He saw Lively run towards Marsden trying to use his own body to apply the fire to his victim. Mulder rushed out the door and wrestled Lively to the ground, smothering most of the flames. Enraged, Lively turned and glared hatefully at Mulder. Then an evil smile crept across his face as he realized Mulder's face, arms and chest were covered with the accelarant, spread to him by the struggle with Lively. Mulder knew what was about to happen and buried his face into the grass, hoping by some miracle he wouldn't burn to death. Lively pointed a fiery hand at Mulder, when suddenly gunshots rang out. Lively collapsed on the spot, 3 bullets severing his spine with deadly accuracy. His body continued to burn as Scully fired 2 more shots into his head and approached cautiously. "Mulder, are you all right?" she called as she refused to take her eyes and her aim off Lively. "Yeah, I'm OK" he sighed, wiping the chemical from his face "Thanks to you." "I know he was a living X-Files but I had no choice." Scully said apologetically. Mulder saw the vision of his own death in Lively flaming corpse. "Let him burn. They can study what's left." he remarked coldly. Phoebe and the Marsdens watched the scene in shock. The police officers called the Fire Department and wondered how to explain the car explosion to their Captain. Scully stripped Mulder of his flammable shirt and handed him a cloth to clean the chemicals off his face. She took the hand of her partner and said "Facing your fears isn't about overcoming them, but living with them. Fire kills but it also cleanses. Learn to use what you fear." She smiled at him and added "Like I'm learning to take your theories at face value and rationalizing things after the shooting stops." He laughed and gave her a hug, not caring what anyone else might say about his public display of affection. Lady Marden's face lit up. "Now I remember! Malcolm, remember I used to volunteer at the medical clinic in London?" Sir Malcolm replied with surprise "That was 10 years ago. Are you sure?" She watched the embracing couple and smiled "Oh yes, I'm sure. They used to get into some nasty fixes but I always remembered how much they cared for each other. To think, after all this time, they're still together and still in love." She sighed at the romantic musings. Sir Malcolm took his wife into his arms with a passion that had been long absent from their relationship and said "Perhaps meeting them again is more than just chance. Maybe it's a reminder to us of just how important love is." He kissed her as his sons giggled and Phoebe looked away. "God help me that it took a death threat to realize how much I still love you." "We'll have to be sure to thank Agent Mulder and his wife." she replied as she welcomed her children into their embrace.. Phoebe Green stepped back and surveyed the scene. A dead cremated arsonist and murderer, two former lovers with the women they truly loved, a burning police car and mansion, and no clue as to what just really happened. She gazed upon Mulder, secure and happy with Scully, and murmured to herself a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's final Sherlock Holmes book. "Farewell to Sherlock Holmes... thank you for your past constancy... I can but hope some return has been made in the stimulating change of thought which can only be found in the fairy kingdom of romance." It seemed the real Mulder was a little less invisible today. Even Phoebe Green could see him. ____________________________ The following day, Agent Mulder sat at his desk reviewing files when suddenly a female voice with a British accent sounded from the doorway. "Care to take me to lunch?" He just smiled and continued to look at his files and said "Scully, that's the worst fake accent I've ever heard." "Just trying to get a rise of out of you." she teased as she stepped closer to him. "What, last night wasn't enough?" he teased back. She set down the books she was carrying on his desk and stood behind him. Then she ran her fingers along his shoulders and whispered in his ear "One night is never enough. Just wait until we really make love." Before he could react, she stepped away and stood in front of the desk, out of arms reach. "So, where is Phoebe?" she asked innocently. "I don't know. Gone, I guess." he replied causally "She didn't call?" "Nope but she did messager this to me last night." He held up another cassette tape like the one she had left in their car. "You didn't play it?" Mulder regarded the tape with disinterest. "No." "Why not? Aren't you curious what's on it?" Scully asked, curious herself. "10 to 1 you can't dance to it." He tossed it into a trash can. Then he stood up lit a match and threw it in after the tape. Scully jumped back, startled by the paper fueled fires igniting around the tape. She bumped the desk and one of her books dropped into the same trash can. Without hesitation, Mulder reached in and pulled it out before it was damaged. He handed it to Scully with a smile even though it was obvious he had singed the hairs on the back of his hand. Scully just shook her head, greeted him with a matching smile and said "Never let it be said you wouldn't walk through fire for a woman, Mulder." Mulder leaned closer to her and answered "And never let it be said I wouldn't do it for you again, Dana." He kissed her with all the fire he could muster from within, as they heard the cassette tape crackle in the burning trash can. Suddenly a fire alarm sounded and the automatic sprinkler system sprayed them down. Mulder wasn't sure if it was the smoking trash can or their heated lip lock that set it off. As the bells and horns blared, he pulled away from Scully just enough to see her laughing face clearly and said "Care to dance?" END The last bit of dialogue about walking through fire was supposedly in the original script. It may be too romantic for Carter but not for me. What did Phoebe Green really do to Fox Mulder back at Oxford? Who knows but I'm pretty sure it didn't do much to boost his self-confidence. I'm also tired of Scully pointing her gun and NOT shooting the bad guys. Please forward all comments to shinkai@mlode.com.