From: Cheryl De Luca Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 04:04:54 GMT Subject: NEW: Old Ghosts 1/6 TITLE: Old Ghosts 1/6 AUTHOR: Marsha Taylor-Bare & Cheryl De Luca EMAIL ADDRESS:Cheryld@netcom.ca & Barelyhere@email.msn.com ARCHIVE:Anywhere is fine as long as our names and addresses remain attached SPOILER WARNING:FTF, and fifth season RATING: R CONTENT WARNING: Minor disturbing imagery, and sexual content. CLASSIFICATION: X-file/ MSR SUMMARY: Mulder goes off to handle a case on his own and unwittingly puts his partner and their relationship at risk. RANDOM RAMBLINGS: If you are particularily avoidant of MSR this is not the story for you. However if you do like a little angst thrown in with your x-file this just might do.. Feedback is more than welcome Thanks and enjoy the story! Old Ghosts 1/6 June 1998 Both agents were engrossed in their latest case file when the phone let out a shrill ring. The noise of it broke through the shuffling quiet and the stuffiness of the newly remodeled basement office, and intruded with an unwanted distraction. The man who's desk the phone occupied reached out and scooped the receiver up out of it's cradle mumbling a distracted "Mulder," as he brought it to his ear. "Can you Hold??" The voice on the other end of the phone ventured, and then without waiting for a reply Skinner's secretary pressed the little red button that sent him into elevator music oblivion. Mulder sighed, his eyes hadn't even ventured from the paper he was reading. He'd been trying for the better part of the day to concentrate on the dragging and stiflingly bothersome paperwork that associated itself with most government jobs. He flipped the page he'd come to the end of, the words he was reading were understandable but barely registering as he checked over the final draft of their report. Normally he dreaded the paper work but this day in particular his weak attempts at explaining the bogus case they had spent major tax dollars on made filling out the reports an even more loathsome task than usual. His eyes drifted to the last line of the last paragraph. Done up in italics the word "hoax" stood out clearly from the others. He grimaced slightly as he reached for his pen. It had been his choice to pick up the case, and from the beginning Scully had been emphatic about the fact that it HAD to be a fabrication of some sort. He looked up from his papers and over to where she sat, her fingers were frantically tapping away at the keyboard of her laptop. She had been right. It had been both a crank and a disappointment, and the humiliation of it was still fresh in his mind. He grinned secretly to himself, but the bet he'd lost to his partner had made it worth the indignity he'd endured. Shifting the receiver to his other ear, he scratched his signature in the appropriate space and set the report aside. Then with a mental groan he reached out and picked up his half completed expense report. This task had been left for last. If case reports were boring, expense reports had the ability to make him comatose. A state, when considering his already waning attention span, wasn't too far off. Just staring at all the little numbers on the page would have given him an enormous push towards indulging the ever growing fantasy he was entertaining, about how he would spend the impending non work-related, and unhurried few days with his very attractive partner. She may have won the bet, but he was hoping to win the battle. After so many years of feeling like a failure, Scully had made him feel worthy of love. She accepted him the way he was, with all of his ideologies, quests, faults and less than attractive secrets seemingly not the drawback he had always believed them to be. He looked at her sometimes when she wasn't paying attention. Would she love him? Could she love him despite how scarred and battered emotionally he was? Could she be the one he could possibly share the love he'd tried before to find? He knew he cared for her, maybe even loved her. He wasn't sure, but it was as close as he had come to love since...... He stopped that thought. Could he commit to a loving relationship that Scully so richly deserved? He'd been contemplating this ever since they almost kissed in the hallway of his apartment building. It was an almost kiss preceded by words he'd never thought he'd say to her. A panicked confession to make her understand that she wasn't a hindrance to his work, but his savior. "You keep me honest. You've make me whole." Why did she feel she wasn't his equal in the partnership? He would have never guessed Dana Scully would have doubts concerning involvement in their work. With him he could understand, but not their work or her importance to it. His thoughts were torn away from Scully as Skinner's voice suddenly replaced the elevator music in his ear. Scully hadn't looked up when he answered the call. It had taken all of her diligence just to focus on the paperwork from the case they had just closed. Unwilling to be distracted by anything other than a major catastrophe, she continued to type. Her mind replaying the weatherman's promise of a warm spring weekend surrounded by blue skies. After a long drab winter it was just what the doctor ordered, and she herself had seen to it that the prescription would be filled, via a bet that she had made with her partner on their last case. It was Friday afternoon, and barring a call from Skinner with another case, she and Mulder had a free weekend a head of them, and they were planning on spending it together, outside. The bet had been a compromise between the agents over the validity of the case they'd just completed. From the outset Scully had tried to convince Mulder that the mysterious disappearances of some local high school kids was a hoax. But a sudden renewed belief in extra terrestrial existence had mysteriously gripped her partner a few weeks before, and his "theory" was that the kids had been abducted. Scully smiled as she remembered the wager.... "Mulder the validity of this case is unsubstantiated. I can't believe you're wasting taxpayers money chasing after a bunch of kids that are probably playing a joke on their parents." Scully faced off with her partner, her hands placed on her hips in defiance. "Scully, there is no way a group of kids can just vanish without there being paranormal involvement. You saw what a group abduction could be like when you were on the bridge." She could see Mulder wasn't going to let this go. Time to lose the battle, but win the fight. Scully's lips turned up into an evil grin. "Okay Mulder, care to make a wager?" Scully raised her eyebrow, and her partner grinned. "What type of wager do you want to make? And, what do I get if I'm right?" There was a leer in her partner's voice. She swallowed before continuing, "If I win the bet, we take a weekend off, no work, no little green men, just fun, sun, and the great outdoors. And I choose the activity." She looked at him seriously. "We need a break Mulder." "Eww Scully, if you wanted to conduct some nature experiments with me, all you had to do was ask." Scully felt herself blush. "If you win...... well Mulder, that's up to you." She had Mulder's attention as she spoke the words in a low semi-sultry voice. Two could play at this game. She watched as he gaped at her. Recovering quickly, he started to speak, then decided he would think of a suitable wager first. Scully could see the Mulder's mind moving quickly, so she added. "But Mulder, you're not going to win, so I wouldn't spend a lot of time trying To think of a suitable punishment." She turned and walked toward the car leaving Mulder where he stood, with a smile on his face. He realized he would win either way, but proving her wrong would be a bonus. As it turned out, the disappearances were in fact due to spring break in Newport News Beach, and a bunch of teenagers bent on escaping the watchful eyes of their parents by faking their disappearance. They had found several of the teenagers in a motel room drinking beer and having a great time. But the good time had ended when the half the local police force surrounded the hotel, breaking down their door. The bill for damages to the hotel, and the wrath of their parents had produced several sullen teenagers and one pouting FBI agent. It had been impossible for Scully to hide her amusement, as she and Mulder stood in the doorway gazing at a group of half drunk, and half dressed adolescents. The partier's misfortune had led to Scull's winning of the bet, so somewhat grudgingly her partner had agreed to put aside all research, and join her for a day at the park. He'd bemoaned how busy he was at first, but ultimately, and to Scully's momentary delight, he'd agreed that it would do him good to get out of his dingy apartment for a couple of days. After all that had happened recently, her brush with cancer, the scare on the bridge, and then their most recent almost career ending -- scratch that -- life ending trip into conspiracies and chasing little green men, she'd decided it was time to truly get a life. To Scully that meant spending more time away from the office spent preferably with her partner, but the hectic schedule they kept had prevented it most weekends. This weekend, they didn't have a case and the time was right, so she was cashing in on her bet, and looking forward to having all of Mulder's attention for at least two days, and to his merit he had whined only minimally when she called in her dues and she announced the plan. "I'll be right there," Mulder dropped the phone in the cradle and sighed. "Skinner wants to see me, but it shouldn't take long." He had made a show of complaining when Scully had announced her plans for their outdoor weekend, but truth be told, he wanted to go. He was actually looking forward to spending the time with his partner, especially after the latest scare. He stared at her face for a moment. All the burst capillaries seemed to have healed, and other that some unseen but surely existent emotional scarring, one would never know to look at her that she'd almost died. He'd almost died too but without her his own survival had meant nothing anyway. He had tried to put the sheer horror of almost losing her three times in so few months, out of his head, but the pain and emptiness he'd felt still haunted him. This weekend would be therapeutic. Grabbing his coat, he headed for the door. Scully didn't look up as he walked out the door, but mumbled. "Mulder you didn't deliberately do something to aggravate Skinner did you? You're not getting out of our outing tomorrow." She heard him chuckle as the door closed. xxxxxxxxx "You wanted to see me Sir?" Mulder sat in his usual spot in front of the Assistant Director's desk, "If it's about the last case, I can explain..........." Skinner interrupted his defense of the missing teenager case, which he didn't want to discuss just yet. "Mulder, I've been given a case, it's not an x-file, but I wanted you to have a look at it anyway." He handed the file to Mulder and waited for him to read the words on the paper. Skinner knew Mulder would be disturbed by the information. He noticed Mulder's face tighten into a frown as he read. When Mulder finished, he looked up. "Mulder, I'm sorry. I can only imagine what you're feeling. If you don't want to handle the case, I understand. I already have an agent on it at our Boston Affiliate. It's their jurisdiction, and they should be receiving a copy of the case file from 7 years ago as soon as we locate it. It's in good hands Mulder." He cleared his throat. "I'm offering it to you as a professional courtesy. It's not an assignment unless you want it to be. And personally I don't recommend you taking it." Skinner waited for a response. "When did it happen?" His voice was quiet. "Yesterday." Skinner noticed the familiar pain of long ago return to his features. It wasn't the same pain he'd seen so many times in Mulder's life. This pain had the strained vestiges of something deeply buried and bone cuttingly deep. It had once consumed him, and he had barely managed to resurface, since then he had allowed no one to even speak of it. His denial was so complete that he had gone so far as having his records at the bureau changed to erase any reference to this particular part of his past. Mulder cleared his throat, as his eyes dropped to the floor. "Sir, have you mentioned this to anyone else?" His head lifted and he looked at Skinner with sorrowful dark eyes. "No Mulder." He shifted in his chair and leaned his elbows on his desk. "I respect your privacy in the matter, that's why I called you in here first and without Agent Scully." Skinner hesitated. "If there's......." Mulder stood suddenly, his attention still focused on the floor as he made his way to the door. "Thanks, but I'll handle this myself. I don't want Scully involved in this. This guy made it personal the last time because I was getting too close to catching him. This time there's nothing left that he can use to control me." He reached for the door. "You haven't told her about it have you?" Skinner stated more than asked. Mulder's posture stiffened, and then he sighed heavily. "No. It doesn't concern her. We all thought he was dead when the murders stopped, so I hoped that it would never come up again." He turned the door knob, then stopped. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss this anyone, especially Scully. I don't want her involved" Mulder's voice was just above a whisper, the resurfacing pain evident. "Very well Agent Mulder." Skinner would abide by his wishes. Mulder opened the door and then left the office without a sound. XXXXXXXXXX Scully looked at her watch it had been an hour since Mulder left for Skinner's office. She was through with her paperwork anxiously waiting for the clock to run out on her work day and for the weekend to begin. Picking up the phone, she dialed Skinner's secretary. "Debra, hello. Is Agent Mulder still with the Assistant Director?" She frowned at the response. "About an hour ago? Are you sure? No...... No, that's okay. Thanks." Scully's intuition told her something was definitely wrong. She moved quickly from her chair to the door, she wanted to talk to the AD and find out what happened to Mulder. XXXXXXXXX Scully knocked on the door, and waited impatiently for a reply. Inside Skinner sighed, already knowing it was Scully. He hated being put in the middle. He had to keep his promise to Mulder, yet it made him uncomfortable to do so in the face of Scully's inevitable concern. Standing, he reluctantly moved to the door and opened it. On the other side he found a woman whose face looked much like he had expected it would. Both agitated and worried, Dana Scully was clearly not a happy camper. And Unfortunately what he had to tell her would wouldn't come anywhere close to improving that. "Can I help you Agent Scully?" He allowed her in the office and closed the door. "Sir, what happened with Agent Mulder?" She searched his eyes for truth, but he avoided her gaze and moved towards his desk. After taking a moment to gaze out the out the window and gather the appropriate words, he turned to face her. "Agent Mulder is being sent out to work independently on a case." He leaned up against the window sill. "Other than that, you'll have to ask him." He didn't know how Scully would react to the buried information. "Independently? Sir?" She started to question him. "It was his choice Agent Scully, I can't tell you anymore." Scully nodded absently, she knew she'd been dismissed, and slowly she turned toward the door. "Agent Scully, be careful with Mulder on this one." Skinner wanted badly to tell her. If anyone could keep Mulder from reliving the hell he'd been through before, it was his partner. He knew how Mulder felt about Scully. He also knew Scully had pulled Mulder out of plummeting spiral downward when she joined him on the x-files. Scully opened her mouth, then decided it was a waste of time asking any more questions. She opened the door, slipped out and closed it gently. Making her way down to the basement, she noticed the door ajar. When she entered, Mulder wasn't anywhere in the office, and his coat, briefcase and computer were gone. Had he been waiting for her to leave to retrieve his things? Was he purposely avoiding her? She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and hit the speed dial. It rang several times. At the announcement that the person had turned off the phone or was out of the area, Scully slammed the phone shut, and mumbled a slight curse. "Dammit Mulder, what now?" Scully spoke to the empty room and slumped down into her chair to think. She knew this Mulder, and dammit to hell, it made her want to throttle him. She'd thought they'd gotten past the mistrust, the ditching and the hiding things from one another. Hadn't they? Couldn't they? She'd hoped they had come to a point where they could move into a closer personal relationship. Not immediately jump into bed, but relate to each other in a more personal way. Her thoughts drifted to his hallway only weeks ago when he'd touched her, caressed her in such a way that it almost made her heart stop. They had been pulled from the inevitability of a kiss, by sheer circumstance. She shook her head distracting her from that thought. All that meant little now, she'd been ditched again by the look of it. Turning back to her computer, Scully punched a key to bring her screen back to life, as it flickered back on she noticed a message from Mulder. Scully, Please understand. I can't ask you to come with me on this case. It's something I have to face alone. I will try and explain when I return. Please don't worry. Mulder P.S. Sorry about this weekend, you can cash in the bet some other time. An anger accompanied by fear was boiling its way through her. "Damn Damn Damn, not this time Mulder." She grabbed her belongings and headed for the door. XXXXXXXXXXX Scully stood in front of his door trying to remain calm, she'd talked to herself while driving to his apartment. She would calmly discuss this with him. No, raised voices, no angry words, after all, Skinner had said to be careful with him, so she would calm her Irish temper and put on her most professional face. She had raised her hand to knock, when the door suddenly opened. She locked eyes with Mulder. He was clad in jeans and gray T-shirt and had his garment bag slung over his shoulder. "Going somewhere Mulder?" Her words were carefully spoken. He sighed knowing there would be a confrontation. "Scully, I told you I had to do this one on my own." He'd hoped to get out of town before she had a chance to begin the Agent Scully, G-woman routine. He knew she wouldn't leave it alone, but hoped to avoid the entanglement of harsh words, and evasive answers. "Mulder, where are you going?" It was a simple calm question. She felt proud of herself for remaining so composed. "Scully, this case.. it's a personal matter too. I have to attend to it. I won't tell you anymore than that. Just leave it alone, and I'll explain when I get back." Mulder's voice exuding a silent warning behind his words. She looked down the hall gathering her thoughts, then she looked back into his cool hazel eyes. It was almost like he had detached himself from her. The connection seemed broken, there was no warmth in his eyes or his posture, and Scully was taken aback by his coolness, but wouldn't show it. "Mulder what is so important that you would ditch me again. I thought......." She looked away taking a deep breath and letting it go, surprised that she was managing to hold on to her already wobbly self control. She hated feeling like a spurned female, and at the moment she had to admit, that she did. "You thought what Scully? That because we're partners and friends we're joined at the hip?? That because our lives are so integrated I would confess all my deepest secrets to you?" He almost chuckled at the absurdity. "I told you along time ago, you don't know me as well as you think you do. I can't.. "He shook his head. "No, I won't tell you what this is about. Now if you will excuse me, I have a plane to catch." He closed the door to his apartment and left her standing in the hallway, stunned. Mulder hated himself for saying what he had to her, but this part of his life was something he simply couldn't share with her. It didn't concern her, it was too painful and too terrifying all at once . He would set things right when he returned. Maybe he would be able to talk about it then. This was an old ghost, surrounded by old hurts that had been long buried, like a demon needing to be exorcised from his soul. He didn't want to hurt her anymore than he already had. It was for her own good that he was so cool to her and so aloof. "I'm sorry Scully." He whispered as the elevator doors closed and he caught sight of her still standing where he'd left her. He could tell by her bowed head she was hurt deeply by his words. Scully heard the doors close to the elevator, and let out a shaky breath. She didn't know until this moment he could or would hurt her in such a way. He had pierced her heart with his cool, hurtful words. Had she been reading him all wrong? Did he care so little for her after all the years that they had shared? After all of the times they had put their lives on the line for each other? Did she mean so little to him, that he could cast her aside like yesterday's news for some unknown quest? Is this what Fox Mulder considered a partnership, whether it be friendship, or.... She almost couldn't bear to think of the rest of the thought. Or what she'd hoped would be more than a platonic relationship? Had she been that big of a fool to think she could break through the part of him held so close and guarded? Tears threatened her eyes. She took in a deep breath, attempting to shutdown the emotion. No, she wouldn't allow a tear for Mulder. She would abide by his wishes, and stay out of his way, but when he returned, she would finally have to decide if it was worth her time and future to continue chasing after his adventures. He had told her once the truth and Samantha was all that mattered to him. Why hadn't she believed him? What kind of a fool was she to think she could have any part of his soul, like he had captured her heart, soul and mind? Slowly she turned on shaky legs and made her way out of the building. Not paying much attention to her surroundings, on autopilot, Scully got into her car and drove home. Arriving at her door, she put the key in the lock and found sanctuary in her own apartment. When the door closed and the locks thrown, she allowed her self to slowly sink to the floor as the tears flowed. Uncontrollable tears held in so long. She felt alone at that moment, terrified that the future would only hold the sadness and loneliness of coming home, case after case, to a lonely existence. Scully looked around her spotless apartment, was this all her life would hold? She was barren, and alone, so alone that it hurt. She felt her heart break. Damn her for fooling herself. Damn him for making her believe she meant anything more to him than a partner, a friend, someone he was loosely dependent on when he needed it. Wiping her eyes, she stood and moved to the table for a tissue. Her eyes were reddened and swollen from her tears. Wiping the remaining wetness away, she caught sight of herself in the mirror on the wall gasping at the sight. God, she looked broken. Broken? A Scully? Dana hated herself at that moment. Her father taught her to regard herself with more respect than to allow someone to break her spirit. She scrutinized her face closely. Tiny lines were forming from too much sadness and too little joy. She had to change her life before it consumed her and she was forever lost in an oblivion of turmoil and pain. Something she'd promised herself after the cancer went into remission she would change. But she hadn't, just fell back into the routine of following Mulder on his cases, hoping for the day when she could begin a better life. "Dana, there's got to be more to life than this." Scully spoke to herself as if she was a friend voicing concern, stepping back she gathered her thoughts. Speaking slowly and confidently, Scully straightened her posture. "You are an attractive woman. You're intelligent. Why do you choose to live life in the shadows Dana Katherine?" She paused. "Because you can hide your emotions in the shadows and therefore hide from doubts, fear and the possibility of rejection." Dana sighed, narrowing her eyes she asked herself a question. "And what has lurking in shadows accomplished in your life? Successful career, nonexistent life." Blinking at her image a couple of times as if she was waiting for an answer from the mirrored Dana. She smiled. "Dana, things have got to change, if not with Mulder, then there are other fish in the sea. So to speak." She smiled to herself in spite of her mood. Newly determined she headed for the bathroom and a good long soak, she would wash away the dread she felt and begin anew tomorrow. Neither Fox Mulder, nor any other man would break her. Gaining a tight grasp of her emotions, she girded her feelings and walked slowly toward the bathroom. Fox Mulder be damned, if that's they way he wants it, so be it. She lifted her head and held it high. She was a professional and a very strong willed and minded woman. She would survive, at least that's what she kept telling herself. XXXXXXXXXX Fox Mulder restlessly sat in his aisle seat on the Delta flight from DC to Boston. He had been replaying the last conversation he'd had with his partner over and over again. 'Why had he treated Scully so badly? Hadn't he been contemplating love earlier in the day? With one phone call, bam, all thoughts of a relationship put on hold.' He sighed wearily. He'd been looking forward the weekend, and knew Scully had felt the same. 'Damn, why did this have to happen now? Couldn't this have stayed buried for all eternity like he'd buried it in his heart? Over the years it had been covered by many layers of scarring, so now all that was left was a dull long ignored ache. What would he find when he arrived in Martha's Vineyard? How would he face her again?' He'd carried around a silent vigil of her memory as punishment for his failure. It kept him from allowing anyone to touch that part of his life again. Not even Scully was privy to this dark piece of himself. Maybe he could put to rest the past during this case. Hopefully the connection with Haley had been severed and he would feel nothing more than sorrow for her misfortune. Mulder bent over and pulled out the case file supplied by Skinner. As he opened it, the picture of Jeannine filled his sight. He felt his heart clinch at the similarity to Haley. They could have been identical twins. The same thick brown hair falling to the shoulder, soft brown eyes able to melt any man's heart, Mulder realized the hurt hadn't faded as much as he'd hoped. Breathing became labored until he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest. He hated dredging up old hurtful memories, but they came involuntarily. XXXXXXXXXX May 1986 Fox Mulder, Ph.D. of Oxford University, exited the plane wearily. He'd been flying nine long hours, and was more than a little jet lagged. He'd managed to finish his final semester with the usual honors, and had completed his thesis, dissertation, graduation, and packing, all in the matter of a few months. Now he was leaving behind all he'd known for so long to return home to the states and begin his new life as an FBI Agent. There were friends he'd made back at Oxford that he truly would miss, and then there was one that he certainly wouldn't. Phoebe had been the love of his life over the last few years, but ultimately she had turned out to be the most hurtful, damaging thing to hit him since the loss of his sister at the age of twelve. He'd been a toy in her eyes, and she'd amused herself by manipulating him at every possible turn. Her mind games, and claims of undying devotion had thoroughly blinded him to her open betrayals and lies. And now, after all the dust had settled, she'd decided that they should just be friends. She hadn't had even had the consideration to seen him off at the airport. Walking down the exiting platform he grimaced. He would go home now and face his fragile mother, and cold hearted father for a little welcomed reunion. His heart was heavy and lonely. His only hope for some semblance of a happy normal future was the job that was waiting for him in Washington DC. There he would prove himself. He would work tirelessly to prove to his superiors that was deserving. Fox caught sight of his mother as he walked out of the entrance of the gate. He smiled as she waved at him. His father was no where in sight. He knew he was kidding himself at the thought that his father would even bother to make an appearance. He shoved his disappointment away and walked to his mother. "Fox, oh Fox, I'm so glad to see you." She hugged her son feeling tears form in her eyes. She had missed him, and was so proud to be the mother of an Oxford graduate. Tina Mulder pulled back and looked at her tired son. "Fox, do you feel all right? You look awfully pale, dear." She noticed him look at the floor almost embarrassed. Had she become such a stranger to her own son that he felt embarrassed in front of her? She studied his pale features and hallowed look. Tina decided she would try and bring happiness into her son's life if only for a small amount of time. He would be leaving for Washington DC soon, so she had to work fast. "I'm fine Mom.... Just tired, it was a long flight." He spoke quietly to the floor. He didn't feel he could share with her the sadness he felt in his heart. She was practically a stranger to him. Plus she was so mentally frail, that he didn't want to burden her with his heartache. "Fine, let's go home and you can rest up." She let him go and hooked her arm through his as they walked down the hallway to the terminal. "We're having a dinner party in a couple of days Fox. My friends and yours are so excited that you're back." She hoped this would bring a smile to his plaintive face. She didn't see as he rolled his eyes nor did she hear his internal sigh. The last thing he wanted was to be exposed to any of his mother's plastic, high society, friends. But he would do this for her. "That's great Mom. Thanks." He tried to sound cheerful, but it took all his remaining strength to do so. XXXXXXXXXX June 1998 Mulder was brought out of his reverie by a woman seated next to him wanting access to the aisle. He stood allowing her to exit their row. Settling back into his seat, his eyes fell on the autopsy report for Jeannine Rehill, Haley's sister. Mulder hadn't thought of her in years, she hadn't been supportive of their marriage at all, and after the assault, Jeannine had been the first to encourage Haley to move back to Martha's Vineyard. It had been several years since the marriage had dissolved, and he still felt anger toward her. She had had a heavy hand in ripping his world apart . Haley had left him. He'd been abandoned. And the feeling that it had brought with it was one he'd experienced many times in his life....... too many times. His thoughts turned to Scully and guilt shifted through him as the harsh words he'd spoken to her resurfaced. As much as he admired her tenacity, he hated the way she could get under his skin with few words. Then there was that look she had given him in the hallway, it had told him with absolutely no use of words, exactly what she was thinking. She thought he'd ditched her again, and technically he had. Instead of facing her, he had run. It had been almost instinctive. Why couldn't he trust her with this part of his life? Didn't the word partner mean shared information? Though it was very personal, hadn't she proved her acceptance? He had to put it right for now. Even if it was only a temporary quick fix, he had to make amends. Mulder looked at the phone connected to the seat in front of him, and Pulling it out of its cradle, he fished out his credit card, slid it through the magnetic detector and punched in her number. 'What would he say? Would she hang-up on him?' His muscles tensed in anticipation of the anger he knew she would inflict on him. Slowly he let out a relieved breath when the answering machine picked up. It would be easier to talk to the machine at the moment . It was considerably less accusing. After listening to her greeting he cleared his throat and began his vague apology. "Scully......." He paused for a moment. "I want to apologize for what I said when we spoke at my apartment. I wish there was a simple explanation for my actions, but I can't come up with one worth reciting. I'll call you if I need your help. Maybe by then, I'll be able to explain everything to you." He waited another moment not knowing what else to say. "I'll talk to you later." Mulder punched the disconnect button on the receiver and placed it back in it's cradle, feeling no less unburdened by having stated his apology. He needed to say it to her face. On the other end of the phone call Scully sat staring stone faced at the phone. Her recent vows crumbling as he broke through her firmly rooted anger with just a few words of apology? She wanted to be angry. She needed to. His words had hurt her badly. Scully felt ditched..... Or was that the right word? Her brow furrowed again in thought. No... She felt abandoned by her partner, and friend. A friend she had, at one time, hoped for a more personal relationship with. Skinner's advice played, with clarity, in her head. "Be careful with Mulder....." Dana blinked dry her moist eyelashes from the emotions she couldn't seem to control. Then she pulled a tissue out of the box on the end table and wiped her nose. Standing, she moved to the answering machine and punched the rewind button. Mulder's voice filled the apartment as it had minutes before. Listening again to his apology, she searched his tone for answers. Did he feel remorse? Or was he trying to soothe his on guilty conscience? Now she wished she'd picked up the phone. She would have liked to talk to him, to hear his explanation, and to hear his living, breathing voice - not some machine. But she couldn't even return his call since she had no idea where he was going or why. She thought for a moment . She could call the airlines, and use her credentials to obtain the information she sought. Or she could wait, as usual, like a good girl, for him to call. Looking at the phone, she sighed. He didn't want her involved. He'd made that very clear. Her following him now would seem too much like a simple puppy trailing along behind its master. A thought that made her ill. Was she that far gone? Had she sunk to such a level that she would willingly humble herself to the whims of a man who obviously cared little enough about her that he would ditch her at times without a second thought? She'd let it go for now. There was plenty of work to do in the path lab she's throw in some time there and wait... Suddenly, Scully felt hunger pains and realized she hadn't eaten since morning. Moving toward the kitchen, she tried to think of anything appealing to her palate. Feeling her spirits buoyed a bit by his feeble attempt at a vague apology, and her own attempt at autonomy, Scully opened her refrigerator, and then closed it again quickly.. Nothing in it appealed to her, and she wasn't in the mood to cook. The thought of visiting her mother crossed her mind. Maybe she would take her day tomorrow and spend some time at the house. She could forget Mulder, and his precious case that he didn't need her help with. She wasn't going to sit around waiting for his next call. Picking up the phone she dialed the familiar number. "Hi Mom......." XXXXXX Mulder felt relieved that he'd apologized to Scully. Now he could concentrate on the case and possibly think of a way to explain about Haley later. Under any other circumstances he wouldn't have hesitated to include Scully. He trusted, respected and needed her input. But this case was different not, only did it involve something so painfully personal, it would also very likely put her at risk. Picking up a magazine he'd grabbed at the newsstand, he opened it to the Magic Johnson article that had interested him. Relaxing back into the chair he had made it through only a few lines, before his mind wondered back to a more blissful time. XXXXXXXXXX June 1986 Fox straightened his tie in the mirror, wishing for the tenth time he didn't have to attend another of his mother's boring dinner parties. Even though it was in his honor, he felt very much like an outsider after having been gone from home for so long. He never had fit in with his mother 's aristocratic crowd. They'd always seemed so false to him. His father too had always detested the gatherings, and had stated quite openly a number of times that he considered most of her friends to be intellectual bores. He had only put up with them to placate his wife from time to time, and it was on these occasions that Fox too had been made to attend.. Mulder groaned as he heard the doorbell sound. "Fox, can you get the door, I'm not finished dressing yet." His mother yelled from her room. "Okay Mom." He answered with a sigh. "Let's get this show on the road and hopefully get it over with as soon as possible." Fox resigned himself to spending a stuffy evening with a group of tedious people, who would be forced to listen to his mother brag about his achievements at Oxford. All this and a free meal too, weren't they lucky. Not that he wasn't proud. He was. He'd worked and had achieved very high marks, but the sadness he felt over shadowed the joy. He would be celebrating without Samantha, or Phoebe and despite the room full of people he felt very much alone. Shaking his head, he left the sorrowful image at the mirror and vowed to give his mother a good show for her friends. He descended the stairs and went to greet the waiting guest on the other side of the door. Fox opened the door and was immediately drawn into the embrace of a woman he'd known for years. "Fox, you look handsome." It was his mother's best friend Rosa. " Welcome home." She pulled back from the embrace. "Thank you Mrs. Trabert, it's good to see you again." "Where's Tina?" She moved past him looking for his mother. "She's still upstairs." Rosa nodded her head. Fox turned around too see another couple standing at the door. Fox welcomed them as well. And with that begun a steady stream of handshakes and congratulations as people continued to flow through the door. Once the last pat on the back had been received he turned to close the door only to be greeted a beautiful set of brown eyes gazing at him. Fox swallowed trying hard to find his voice. She warmest eyes he'd ever beheld and he knew almost immediately that it would be very easy to get lost in their depths. "Fox, don't you remember me?" The voice was velvet to match her eyes. He took in her whole face again calling upon his photographic memory for assistance. The recognition startled him. "Haley? Haley Margaret Rehill?" He opened his arms and embraced her. Breathing deeply he knew she would smell as heavenly as her face. "It's nice to see you again Fox. How long has it been since you been on the island?" He ushered her in as she asked the question. "I've been at Oxford for eight years. I didn't take vacations so I'd finish on time." He shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't been back for a while." His spirits brightened at the welcomed addition to the party. Maybe it wouldn't be so boring after all. XXXXXXXXX After dinner, Fox decided to take a walk on the beach to escape his mother's friends. Although he appreciated her thoughtfulness, he felt as if he was on display. He smiled almost able to hear the side show barker "Come one, come all. This may be your only chance to see Martha Vineyard's newest Oxford graduate......." "Something funny Fox?" His head snapped up hearing the soft voice. He smiled and his heart stirred as he gazed into the beautiful brown eyes of Haley Rehill. "Uhmm, nothing, I feel like a freak in a sideshow." Her smiled warmed his heart. "I was about to take a walk on the beach..... care to join me?" Fox hoped his voice hid the fear he felt at the moment. "I'd love to." Haley's voice was smooth as silk. They walked outside into the cool ocean breeze, stopping to remove their footwear. As they continued, Fox began with small talk - family, how the island hadn't changed much since he left. He asked where she'd attended college, etc. He danced around the question he most wanted to ask. *Was she seeing anyone?* Since he had to spend a couple of weeks here, she would be a good distraction. "I only recently returned from college. I managed a master's in psychology and then trained for teaching. I missed the island so much, I couldn't wait to return." Haley breathed in the salt air. "I don't ever want to leave again." "Why, what's so fascinating about this island?" Mulder couldn't understand wanting to stay here, he had dreading his return. "My family is here. I feel safe here. I'm a hometown girl." She looked down at her hands as they walked. "I guess that seems silly to you." Her voice was low , yet Mulder still managed to pick up a hint of embarrassment. She was so unlike Phoebe. She was innocent almost childlike in her demeanor. "No, I just don't have happy memories to tie me here. I like adventure, that's why I joined the FBI." Fox's voice lifted mentioning his new job. They walked along for a few more minutes discussing his new position in the violent crimes unit. He told her about his training at Quantico which was to begin in a couple of weeks. The breeze had picked up from a storm off the coast and Haley shivered. "Cold?" Fox asked. "A little." Haley looked back to the brightly-lit Mulder house a few hundred yards away. "It's getting late, I have to go over my plans for class on Monday. I think we should go back." Fox nodded and put his hand in the center of her lower back as to guide her up the small incline to the house. Haley felt comfort from his touch. She had forgotten how charming Fox Mulder had been during their adolescence. Opening the sliding glass door, after retrieving their shoes, Mulder bent over and quietly murmured in her ear. "Would you have dinner with me tomorrow evening?" He saw a flush of pink in her face as she felt his breath near her ear and his quiet words. She smiled as he drew away. "I'd love to, call me tomorrow." She looked into his soft hazel eyes. Eyes that showed his soul had been bent, but not broken. Her stare was one of inquisitiveness. She was trying to read him. She was trying to see what was going on inside Fox Mulder, and he very much wondered what she would see. Would it scare her to know all the sadness and heartbreak he had faced in his young life? Their connection was broken by Haley's father's voice. "Yes daddy, I'm ready." She turned back to Fox. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." For two weeks they ate together, talked about everything they had done for the past eight years. They were almost inseparable. He spent time with her family, which was by definition what he thought a real family should be. He admired their dedication towards one another and felt very much accepted and apart of them when during their conversations, meals and activities. Fox knew his time was limited, but he hadn't thought it would be so hard to leave. Then the day had come, the next day he would be checking into Quantico for training. Tears formed in Haley's eyes as they stood at the boarding gate. Mrs. Mulder had claimed that she didn't feel strong enough for another farewell with her only child, so she'd asked Haley to drop him off instead. Mulder knew that part of this was true but he also had an inkling that she was encouraging the relationship between he and Haley. Haley was so much like the type of woman his mother would want him to marry. "I'll call you when I'm settled in." He pulled her close and breathed in her fragrance so he could remember it during their separation. He couldn't believe he had found someone that could ease the pain Phoebe caused. She healed the open wound in his heart with her kindness, compassion, and sincerity. Despite the how much he was looking forward to getting a new start on his future, Fox wished they'd had a little more time. But he would come back soon, promises had been made. Pulling back he lifted her chin for one last kiss as the loud speaker announced the final call for his departure. It warmed and broke his heart at the same time seeing tears escaping her eyes rolling down her cheeks. No one had every cried for him like that. It was such a simple emotion but it made him feel like he'd found a home. "I'm going to miss you Fox." Her voice cracked and he covered her mouth with his to kiss the tears away. Then he let her go, and walked slowly to the doorway that would take him from her. Fox looked back as he reached he door and waved a sad farewell. Haley dabbed her eyes and smiled bravely. June 1998 The loud speaker announced the decent to Logan airport where he'd take a commuter to the island. He could still picture Haley standing there waving at him like it was yesterday and not a decade ago. A sudden ache in his chest at seeing her again brought back the pain of their separation. Old Ghosts 2/6 July 1986 "Hello?" Her voice sounded like an angel. "How are you tonight Haley?" Fox smiled. He felt warm just talking to her on the phone. "Oh Fox, I miss you." She sounded like a lost little girl. He smiled. "Why don't you come to see me then? I believe I can make it worth your while." A slight leer was evident in his voice. "Fox....... You know I can't leave right now. We're in the middle of summer school exams." Fox couldn't believe kids in Martha's Vineyard had to attend summer school. The residents of the small island were suppose to be the cream of the crop. Sighing, he turned over on his back in the bed closing his eyes as her words danced in his head. He was in love. They had been carrying on a love affair over the phone for a month now, and he was becoming impatient being away from her. He barely concentrated on his classes trying to blot out her silky voice and visions of her beautiful face. The brief but wonderful times they had stolen consummating their passion caused him distraction more than once. "I can't get away either. My classes at Quantico are consuming every waking moment. But I'll be finished with them by the end of August. Think you could fly down for my graduation?" He waited. Fox had planned on her coming so he could try to talk her into staying permanently. "Of course I'll be there, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Will your Mother be coming too?" Haley didn't like traveling alone. She would even welcome his elusive mother as company. "I doubt it, but I'll meet you at the airport." Fox reassured her. And so the day came. He rushed into the airport clutching flowers in one hand and feeling for the small box in his pocket. He hoped he wouldn't fall on his knees in front of everyone and beg her never to leave him again. Fox wanted his proposal to be unique and special. Nothing was too good for the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. XXXXXXXXXX June 1998 Mulder felt the plane hit the pavement with a jolt bringing him out of his thoughts. "The rest of my life. Didn't last too long did it?" He murmured to himself as he closed the sadly ignored magazine and put it into his briefcase. Slipping off the seat belt he readied himself for exiting the plane, at the same time girding himself for a meeting with his past. Maybe he would call Scully and see if she'd forgiven him. He paused with that thought. Maybe not, it was going to be difficult enough dragging up the demons he'd buried so deeply without dragging her through it with him., although he knew she'd go through it willingly. Haley and Scully were on opposite ends of the scale. Haley would have folded under the pressures Scully had endured all these years with the X-Files. Scully was his touchstone. Her spirit was as hard as a stone, a ready compliment to a heart as pure as gold. In many cases she was his stability, a bright light leading him home through his own darkness. She'd saved his life more times that he could count. She'd followed him into dangerous situations both personal and professionally. Many times she'd risked not only her life but also her career. Could he have found anyone so faithful to him anywhere else on earth? He didn't believe he could. Scully.... Thinking her name made him think of the their ruined weekend and what might have evolved between them. Would it have possibly been the beginning of a closer relationship? Would it have been an open opportunity to explore the feelings he knew he had developed for her? And find out once and for all if she felt the same way? Looking back he wondered when he'd first begun to trust her? Was it the first time she'd lied to cover his ass? Or was it listening to him that stormy night on their first case? He knew he relied on her strength. Did he equate that with love? Was he drawn to her just for that strength? Mulder felt a sudden urge to call her. Dropping his bag onto the ground he reached for his cell phone and dialed her number. The crush of commuters and expectant loved ones moved around him as the phone rang several times. Once it hit the fourth ring her answering machine picked up, and Scully's cool professional voice announced her absence. He waited for the beep. "Hi Scully, I just wanted to let you to know I've arrived .. Ummm.. safely." He went on, uncertain as to whether he should tell her where he was. But she deserved at least that from him. "I'll uh.. I'll be staying at my father's house in West Tisbury. I um... I'm sorry, but this is a case I have to handle on my own. I hope you understand. Okay??" He wanted to say something personal, but it sounded trite for some reason over the phone so he pushed the end button and picked up his bag. Why was it so hard to express his affection for her? Did he feel he might disappoint her as he had his father, mother, former wife? He paused to ponder the thought. What did keep him from believing he could succeed in a relationship with his partner? Fear of failure had paralyzed him throughout his life. Was it fear that paralyzed his feelings now? XXXXXXXXXXX Dana and her mother ate at the kitchen table. She'd brought a favorite pasta dish at a local Italian restaurant on her way over. A visit to mom's on Saturday had turned into an invitation to come over and spend the weekend so Dana had packed and headed over to her mother's with a late evening dinner. They talked about family, the weather, her mother's social activities. Small talk to give Dana time to gather her courage to discuss the real reason she came to visit her mother. Her mother allowed her time. She knew something was troubling her daughter. And if she was as perceptive as she'd believed, it was something to do with a certain partner. Margaret had learned to be patient over the years with her youngest daughter. She knew Dana wouldn't share until she was ready. "Mom, can I talk to you about something?" Dana didn't know where to start. "You can talk to me about anything, don't you know that Dana? You are my daughter, there's nothing I wouldn't help you with." Margaret reached out her hand and grasped Dana's tightly. Dana looked into her mother's warm, loving eyes and took a deep breath. "It's about....." Dana felt nervous discussing Mulder with her mother. "A certain FBI agent you work with?" Margaret smiled. Dana's eyes widened as the corners of her mother's mouth crept upward into a sly grin. "Is it that obvious?" Dana smiled as she shook her head. "Yes, it's about Mulder." Pulling her hand back, she leaned heavily on the back of her chair. "Mom, we've been through so much in the last few years. We've established a very strong bond." Her mother waited as Dana played with edge of the table where her eyes were locked. "This weekend, he.... we were supposed to spend a few days together." Looking up from the table, Dana was encouraged by the patient look on her mother's face. "Late this afternoon, he received a call from Skinner. After an hour, I found out he'd left the AD's office not long after he'd arrived. I asked Skinner what was wrong and he told me he couldn't discuss the case with me. Then he told me to be careful with Mulder on this case." Sighing heavily and looking back at the table, Dana continued. "I came back to the office to find his computer, coat, everything gone. It made me angry that he would slip into the office and leave like a thief. I found a note on my computer explaining he had to take care of this on his own and not to worry." She looked back at her mother. "You couldn't allow it to drop could you?" Scully's mother rose from her chair and turned toward the coffee pot. "No, I thought we'd gotten past that. I thought." She paused, Margaret turned around with her cup of coffee and sat back down. "I believed we were going to take our partnership to a new level of commitment." Dana's voice was soft and trailed off at the end of her statement. A dead silence fell over the kitchen for a few minutes. "So, since he didn't ask you to help him with this case, you think he's backing away?" Margaret asked as she took a sip of her steaming coffee. "No... Yes, I don't know." Dana tucked her hair behind an ear before beginning again. "It's not that he's backing away, he.... I went to see him, to find out what was such a big secret, why he couldn't just talk to me before he left." "And it wasn't a good discussion." Margaret interjected. "No, he was cold and angry with me, like I was a perfect stranger. It hurt me so deeply I stood there in shock as he walked down the hall and disappeared in the elevator." Dana felt tears forming in her eyes again. "Dana, why didn't you allow Fox his privacy?" Margaret voice was stern. Dana rose walked toward the bay window. "Mom, we're partners. He's done this before and I end up dragging his butt back from the edge or finding him at deaths door in a hospital. It's like it's almost a game, a habit." Dana's voice was rising several octaves. "Dana, sit down." Dana felt like a little girl again as she slid into the chair opposite her mother. "Fox is a complicated man isn't he? Exasperating? Strong-willed?" She paused. "Okay, pigheaded?" Dana nodded with a smile. "But, he is a grown man." She waited for her statement to sink in. "And because you aren't his wife, or his mother, he probably viewed your intrusion as an assault on his independence. I'm sure he would have called you as soon as he was able to talk about the case." She waited for Dana to look at her. "Don't you?" Dana stared at her, fidgeting, knowing her mother was right. "It's not even that. We're partners and he flies off the cuff and gets himself into situations that can get him killed. As part of a team it's my job to cover his back. When he does this it's infuriating, and dangerous, Mom. I thought we'd gotten past this, but I guess not. You should have heard how angry he was..." Margaret interrupted her. "I know how angry a man can be when a woman treads on his territory. Remember, I was married to a Scully." She smiled remembering her stubborn, wonderful husband. Dana thought for a few moments. "I guess you're right. He did call me later and apologize for speaking to me so harshly." Dana smiled slightly remembering his lame apology. "See, if you allow Fox his space, I'm sure he'll explain everything to you. But.... You have to allow him space to feel like he's still in control of his life. Fox isn't a man you can control easily. He's a lot like your father." Margaret waited for Dana to nod. "You only have the right to tread on his life *after* you're a couple, Dana, don't forget that." Dana chuckled. "I'll try." Dana's smile signaled Margaret had succeeded in convincing her daughter, for the moment to allow Fox his privacy. Margaret hoped the wisdom she tried to bestow upon her daughter didn't backfire if something happened to her partner. XXXXXXXXXX Mulder pulled into his father's garage, he hadn't sold the house since his father's death. It didn't seem right, at least not yet. Turning off the car, he opened the door, retrieved his luggage and briefcase then closed it along with the garage door. Slipping in through the side door, Mulder dropped his bags in the front Foyer and moved through the house. Everything remained the same as his father left it. Making his way to the family room he stared at the view for a moment before popping the lock on the sliding door and stepping out onto the back porch. It was a beautiful evening. The fresh smell of salt water drifted all around him as he made his way towards the water. A warm early summer breeze blew through his hair as he walked to the water's edge and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Despite the fact that no one had been here for quiet a while, the grounds were well kept. Mulder considered the gardening expense important to preservation of his father's estate. As he strolled onto the dock, his thoughts turned once more to Haley. They had spent the weekend at the house while his father recovered from a bleeding ulcer in the hospital. XXXXXXX September 1986 The couple stood on the dock locked in an embrace. "Fox, we don't have time for this, we have to visit your dad, then go for dinner at my parents' house." Fox busied himself kissing his new wife's neck, trying to dissuade her from venturing away from the house. "Do we have to go? I can think of other things we could......" He rubbed his body against hers as his hands moved over her back and shoulders. "Fox...." Haley smiled as she put her hand in his chest to stop the seduction before it got out of hand. "This is the first time I've seen my family since we eloped. They're angry enough at us for being so impetuous and getting married without Daddy's blessing." Fox sighed as he dropped his hands, knowing he would not dissuade his young wife's focus from that of seeing her beloved family. He knew they would probably never forgive him for stealing her away from them. They had tried to be pleasant over the phone, when they called to announce they had married. Fox could hear by the tone of their well wishes they weren't pleased he had swept Haley off her feet, going against Rehill tradition. He knew he'd let them down already, but promised he would make it up to them by loving Haley. Maybe a couple of grandchildren would persuade them to forgive him. Fox smiled at his wife, bent down to deposit a parting kiss to her lips before guiding them back to his father's house. Fox couldn't keep from smiling at the turn of events since he'd left his sadness in England. Having finished his basic training at Quantico, he'd begun his new position as a profiler in the Violent Crimes Unit, that in it's self was exciting. But meeting and marrying Haley had seemingly made his life complete. He believed he could endure whatever life threw his way as long as her love could bring him back to their world at the end of the day. No, he wouldn't screw this up. If it took his whole life, he'd make up for all the screw-ups and disappointments he'd caused his parents and Samantha. Haley was his saving grace, his salvation from failure. Fox Mulder would not lose this battle. His greatest triumph would be to make his wife truly happy. He'd put aside his selfish ambition. He'd even stopped smoking - a nasty habit he'd taken up in college if she'd ask him to. XXXXXXXX The spell of Mulder's trip down memory lane was rudely interrupted by the buzz of a motor boat leisurely cruising by. He looked up at the strangers as they waved a greeting on their way by. He lifted his hand responding to their wave with one of his own. This was definitely something not experienced in the big city. Watching the boat grow smaller as it continued down the channel, Mulder thought about his bad habits. He gave up smoking, but starting watching porno. One vice exchanged for another. God, what he'd give for one of those cigarettes right now. Facing her again was going to be far worse than any bloodsucking mutant he'd ever encountered. Mulder walked slowly back to the house wishing Scully was with him to be his strength as she had for the past five years. She was the only one who breathed life back into him each time he'd teetered on the edge of the abyss. She'd been his sounding board, sparring partner and backup. Scully was the only one who hadn't abandoned him. Well, not yet. He couldn't blame her if she did this time out, since it would be suitable retribution for his having left her out in the cold yet again. He kicked lightly at a stone. The sad thing was, that there wasn't anyone else who cared enough to keep fishing his butt out of the sea of danger as Scully had time and again. She was the strongest, gentlest, most intelligent, exciting, exasperating woman he'd ever met. She had even been willing to die in scorn of being labeled a murder to save his life. Why then did he leave her behind at what could be the toughest case he'd ever work on, from a personal standpoint? Why was it so hard to tell her about Haley? He'd told her about Samantha on the first case they'd ever worked together. Was he afraid she'd think him a failure too? He'd failed too many times to add humiliation to the situation allowing her to know more of his weaknesses. She was his weakness. He remembered the promises he'd made to himself when her cancer began remission, when they were stuck in the woods without a damn sleeping bag. A cigarette would have been needed if they'd...... If they'd what? Cross the invisible line? He'd done it before with other female agents without the bureau caring. He thought briefly of Diana, a brilliant mind and a sexy body. She had been there when he started the X-files, after Haley had abandoned him. But she abandoned him too, seeking her own recognition in the man's world of the FBI. The other women at work had just been sex out of the need to desperately escape loneliness. What made it so difficult to test the waters, so to speak, with Agent Dana Scully? She was his partner and hadn't left him, even in his darkest times. She was his friend......... 'That's it.' Mulder answered his own question. Scully was his friend from the first day, a true friend. One that had stuck closer to him than even a brother. Because of that, he'd made playful overtures, but had never taken the extra step that would cause him to risk the bond they shared. He'd locked his desires somewhere deep inside of him, and had channeled his needs elsewhere. It was getting dark. Mulder turned to head back to the house, his all consuming thoughts still focussed on Scully. He reached into his jacket for his cell phone when it's sudden shrill ringing brought him back to earth. "Mulder." He hoped it was the object of his thoughts. "Agent Mulder, there's been another murder. Where are you?" Mulder didn't recognize the man's voice. "I'm in West Tisbury. How did you get my number?" Paranoia kicked in immediately. "From Assistant Director Skinner." Answered the voice. He sighed. "Where?" Looking at his watch, Mulder realized it was going to be a long night as he watched the sun sinking behind the trees over the inland waterway. After receiving the directions, he clicked off his phone and stuffed it back in his jacket. The call to Scully would have to wait. XXXXXXXXX The Tisbury Town Hall was surrounded with activity as the local police tried to contain the level of anxiety building in the local citizens. Mulder moved through the barricades with a flash of his badge, and approached the local police officer, He was involved in a deep discussion about the meaning of 'to serve and protect'. He cleared his throat hoping to distract the irate citizen. Both men stopped and stared at Mulder. "Excuse me, I'm Fox Mulder, FBI." He held up his badge. "Well, thank God someone is here to take control of this situation." The angry man looked back at the police officer. "These officers have no control." The local man turned to leave, but stopped and looked back with blazing eyes. "If you don't stop this Jason, we'll remember the next election time." He turned and stalked out of the same office. The officer sighed and turned his attention back to Mulder. "Jason Bocko, Police Chief. Your Boston office said you were in the neighborhood looking into the Rehill case- " He held out his hand to Mulder. "I hope you are here with some answers. As you can see, the locals are becoming restless. Two local women have been killed within the past two days. They aren't use to violence in their island haven. "What makes you think the two women are connected? The Rehill victim was murdered in Boston at a convention." "Normally I wouldn't have connected them at all, but we received a bulletin over the wire just this morning describing the MO. "This.." he motioned for Mulder to follow him over to the white draped body. Cringing slightly police chief Bocko pointed to the victim as he lifted the sheet. "This victim matches the MO given. He pointed to the young woman's neck the where a ladies beige stocking lay embedded in the flesh. The blue of her face left little doubt as to the means of death. "The Victims, both females early 30's, strangled, sexually assaulted and ovaries ripped from their bodies." He shuddered. "I've never experienced any thing like this before." "That's why I'm here. I have all the background information on the Rehill woman already, but would you mind filling in a few details about this particular victim?" Bocko nodded and pulled out his own note pad, as Mulder dove into FBI mode. Any information the chief could provide would be the basis of a profile he would have to piece together in order to stop the perpetrator. After talking to the local police, Mulder decided to grab a bite, and return to his father's house to do some research. "Lone Gunmen." Langly's voice sounded in his ear. "I knew I could count on you guys being in the office on a Friday night," Mulder said in a deadpan voice as he turned the car onto the main road. "Conspiracies wait for no one Mulder," Langly listened for a response. "I need your help. I'm on the Vineyard. " A lump formed in his throat. "Jeannine... Jeannine Rehill was killed in Boston recently and just tonight the body of a Bonnie Cyler who was Tisbury's town clerk was found in a similar condition. Both MOs are identical. I need you to find anything you can on Cyler. See if she is connected in anyway to the victims of murders back in '85. Thanks Langly." He hung up not giving them the time to respond to the familiarity of one of the names, or vocalize the questions that would undoubtedly follow. Mulder stared around the darkened streets of West Tisbury, the homes were quaint and comfortably spread out, with landscaping that came straight out of a magazine. He knew this area from his childhood, though he hadn't been back much since he'd left after Oxford. There was one place he favored for a quick bite, it used to be a local hang out for some of teenage and college kids when he was younger. Turning into the parking lot, he noted the lack of cars, but it was still open despite the hour. Pulling out the file and his notes he hopped out of the car and headed inside. 'No since wasting time just eating,' he thought as he made his way into the tiny restaurant, and over to a corner table. XXXXXXXXXX "Who was on the phone Langly?" Byers entered the room. "Mulder. He's on the Vineyard. There's been a couple of murders and he wants us to look up some information on one of the victims. He also thinks it may be the connected to the murders." He showed the names he'd written down to Byers. Byers recognized the last name instantly, but the first was different. "Rehill, where have we heard that before?" Byers shrugged and typed the name and location into the computer. His eyes widened when he read the information. "My God, it's Haley's sister." "Shit. You mean Haley Rehill, as in Mulder's ex-wife," Langly asked. "Yes, the same ex-wife he asked us to never mention again after the divorce." Byers answered. "But didn't they catch the guy who did those murders??" "I thought Mulder shot him," Langly reached for his laptop and slipped in his hackers disk. "Me too, Man he was a mess during that case. I wonder how Agent Scully is taking this," Langly asked to no one in particular. "Knowing Mulder, he probably hasn't told her. I would wager, he called us because he hasn't consulted her on this one." Byers offered. "If she does know, I bet she's pissed. Maybe we should send Frohike to console her," Langly chuckled. "Only if you want to lose a part of this organization." The deadpan answer caused a moment of silence, but was broken as both men laughed. XXXXXXXXXX Mulder returned to the house at almost 11, one quick stop at the local market and he'd managed to pick up enough supplies to sustain himself for at least a few days. "One cannot live on twinkies alone..." Scully's voice ran through his head, as he put the perishables in the fridge. He grinned at the thought. They'd come back to his house to eat late one evening and had ended up ordering out after a search and rescue mission into the refrigerator turned up nothing more than half a jug of moldy orange juice and a package of hard stale twinkies. With his groceries put away Mulder grabbed a seat on the couch and pulled out his notes,. There seemed to be no connection no common elements between the two women. Mulder placed the file on the thick wooden table in front of him and closed his eyes, before long sleep overtook him. Bright light brought Mulder out of his slumber. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to find that it was morning. Rubbing away the sleepiness, Mulder glanced at his watch. "7:30 am." He said to the empty house. Wriggling his way off the couch he rose and stretched, and then stumbled into the kitchen. A few short minutes later he'd started the coffee process and then padded off to the bathroom for a shower. Standing under the warm water, he planned his day. He would visit the morgue first, then pay his respects to Jeannine's family. Asking questions about his ex-sister-in-law in the presence of his ex-father in law wasn't something he was looking forward to. The thought of taking the police chief with him crossed his mind. He didn't have Scully to act as co-investigator or was it shield. Did he need a shield? Scully constantly shielded him, and had compromised her integrity by lying to save him more than once. He wished he could have included her, but he wasn't ready to expose his deep dark secrets. They hadn't reached that point in their relationship as partners or friends. Mulder's thoughts turned to the kiss she had almost shared with Eddie VanBlundht. What had he said or done to her to allow him to kiss her? What would have happened if he hadn't burst in on them? Did she feel that deeply for him? Or was it loneliness? Mulder knew what loneliness could do to a person. He'd felt its depth of despair when Phoebe impaled his heart, and when Haley left him. But Scully wasn't like either of them, and that fact both exhilarated him and scared him shitless. Climbing out of the shower, he dried himself, then wrapped the towel around his waist. As he walked into the bedroom, the sound of his cell phone caught his attention. "Mulder." He answered holding the phone with his shoulder as he searched for underwear through his clothes. "Mulder, Byers here." "What have you got?" Mulder stepped into his gray boxers as Byers filled him in on the information they'd managed to dig up. "Well I know you asked us to run a check the town clerk, but I thought I'd run all three. "Three," Mulder slipped into his jeans. "Cyler, and Jeannine Rehill, and Haley. After all he went after her too in '85." "Yeah but that was to bate me. So what did you turn up?" The interesting thing about all three women are their fathers. Both are government officials. They work out of Boston. On the surface it looks like they are veteran government nondescript employees working toward pension and retirement. But...." Byers shuffled papers looking for the information. "But what Byers," Mulder walked into the bathroom holding his shaving kit. "Mr. Rehill is actually an executive level of the DOD. He's in charge of the biochemical research division out of the Boston research center." Mulder stopped dead still, "what? That's impossible, he worked for the department of transportation, when I was married to Haley," Mulder stopped short, and silence prevailed as a pain shot straight to his heart. He hadn't used that phrase in years. Closing his eyes, he focused on the conversation. "He never mentioned working for the DOD." Byers frowned feeling the angst in his voice after the slip about Haley. "The other woman's father was part of the DOD also. He worked chemical defense out of Washington. His daughter had married a local man and moved here a year go." "But there's no connection other than their fathers," Mulder moved his electric shaver over his jaw as he listened to Byers. "No, but there have been three other murders in the past six months with the same MO." Byers turned the page. "One in Maryland, two in Baltimore." "What about the Murders?? Did you find any connection here?? "Not yet. The damn file has been misplaced in the system. We're still looking. We'll let you know when we find it." "Thanks Byers," Mulder started to hang up, but Byers voice stopped him. "Is there anything we can do Mulder? Is Agent Scully assisting you with this case?" He knew what the answer would be, but he had to ask. Mulder shifted from one foot to the other and looked up at the ceiling, "Uhm... No, Scully's not working on this one, thanks again Byers. I'll call you if I need additional information." He hung up this time before any more questions could be asked. Thinking for a moment, as he stared at himself in the mirror, three murders on the East coast... maybe the attacks weren't as random as they had seemed in '85. Finished his shaving, Mulder put down the razor and picked up his phone again as he walked back into the bedroom. "Danny, I need for you to pull information about recent murders in Maryland and Baltimore. The MO is the same, strangled, sexually assaulted, ovaries removed." He pulled his shirt on and began working on the buttons. "Send them to me here on Martha's Vineyard. I'll give you the address," Mulder recited the address. "Thanks Danny." On the other end, Danny cursed as he stuck the two small post-its he'd had to use together on the folder for Mulder. He handed the research material to his assistant with instructions of what case files to pull and the address on the folder where to send them. What he didn't notice was the bottom post-it had become dislodged and the only instructions were *Send to Special Agent Fox Mulder*. One hour later the mail clerk slid them under the locked office door. XXXXXXXXXXX Mulder pulled into the driveway of his former in-laws and shut off the engine. He wished he could turn off his rapidly beating heart. This wasn't a reunion he'd ever wanted to face again. Slowly he climbed out of the car. Hesitantly, Mulder raised his hand to knock and took a deep breath. The door opened and a thin, older woman answered. "May I help you?" She inquired. He produced his badge. "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder." Her eyes widened. "If you're looking for Mr. Rehill, he isn't here." She looked panicked. "Haley was in a car accident a couple of hours ago. Mr. Rehill has gone into Boston and I can't locate him.." Mulder's heart clenched. "Where is she? What happened?" Trying to swallow the panic swelling in his gut. The woman's eyes filled with tears and she began to sob. Mulder felt for her, but he needed information. "I need to know where she is." His kept his voice calm knowing his own anxiety would only lead the woman into further hysterics. "First Jeannine then Haley." The woman said between the sobs. "She's at the hospital." Mulder turned and ran toward the car, there was only one hospital in town and it was about a ten minute drive away. Recklessly he threw the car into reverse and squealed out of the driveway. Oh god... a tight fear gripped his chest - what if she was dead - or dying and he never got to say good bye? Then an alternate voice popped up in his head. What was he thinking?? She was gone from his life. Why would that matter so much?? It had been so long since they'd seen each other - they'd already said their good-byes.. Traffic in the Down town area was light since it was the weekend. Pushing the speed limit more than a little he managed to make it there in just under eight minutes. Jerking the car into park, he ran across the parking lot bursting through the front door. Fear familiar to him every time Scully was in trouble gripped him as he rushed to the reception desk. "I'm looking for Haley Mulder," Mulder shook his head to clear it. "I mean Rehill, Haley Rehill." He tried to remain calm as the woman behind the desk looked up the name in the computer. "She's in the emergency room." Mulder thanked her as he ran to the ER. "I'm looking for Haley Rehill. She was in a car accident," Mulder asked the older woman behind the counter. "Don't I know you son?" She squinted trying to remember where she had seen him before. Mulder was in no mood for reunions. "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder......" He reached for his badge. "Fox. I knew I recognized you. How have you been child?" She smiled patting his hand resting on the desk. "I'm fine, but I need to see Haley." His patience was wearing thin. "Don't you remember me Fox?" The woman persisted. "No, I'm sorry. I've been away for several years." He looked closer trying to recognize the woman so she'd let him see Haley. "Fox. I was your science teacher when you were in middle school, Mrs.Shertez." He remembered her. She had been an annoying busy body that his father had detested. "Mrs. Shertez, so good to see you." He hoped his voice sounded sincere. She smiled remembering the polite child from her classroom. "Can you tell me where I can locate Haley?" "The doctor is with her in Room 3........." She called after him as he pushed through the doors searching for the correct room. He stopped outside the room and breathed deeply to regain control of his racing heart. Entering the room, he found the doctor and a nurse tending to Haley. "Can I help you?" The doctor turned and asked. "I'm looking for............" "Fox. Oh Fox, I knew you'd come. When that other agent said they were sending someone up from Washington I knew it would be you." Haley reached for Mulder as tears streamed down her face. He pushed past the doctor and pulled her to him remembering the familiar way she fit in his embrace. Automatically, Mulder breathed in her fragrance. Even over the hospital smell, he recognized her signature essence. He smiled to himself relishing the warmth he missed for so many years. Her sobs lessened and he pulled back to look into her eyes. "What happened?" He brushed her brown hair back remembering times he'd touched her like this. His thoughts were interrupted. "I was just driving home from the library, and a man came out of no where??" She sobbed again. "I lost control of the car." Haley fell silent as tears streamed down her face. "I was so scared." "Are you hurt?" Mulder's voice was soft and caring. "Ms. Rehill has a few bruises, but nothing that warrants her staying overnight." The doctor told Mulder as he handed his patient a prescription. "This is for any stiffness and pain. And the sedative, I gave you earlier will make it easier to sleep when you get home. If you want I'll have your father come and get you." "No, I'll take her home," Mulder looked into her soft brown eyes. She was as beautiful as he'd remembered. She smiled and nodded her head. He stood outside the door as Haley dressed. When she emerged from the room, she slightly swayed and Mulder supported her with his arm around her waist. The drug seemed to be taking effect quickly. He guided her to the car as her head lulled against his shoulder. She fell asleep immediately after being buckled into her seat. He stared at her, reaching his hand to touch her cheek. She stirred but remained under control of the sedative. "I've missed you Sc...? Haley." He removed his hand glad she didn't hear his words and the mistake he almost made by calling her Scully. Turning his attention to the matter of driving her home, he climbed into the car glanced at her again. She was beautiful and it had been so long. Slipping the key into the ignition, he started the car pulling it slowly out of the parking space so not to disturb Haley. XXXXXXX There was a buzzing in his brain - Deep and sharp. It convoluted his thoughts and made everything other than his "mission" a muddy background noise. At the hospital he'd caught a momentary glimpse of his prize. She had been beautiful even with the bruises and mussed hair. She'd lain on the stretcher, tall and slim with rich brown hair and glistening doe colored eyes, his sacrificial angel. He'd been so close earlier.. His breath had caught as the man he'd expected had arrived. Such a pretty picture, he told himself, as she flung herself into the arms of the tall slender man. This was a little more difficult. He'd planned to have her in his grasp before Agent Mulder had arrived - but this would work out too. It would traumatize him to have her taken from under his nose. It was a little tricky perhaps but with the proper planning and the right opportunity everything would fall into place. "Have your fun and get off on it, Sweetie." He'd mumbled to himself. Mentally he reassured himself that it wouldn't be long now. She'd be his for a short while, and there'd be nothing left but a sensuous memory. He squinted in the from his hiding place in the ER watching as they worked on her. He'd tried to run her off the road, impatient to have his prize. It looked like she was crying. That was good. She was vulnerable. He liked that in a woman. He'd have some of her - just a little taste before he did her right, just like her sister. Not that her sister had been part of the plan. She hadn't been. She was unaffected, merely a case of mistaken identity, but he was already in her before he'd realized it so he'd decided to finish the job, anyway. And what a job it had been - The memory was good. She was hot. She'd moaned in spite of herself. Orgasming just before he'd choked the life out of her. His wife had been like that too, horny as hell in spite of herself. But with his wife it had been different it was real. He had loved her, and they, in the delusional manner of creating a normal life, had even attempted to have a child. That's when he'd found out the horrible truth of what she was and what he had to do. They'd never found her body... Pulling himself back to the present, he felt himself become hard as he watched his prey mewl all over her momentary interest. She had a way with men. He could tell that even from a distance. She was the type who could turn her own weaknesses into strengths. In fact her weakness was her strength in that she could make a man do what she wanted by showing her vulnerability. 'Would you be willing to die for her buddy?' He eyed the man as he held her suddenly the door opened and his hiding place was compromised, he had to leave. Nodding to the offending nurse he headed nonchalantly for the exit the hospital greens he wore attracting little attention. One quick glance over his shoulder, there was no one following or chasing. Confidently he made his way over to his car and climbed in. Starting his car he drove away. Now was not the time. He knew where she lived, and eventually he would find her alone. Then he would have his chance.... XXXXXXX A short ride later Mulder pulled the car into the driveway. It was early evening by the time they arrived at the Rehill home. "Haley." Mulder touched her cheek, she didn't stir. Moving closer to her, he slid his arm under her legs and behind her back gently pulling her out of the car. The front door opened. The previously frantic housekeeper appeared to have calmed. "Is she okay? Mr. Rehill will be home soon." The woman moved out of the doorway. Mulder asked where Haley's room could be found. The housekeeper showed him up her room up stairs. Mulder gently placed Haley on her bed, and took an afghan from a nearby chair and spread it over her still form, she stirred and opened her eyes. "Fox??" Haley closed her eyes again and fell into unconsciousness again. Mulder's breath caught in his throat hearing his name from her sweet smile. He sat on the bed and bent over kissing her cheek again. Mulder heard a noise behind him, he turned to find Mr. Rehill entering the room. "Fox, thanks for coming." He shook Mulder's hand moving to observe Haley closely. "Is she hurt?" Mr. Rehill asked. "Bruises mostly. The doctor gave her a sedative to calm her," Mulder stood and allowed Mr.Rehill access to his daughter. When he was satisfied she was okay, he motioned for Mulder to the door. They walked into the hallway and down the stairs. Mr. Rehill knew Fox Mulder was the best person for this search, but having him near Haley again troubled him. XXXXXXXXXX Dana Scully left her mother late on Saturday afternoon. They had spent a pleasant day shopping and having lunch at her mother's favorite eatery. Scully's spirits had lifted. Margaret Scully worked magic with her motherly words of wisdom. Scully rolled down her window singing along with the radio as the warm breeze blew her hair. Fishing around in her purse, she pulled out her cell phone and looked at it. "How did that get turned off." She smiled knowing the guilty party. Almost immediately, the phone sounded. "Scully." She rolled up the window to block out the noise . "Agent Scully, I'm sorry to bother you on your day off, but our Boston affiliate has requested an FBI pathologist for a body that was found recently." He'd had some reservations about sending Scully to Boston but it was the weekend and with half of his staff unreachable and the other half busy with their own cases. Scully was the only pathologist available. Besides she the two cases weren't connected, so they wouldn't be working together. "There have been a series of waterfront deaths in the city's downtown core and they are afraid they may have a serial killer on their hands. " Skinner's voice boomed over the phone. "How many other deaths have their been?" "Four as far as they have been able to surmise. They are mostly street people one hooker, a junkie and two wino's so far. This one was a woman she was found this afternoon, and is probably connected by location alone but the body is in pretty bad shape from what I hear. The local Pathologist is swamped with other stuff and they figure they need a FBI trained specialist at this point anyway.. Can we count on you Agent Scully?" Skinner continued. "Yes sir, I'll see what flights I can take out...." Skinner interrupted her. "You've got a flight out at 7:30 PM tonight." Scully was a taken back a bit, but made no comment. "You can drop by the office on your way to the airport." Skinner suggested. "Sir, is there a case file I can review while I'm traveling?" Scully looked at her watch and rolled her eyes. She only had 2 1/2 hours to pack, go by the office and make her flight. Putting her foot heavily on the gas she moved into the passing lane. "It'll be waiting for you in my office along with the airline tickets." Skinner thanked her again for helping the local authorities and hung up the phone. Scully rushed into her apartment ignoring the blinking light on her answering machine, she was out of the apartment in record time. Throwing her bags in the trunk, she slid into the driver's seat and proceeded to the Hoover Building. Skinner's secretary was never in on a Saturday, but laying on her desk was a thick manila envelope with Skinner's familiar scrawl on it. Her name embossed with thick black marker, leaving little doubt as to who the package was for. Underneath she found her plane ticket sticking out of a plane white envelope. She checked her watch, and cursed slightly. She really had to move if she was going to make it to the airport in time. And she still had to pick up her laptop. Shoving the envelopes into her briefcase she made a beeline for the elevators. There was only ten minutes to collect her stuff from the basement and then back to her car. Anymore and she would be facing one very pissed off boss. Scully unlocked the door to the basement office and immediately tripped over a folder on the floor, picking it up, she noticed the post-it with Mulder's name on it, and underneath the small pink slip she found the true delivery orders. "Courier to agent Fox Mulder C/O Bill Wilton Boston Office". Damn she checked her watch again. It was too late to call anyone, and she didn't know how urgently he needed the information. Scooping up her laptop she stuffed it and Mulder's file in her briefcase. Deciding she would hand deliver it to Agent Wilton when she arrived in Boston. Turning out the lights, Scully locked the door and climbed the stairs for the lobby. She had less than an hour before the flight took off. Old Ghosts 3/6 XXXXXXXXX Settling into her seat Scully closed her eyes. It had been a mad dash from her apartment, to the Hoover Building, and then to the airport. She was exhausted and crashing heavily from the adrenaline high of the past few hours. She made her flight only by the skin of her teeth, after a lengthy run from econo park, and had just managed to get buckled in before the plane shook itself down the runway. Anticipating beverage service, she forced herself to open her eyes, and look around her. The sparsely occupied cabin was dotted with a few flight attendants, and some last minute business men returning home to their girlfriends and families. Families, the word caught in her head causing a momentary wave of longing. What would it be like to have someone to come home to? Someone who waited for her and worried about her? What would it be like to have someone who loved her? A man she could spend slow and lazy Sunday afternoons making love with? Her eyes drifted to the window, and she watched as the lights of the city fell away into the darkness of the night sky. She always sabotaged herself. Any potential man or possible romance fell victim to her own involuntary hibitions. Her sight dropped to the briefcase sitting on the chair next to her. It had been strategically placed there to warn off any uninvited and unwelcome company during the flight. And for what, she asked herself? Why was she saving herself? Did she really want to wait for a "something" that "might" be developing between her and her partner, when he had made it so obviously clear that he didn't want it to happen anyway? Dana Scully let out a pained sigh. She had to start living her own life instead of riding on Mulder's coattails. A low battery warning beep from her cell phone brought her out of her sympathy feast, and she grimaced as it turned itself off. Just great she muttered. Her spare battery was packed in her luggage, and she hadn't even called in to check her messages. What if Mulder had called? Now she would have to wait until she arrived in Boston to retrieve them. Shaking her head, Scully reached into her briefcase and pulled out the files Skinner had left for her. XXXXXXXXXX Scully arrived at the airport feeling fatigued, exiting the plane she looked at the note for her contact's name and crossed the crowded terminal. Making her way to a pay phone she dialed the number to the local bureau office. The airport was extremely busy with weekend travelers that she had to cover her ear so she could hear. When the ringing stopped she listened closely, "Hello, is Stanley Sullivan there? This is Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI." Looking around Scully wished she'd waited to call from her hotel. "What? I'm sorry I can't hardly hear you over this noise." She listened again. "Okay, I'll call you from my hotel." Hanging up the phone, she forgot about checking her messages and headed toward the transportation area to retrieve her car. XXXXXXXXXX Sunday Mulder House It had been a late evening. Haley's father kept Mulder talking until all hours of the morning. Haley had awoken an hour or two after arriving home and had insisted on sitting up with them as they discussed the case, but it had been as though she wasn't even there. Typically Mr. Rehill had all but monopolized the conversation, barely allowing his daughter a word in edgewise. His concern for his Haley had hadn't waned over the years. In fact it appeared to Mulder that his loving worry had progressed to full-blown control of his daughter's life. Not that things had been much different when they had been married, there had been many times when Haley's family had managed to run the show, though the distance between father and daughter had seemed enough to keep the control to a minimum. The day that she had left him had left a scar so deep and painful that even after all of the years that passed the memory was still as fresh as if it had occurred only yesterday. "Mulder." He brought the phone to his ear hoping it wasn't the police calling about another death. He needed time. His old profile needed some revision he needed to pull together the pieces and make everything fit. He'd been right, but at the time had allowed himself to be assured by his fellow agents against his own better instincts. Every cop or agent had a case that remained with them, he didn't know of one that didn't. For some there were many. For more there were few, but for almost everyone there was at least one. For Mulder this was the case. It had haunted him for many years, it had cost him dearly and then one day he had just let it go. He'd had to for the sake of his own sanity. There had been reports of a body being pulled out of the Shenandoah River 24 hours after they'd pinned the murderer down in a secluded area of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It had been a massive manhunt, 20 federal agents involved, everybody from the local Sheriff's department and Mulder had been the one who had fired the shot. He knew it had hit the target because he'd seen the blood. But the suspect, barely seen and almost completely anonymous had fallen backward off a cliff into the raging rapids near Chester Gap, and supposedly to his death. It had plagued Mulder for many years - he knew he'd hit the guy - yet when they pulled his body from the river there was no bullet wound. He could never shake the feeling that the body they found didn't quite fit, and that this particular murderer had gotten away despite evidence to the contrary. Now he knew why. "Mulder..." he muttered into the phone again. When there was no reply he dropped the receiver back into it's cradle. XXXXXXXX The man heard Mulder's voice and smiled as he thought. 'So you think you'll catch me again Agent Mulder? Not before I finish the job I should have finished years ago.' He hung up the phone without speaking. XXXXXXXX Moving over to the kitchen window Mulder allowed his eyes to roam. It was supposed to be a lazy hazy Sunday afternoon. He stared out the window at is father's backyard. In the breeze an old hammock swung gently in between the fruit trees. A momentary picture played across his mind. One day, before they had committed their hearts to each other, Haley and he had spent a warm sunny afternoon making love in the very same hammock. His mother had been away that day and they had taken opportunity to steal some private time together. After the marriage had ended and before the hurt had subsided Mulder had taken the hammock from his mother's yard. It had been stored for years in a box in his apartment storage locker, until about eighteen months ago when he'd been forced to clean the small basement area out. It was around about the same time his father had passed away, and when he'd found the old reminder of his brief marriage, he'd brought it back up to Martha's Vineyard on one of his post-memorial visits. As he stared at the gently swaying hammock, he thought how young he'd been back then and so stupid as well. Shaking his head, he chided himself. Enough, Mulder slapped the kitchen counter top. He was back in Martha's Vineyard to solve a case. Dwelling on past miseries would only convolute the issue and drudge up far too many unresolved feelings. He pulled out the small velvet box that had traveled back with him. Inside was a thin band of gold, with the singular word *forever* inscribed on the inner rim. He snorted. Forever sure as hell hadn't lasted long, he dropped it onto the butcher's block table and made his way to the front door where the bell had just announced someone's arrival. He had been waiting for a package from Washington. Expecting that this was a delivery boy. He grabbed his wallet off the hallway table on the way to the front door. Mulder was more than a little surprised when he opened the door to see Haley's beautiful face. "Good morning stranger..." she smiled unconvincingly. Mulder shifted uncomfortably and then stuttered slightly as she moved through the door past him. "I... uh... I didn't expect to see you again so soon." He noticed her mouth tremble as she passed by him through the door. "I'm scared, Fox." She twisted her purse straps nervously. "My sister is dead and I think it was me that the killer wanted. I didn't want to tell you this in front of my daddy last night. I don't want him to worry anymore about me, than he already does. But I've felt for a while now that I am being watched." Tears began to roll down her face. "And now after what's happened I'm sure of it. This all seems so familiar" She angrily swiped at her eyes. "We looked so much alike. What if it's my fault she's dead? We were both at that convention. She left to get the car. Oh my God! We were even dressed alike that night." She dropped her purse on the floor, her voice rising to a hysterical pitch. "I should have done something, told someone, but I thought it was all in my imagination. I didn't know this would happen." She slid down the wall, crying uncontrollably. Mulder ached to see her like this, while deep down another very small part of him was enjoying her pain. She had destroyed his world and had left him broken, without so much as a glance backwards. At the time he had felt like his whole life had been destroyed. But vindictiveness was not who Mulder was. He hadn't told Haley or her father that the man who had killed Jeannine, and the sole reason for his return was the same man who had torn their lives apart in the first place. The accusations and refreshed anger would only serve to convolute everything. Right now Haley needed help and that was his focus. He bent down and eased her to her feet. "Come on." He slipped a tentative arm around her shoulders and moved her towards the upstairs. "I think you need to rest. You look like you haven't slept in days." "Between the funeral and the nagging feeling that whoever has done this is still out there, I'm a wreck." She leaned on him heavily the glistening tears on her cheek soaking through the shoulder of his shirt. "I haven't been able to sleep or eat for weeks, Fox. I can't live like this anymore I need it to stop. I need you to stop it for me." She sobbed, and clung to him. It was just like old times. The feeling of intimacy was both overwhelming and cloyingly compelling. She drew out in him the basic instinct of protector, lover and father all in one. He wanted to be everything to her and had at one time done just that. He shook off the growing desire in his belly. This was not what either of them truly needed. There was a reason they weren't together anymore. It hadn't worked then and now was not a possibility. "Listen you can sleep in my father's old room. I'll be here. I have to make a few calls but I'm not leaving. You'll be safe here with me." He led her down the dark upstairs hallway, the thick plank flooring creaking out seemingly a warning beneath their feet. His mental path was a dangerous one to be treading. The dark oak door moaned softly as Mulder pressed it open and nudged her into the room, his own emotions a whirl. She slipped off her shoes as he pulled back the covers for her. Haley's eyes not leaving his as she climbed into the soft bed. "Get some sleep." He mumbled and then turning Mulder steeled himself and pushed an emotional path towards the door. Danger and heroism were always powerful aphrodisiacs. "Please just stay with me until I fall asleep, Fox." Her voice was soft, like a child's. Haley stared at him her dark eyes betraying her fear. "Please?" He felt his resolve fleeting. Trying once more he answered. "I have work to do Haley." He took a few steps back towards the bed his body choosing not to obey his mental directions. He wanted to leave, but was doomed to stay. "I'll be right down stairs." He pointed to the door, yet took another step closer to her. "I just need someone, please... Just to hold me, just to make me feel safe for a little while, Fox. Don't make me beg." Her soft fearful eyes melted his heart. Mulder's breath caught in his throat, as the word "sucker" passed fleetingly across the surface of his mind. Without even knowing how he got there he suddenly found himself nestled beside her on the bed. His arms clasped around her, and his heart racing. The years fell away and his mind was set adrift the minute she pressed her lips to his. From somewhere deep down the word "NO" sprung to his lips, but it was lost as she pressed herself into him. He tasted her. His tongue suckling at the sweetness of her mouth as his hands gently explored her body. The sensation starkly familiar and patronizingly sweet, it had been so long since someone had actually needed him and wanted him in this way. That fact alone made the whole event even more dazzlingly sensual. Within minutes he was in her, kissing her, riding her with a fervent desperation. Her soft moans driving him as her nails raked at his back. It had always been this way between them, passionate and tangled. He came hard, his breath jaggedly tearing itself from his chest. They stilled as their breathing calmed. A moment later he was in the bathroom the rising bile in his throat as bitter as the emotions left to him. He had fucked up again, big time. How was inconsequential, he just knew he had. And the caustic taste of regret nauseated him as her voice called to him from the other room. He took deep breaths and opened the door to face what he'd allowed himself to be coaxed into doing. A fleeting thought of how glad he was Scully wasn't there to witness his weakness he knew would hurt her deeply. XXXXXXXXXX Scully had driven from the local bureau affiliate to Mulder's father's estate, the hour long drive doing little take her mind off the day she'd spent in the morgue. It had been a grueling autopsy the details of which had been made particularly grim by the fact that the victim or what was left of her had been in the water for at least two weeks. The determination of a definitive cause of death had been hampered the state of the body and the massive deterioration of the tissues. From what she'd been able to piece together the victim had been female and fairly young. The sogginess and massive bloating along with the lysis of the individual cells had made toxicology tests and vacuuming of the body little more than a process in futility, but she had sent the samples off to Quantico anyway. The local police still hadn't been able to place a name to what was left of the face, and fingerprints were an impossibility since there was little or no tissue left on any of the digits, so they'd have to make due with dental x-rays and hope for a match. The young woman's skin had virtually fallen apart upon touch, much like bread does when it has been soaking in water for too long, so Scully had focused on the harder tissues like ligaments and bone, and at some point later in the day upon closer examination she'd ventured the theory after noticing odd striations in the ligature of the neck, that the victim may have been strangled though it wasn't by any means an absolute or conclusive cause of death. The body having been in the water for so long had not gone unnoticed by the local the aquatic life. Her abdomen had been breached and many of her organs were missing or partially missing after having fallen prey to some of the larger fishes, so death by natural causes couldn't be ruled out either but seemed unlikely. But the most unsettling thing that Scully had turned up had come to her almost at the end of the examination, while twisting the victim's head slightly to get a closer look at the larynx and the pharynx some of the rotted tissue fell away revealing something shiny and small embedded in the nape of her neck. At first she'd though it a bullet or fragment, but her heart almost stopped when her tweezers revealed the all to familiar shape of an implant. Shaking away the chill that had just run down her spine, Scully checked her watch. It was almost five Mulder should be there unless he was out looking into his own investigation. Even if he wasn't she'd wait. The package she had for him was overdue and probably important so leaving it in the mailbox just didn't seem right. After checking her messages at home, she'd called the small Boston affiliate to check in and to see if she could reach Mulder's contact, Bill Warton. Agent Warton however, according to his voice mail, was presently busy helping his wife deliver their new baby, and Stanley Sullivan; her contact had been called away from the office on unspecified business, so after 15 minutes of playing telephone tag with a series of voice mails in an attempt reach a live human being, she'd given up resigned herself to a long drive after finishing up. Besides it would be worth the time if she could run her case by Mulder and show him the implant. The gravel crunched as she pulled up into the driveway. Mulder's father's home was quaint but in a modest way. There were no bright flowers only plain green low maintenance foliage decorating the flower beds, unlike many of his neighbors who had turned their homes into virtual show places. This particular house on the street spoke volumes about solitude and disinterest. Scully eyed the two cars placed side by side in the driveway in front of her. One was a gray ford and clearly a rental, but the other was local. She climbed out of the car . It was probably Mrs.Mulder visiting her son. Knocking on door, Dana waited, the excitement of seeing Mulder causing a niggling sensation in the pit of her stomach. He'd apologized before for his anger, but would this be a welcome intrusion on her part? She'd only begun to ponder the idea that he might not want to see her, when the door opened to reveal a very attractive brunette dressed only in a man's shirt. Recognizing Mulder's shirt, Scully felt her heart shatter at the sight. "Are you the delivery person?" The beautiful leggy brunette asked. Scully noticed her hair was damp, clearing the lump out of her throat, Scully found enough of her voice to answer. "No.... I'm......" She didn't have the chance to finish her introduction before Mulder's voice drifted out from behind the sparsely clothed woman. "Haley, hurry up with the food, I'm starv......." His breath caught in his throat when he caught a glimpse of red hair. "Shit." He managed as his eyes locked with Scully. He closed his eyes and swallowed the rising bile coming from the fist that was suddenly gripping his stomach. Mulder knew he'd just ruined any chance he'd ever had with Dana Scully. Opening his eyes, he saw Scully hand something to Haley and turn to walk away. Scully felt the tears form upon seeing Mulder standing shirtless in the hallway. Clad only in his jeans, he looked down trying to hide the shock and guilt written across his face. She turned cursing herself for not being strong enough to face him. She was running away again, playing the weakling and going against the promise she'd made to herself just a couple of nights ago. But all she could think about was leaving. Her partner was clearly post coitus with a woman she'd never met before. If she hurried, she'd make it to the car before the tears spilled over her cheeks. "Scully............ Dana." She heard his voice calling after her, but she sped up slipping into her car and locking the door as she started the engine. He knocked on the window, but she continued to look away not giving him the satisfaction of seeing the pain in her eyes. "Scully, I can explain, open the damn door." He pounded on the window so hard, that Scully feared the glass would shatter. "What the hell are you doing here anyway, spying on me? Couldn't abide by my wishes could you?" Mulder didn't understand his rage when he clearly was to blame for her reaction. Scully put the car into reverse growing angrier than she'd ever felt in her life. Mulder gasped when he saw the pure rage mixed pain in her eyes when she finally did turn to face him. God, he'd really fucked up that was crystal clear. Throwing gravel as her car sped onto the road, Scully never looked back to see Mulder run into the house. He moved quickly to grab a shirt he'd discarded the day before barely noticing confused Haley standing there. "Fox, who was that?" He looked at Haley as if she were a stranger for a moment. What had he done? He realized at that moment. He didn't love her. All the years he'd buried the memory of her. Buried the pain and the memory of how she abandoned him. Nursing the pain he felt every time he thought of her. Like a ghost haunting his life, Haley had been a ghost. One of many ghostly failures that plagued his life. The only one who'd never hurt him was now speeding out of his life, probably for good. "She is my partner, Dana Scully." Mulder told her as he gathered his jacket and stuffed his feet into his shoes. "Fox, where are you going? I need you to protect me, Fox." Haley's voice raised several octaves becoming hysterical. Mulder walked toward the door, stopped and then turned around, reality hitting him like a brick, "Is that it Haley?" His anger grew as the words spilled out of his mouth. "Why are you here? Why did you seduced me?" His eyes pinned her. She looked away. He continued questioning her. "Do you care about me or did you just need someone to protect you? Isn't that why you left me the last time, I couldn't protect you? Is that why you ripped my heart from me, do you know how much I've hurt? Did you think past your little world that there might be someone else with feelings?" Mulder jammed his hands through his hair looked at the ceiling sighed heavily. "God, I've been so damn stupid." When his eyes came back to Haley, her tears were falling. "Fox...... Fox I'm sorry. I..... I never meant to hurt you. We..." Her voice faltered "We married too quickly." Her tears were sliding down her cheeks. "I was so scared when you were away. I'm not good alone, you know that." She looked at Mulder with weak sorrowful eyes. "After the attack, Daddy felt....." Mulder interrupted her, "Daddy?" he couldn't help the mocking laugh resounding from his throat. "You had a husband for God's sake. Your Daddy wasn't your fucking husband." Mulder's voice grew louder. "You left me because *Daddy* didn't think you would be safe?" "I'm not strong like other women Fox, I need to feel protected." Standing in the hallway, staring at his former wife Mulder suddenly felt at a loss to explain why he was ever attracted to her in the first place. Had he changed so drastically? The sweet childlike bride of his past was now a woman but only in name. Haley hadn't changed over the years. She was still needy, suffocatingly so. The difference was Mulder. When they were younger that had been a seductive quality, it had made him feel needed and wanted. She was weak and that was what he had wanted, someone needy who couldn't bear to be without him. Was this what he had thought a woman should be?? His mother had been the same; fragile, helpless, bordering on pathetic, and Haley had been just the kind of woman that she would have picked for her son. Oh God, had he married her for some sick reason to please his mother? Was his mind so dysfunctional back then that he had chosen a totally different woman than Phoebe to make himself believe he could successfully please himself and his parents by marrying someone like her? Had working with Diana and Dana Scully changed his perception of how real women should act and carry themselves? Drawing strength from them instead of expending all his energy pleasing them like he'd always tried with his mother and father? 'What sick bastard you are Fox Mulder.' No wonder he sought solace in his video collection. No attachment, offered no failure that would be noticed. Just as he'd agonized over Samantha for so many years, then ended up disappointed over their reunion when it turned out that she didn't need him to rescue her. She'd been there all along living a life without him, was is entire life based on the desire or drive to be needed by somebody? Is this why Scully scared him so? She didn't need him, she was strong, and independent, but also tender, gentle and kind. He needed her - so much so that it scared the breath out of him sometimes. There were nights in the dark of his apartment that he would shudder and loose himself at the though of her screams the night Duane Berry had kidnapped her. Scully calling his name into the phone, his relationship with Haley flooded his mind. It wasn't so much that he had failed her as a husband. She had failed him as a supporting wife too. They could never be a whole together because her capacity to bear some of the burden of a relationship didn't exist. So they had limped along deformed and crippled by each others expectations. To work as partners meant supporting each other through good and bad times. Accepting him for what he was as he had accepted her. The marriage wasn't a marriage that would have survived. She didn't complete him like.... He cursed himself again for what he'd done to Scully. Ignoring the tears Haley was shedding he threw a light jacket over his partially buttoned shirt and locked eyes with her. "Haley, go home to your Daddy, I've got work to do." He tucked his shirt in his pants. "I'll catch this killer, reassure him of that." He buckled his belt and finished his putting his shoes on as he walked to the door. "But Haley, don't expect anymore from me. I don't have the time or energy to play nursemaid to you anymore." He reached the door and stopped. "Lock the door while I'm gone, call your dad to come get you and close everything on your way out will you?" Mulder slammed the door as he trotted to the car with one purpose in mind. To catch his partner and try to explain what a sick asshole he was and to try to explain what happened with Haley. Not that he totally understood himself. Mulder jumped into the car and slammed the key into the ignition. Throwing the car into gear he gunned the gas and jerked the car into reverse. They hadn't even talked about the feelings that had passed between them after his recent confession before the bee stung her. Why did he always think he'd have another opportunity? Mulder only hoped she would grant him the privilege of one more chance, next time, he'd finish the conversation. Put all the cards on the table. XXXXXXXXX It was warm and sticky in the confines of the van. Crouched down low so as not to attract any unwanted attention from the people on the doorstep across the street, he waited. He'd been there from early morning, having followed Haley up from her family home, hoping and waiting for a chance. But his breath had caught at the sight of the beautiful tiny red head that had presented himself to him. She'd arrived without expectation like a gift presented by the gods that be. It hadn't been until she'd gotten out of the car that he realized that she would be the next one, she was his, because she was one of them too. The infernal buzz of his mind had reached a fevered pitch as her car had swerved out of the driveway and past him. In that brief moment he caught the look on her face as she passed by and it appeared to be one of anguish. A lovers spat maybe?? Pretty boy taking a little time away to slip his tongue into someone else's doughnut hole?? Don't worry pretty lady, he thought as he pulled his own vehicle out of it's parking space and fell into a less than hurried pace behind her. I'll fix you up good. I'll do you inside and out so well that this guy will be just a faint memory. And then after.... After he would do what he had to. XXXXXXXX Scully cursed when she discovered the ferry didn't leave for another ten minutes, she desperately wanted to leave the island now. While driving to the landing Scully managed to steady her emotions. She didn't want anyone to see the pain she felt, but her insides were roiling. Her chest ached at the sight of Mulder after....... Shaking her head, Scully pushed the thought from her head, never would she allow her thoughts to shift into that direction again. Mulder's actions had numbed her. She'd slammed the door to her heart, and cut herself off from the pain she knew was hiding behind it. The ditching, and secret contacts be damned. She'd had enough. Too long had she put her life on hold to follow him on an intangible quest against an unseen foe they could never beat. She'd been kidding herself that it was her fight too. She'd sacrificed too much of her life in the past five years, and it was time to put everything into perspective, to think of herself for a change. Scully had told him she did everything for him, always for him, "where did it get you Dana Scully? No damn where, that's where." She spoke out loud to no one. Hearing the ringing of her phone, she knew it was probably Mulder. Not wanting to answer it, but feeling guilty if it was about the case in Boston, she pulled it out. "Scully." She relaxed hearing Stanley Sullivan's voice. Some tox reports were back and they had a few possible IDs on the victim. "I'll be back in about 90 minutes, I'll meet you at the morgue." Scully ended the call and was in the process of tucking the phone back into her jacket when the shrill ring sounded again. "Scully." She answered her voice business like and betraying none of the hurt inside. It was probably Officer Sullivan again, had he forgotten something?. "Scully, where are you?" Mulder's voice made her tense. Her heart almost stopped beating in her chest "I'm on my way back to Boston." Scully's curt answer caused Mulder's stomach to clench. "I need to talk to you......" Scully interrupted him, "Mulder, there's nothing to discuss, I only came here to drop off a file that had been left for you at the office, I tried to deliver it to the local field office, but it was closed...." Mulder cut her off. "I'm sorry Scully, I can explain." His voice pleaded. "Mulder, what you do with your personal life is none of my business. I don't want to talk about it, now or anytime in the future. It's your life Mulder....." "But my life involves you." He countered. "Only in our professional life Agent Mulder." Her cool voice slapped him. "Where are you Scully, at the landing? I don't want you to leave without my explaining to you what happened............" "Oh, I think I already have good indication of what happened Mulder. I don't need you to share the gory details with me - friends or not it's something I can live without " Scully's sarcastic laugh sent pain through him. "I may have not had a date for a while, but I still know the look of a man who has just gotten off." She didn't trust her voice any longer. "I have to go Mulder." She hit the end button before her voice betrayed her shaky emotions. Turning off her phone, she dropped it in her purse. Breathing deeply Scully tried to stay the tears that had renewed themselves in her eyes. Climbing back into her car, she allowed them to fall, the pain spilling away as they slid down her cheeks. "Damn you Mulder, damn you for doing this to me, to us." She declared in the privacy of her car. Rubbing at her eyes and the betrayal of their tears she slid the car into gear and followed the line onto the ferry. Finishing a parking spot she stopped her car and got out, as the ferry honked and the loading ramp lifted. With a deep churning of water the ferry began to move away from the dock and towards the mainland. When she looked back at the shore, Scully saw Mulder's car pull up and come abruptly come to a halt. He climbed out and rushed to the mooring craning his neck to catch a glimpse of her. Scully drifted into the shadows not wanting him to see her or the expression of pain she knew was pasted on her face. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how badly he'd hurt her. Feeling her tears surfacing again, Scully breathed deeply as she recounted the times she'd seen him with other women. Phoebe, Agent White, Bambi, Diana. She couldn't blame him he was an interestingly handsome man. Most of the women in the bureau's Hoover building had desired to test the waters with Spooky Mulder. He'd shown very little interest in any of them since she'd joined his side. She knew he wasn't gay or uninterested in the opposite sex, having seen the tapes he occasionally left in their player at work. He was just not interested enough in her. Her mind flashed to the kiss that might have been in his hallway. Maybe she'd convinced herself he cared for her more than just a partner and friend. That day had been filled with emotional turmoil. Maybe he was afraid she would leave and spoke the words in desperation to keep her as his partner. Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, she knew Mulder had his faults, but did think he'd stoop to that level of manipulation. Or would he? Hadn't she been faithful in their quest for the truth? Hadn't she done enough, lied enough for him, proved to him she accepted him with all his faults and neuroses? Was she not attractive enough, tall enough, warm enough, desirable enough? Shaking her head again , Scully wiped her eyes and switched gears in her mind. This was going to offer her nothing but a trip into depression. And right now, she had an autopsy to think about and a case to solve. She'd solved cases on her own before, and she was capable enough to bring the perpetrator to justice without Mulder's help. She'd find away to either work with him as a partner, or leave the x-files behind. One way or the other, things were going to change. Her life depended on it. XXXXXXXX Mulder frantically searched the ferry for Scully's car, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number. After a few rings, he slammed it shut. "Scully let me explain, please don't do this." He said to no one as he stood on the shore watching the ferry grow smaller. Dropping his head in defeat, he turned and walked back to the car, climbed in and slammed the door. Why was she in Boston anyway? What was the file she'd brought to him? Starting the engine, Mulder turned the car around, and headed back to the house. As he arrived at the house his cell phone sounded again. Mulder picked it up hoping Scully had changed her mind, he quickly picked it up. "Mulder." His heart sank as Byer's voice sounded in his ear. "Mulder, I've got additional information about the murders." Byers heard Mulder's sigh and waited. "Go ahead Byers." Mulder's voice couldn't mask the disappointment he felt. "There have been four additional murders with a similar MO on the east coast in the last few months. All the victims were young and female and the only connection seems to be their fathers who were either in the military or in our government's employ. That makes 7 all together." "So do you think these men knew each other?" Mulder spotting the unopened food Haley had left on the kitchen table. He picked it up and placed it in the refrigerator. His appetite was gone for the evening. "Dunno Mulder one man was a lower end attach at the UN, a two were from the DOD, the others were suffering in non descript government jobs. We emailed you the victims names and their respective family members." "I'll check the databases at the bureau, call up their files and see if I can connect these men. When you locate the file see if the Virginia murders have the same connection, Thanks Byers," Mulder ended the call. Crossing the room to the coffee table, he set up his laptop, and checked to see that the phone company had reconnected the line. The hum of confirmation was cut short as he yanked the jack out of the phone and plugged it into the computer. The modem let out a short burst of static followed by a squeal as it connected to the bureau's mainframe. Through it he bounced into the Boston affiliate's server and set up a search for the most common elements of the MO. Even though the FBI wasn't directly involved in solving many of the cases it still stored all of the information about any violent crimes that was collected by the local PD in every district. Downloading all cases going back a year that shared any common elements with the MO, he divided them into three categories; rapes, strangulation's, and anything unusual in terms of dismemberment's. The last category was already red lighted and tagged by the local FBI office. Unusual deaths often fell under federal jurisdiction since the method was often violent and possibly serial in nature. As it turned out there had been 50 deaths by strangulation across the Eastern seaboard since the beginning of the year. Mulder was left with a total of twenty women after excluding those victims that were men. He rubbed his eyes and checked the clock in front of him. It was only but it felt like four in the morning. He could just run a cross check for those victims that were also raped, but was probably how the lone gunman had run their search, and any fringe cases - those that were mis-categorized or didn't match the MO exactly wouldn't turn up. Often times a connected case would go unnoticed because some element of the MO didn't match or was skipped all together. Subdividing even further he excluded those whose attackers had been apprehended, and ended up with a more manageable 9 cases. Clicking on his email icon he then waited as his computer checked for his electronic mail. "Humph.." He let out a soft grunt as his computer pinged, announcing the arrival of two whole letters. "You are just too popular Mulder." he told himself, as he double clicked the letter from the lone gunmen. He recognized the four names instantly as part of the nine on his list. Cross referencing them he set them aside and drew up the last five on the list. The first was an unlikely connection as the victim was a homeless kid in her mid teens, and she had not been raped and there had been no mutilation of the body. Reading a little further Mulder discovered that she had run away from home at 12. Her father was a farmer in Oklahoma, and her mother a housewife. He closed the electronic file and opened the next one. It was very similar to the first in that both of the victims were close in age. This young girl however had bee a prostitute and had died at the hands of her pimp. There was a nationwide warrant for one Wesley Taylor but he appeared to have skipped town. Number three was a domestic but the case hadn't been closed because the husband had gone into hiding. Mulder stared at the two files left on his screen, one had been red flagged but the victim was a Jane Doe. It was probably part of a different FBI investigation He'd save that one for last. Opening up the non flagged one he realized at first sight of the victim that this one should be added to his list. The dead woman, Anna Debario had been in her late twenties. She was a beautiful brunette with clear blue eyes. A resident of Boston and a young doctor she had been found strangled, raped and left in a dumpster out side of the clinic she worked at. There had been no removal of organs but the large slash mark across her abdomen indicated an attempt may had been made. Perhaps the perpetrator had been interrupted before having been able to complete his task. This victim made a possible five so far. Scrolling down the page he discovered that her mother was deceased, and her father was a prominent medical Doctor working for a branch member of the CDC; Fema. Mulder's breath caught in his chest. That was a name he had become all to familiar with in the fast few months. Adding Debario to his list of victims he made careful note of her father's name and placed her folder with the rest on his desktop. Staring at the red tab on the final file made him wonder whether he should bother or not. If it was already being looked into by another agent, there was a good chance that this was not a related case. He checked the entry date and realized that it had just been entered into the system within the last day. If it was this new any connections may not have been made yet, since the case file was not even complete. Without the victim's name the pathologists report would be the only way of checking for similarities, because a background check wouldn't even have been attempted yet. He looked at the name of the agent in charge; Stanley Sullivan it wasn't even someone he recognized. Clicking the appropriate button he opened the file it up, noting with surprise that there were no photo attachments nor were there any included within the text itself. Jumping to the body of the report he found the latest entry detailing the location Jane Doe had been found and the condition of the body. Agent Sullivan believed this to be another in a series of drug related murders occurring along Boston's waterfront. His last entry had been made at around noon and at the time he had still been waiting on the pathologist's report. Mulder was about to close the file up when he noticed the pathologists attachment at the bottom of the page. He clicked on it despite the fact that it seemed a waste of time, a was painfully surprised when his partner's name appeared at the top of the page. The hurt and anger he'd seen in her eyes earlier that day flashed through his mind. "Shit" he muttered softly his hand coming up to rub his weary eyes. This was why she was in town. She'd been called into work on a different case. He touched the screen in front of him his fingers gently caressing the words that had come from his partner. Was this why she had come to see him? Had she needed his help? He started at the top and made his way through the file. Much of Scully's information was inconclusive including the cause of death, but she had seemed fairly certain that the young woman's demise had not been drug related. In fact she had noted strangulation as the likely cause though she was far from certain. Toxicologists reports had found no drugs in the soddened tissue nor in what remained of the liver. Other organs had been missing at the scene but were assumed to have been lunch for the fishes. This immediately struck a chord with Mulder, as did the final sentence of her report. 'I have discovered a small metallic implant located in the Jane Doe's neck, it may be irrelevant to the death of the victim, but I will run it past my partner, since it is something very familiar to the X-files division of the FBI, and part of an ongoing investigation.' Mulder pulled his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, he really needed to talk to her and after all that had gone on that day he wanted to see her. Picking up the phone he called the Boston office only to get a referral to the police department or a pager number if it was a matter of bureau business and an absolute emergency. He dialed the pager and left his number. Moving Jane Doe's file along side the others on his desktop, Mulder closed his computer and picked up the package Scully had delivered and broke it open, the contents spewing out onto the dark wood of the coffee table. It was the information that he'd requested from Danny. Much of it redundant material that had already been supplied to him by the gunmen. Placing the contents back into the envelope he yawned and stretched out on the couch. Waiting for a call from the person on the other end of the pager, and unable to return to the bed he and Haley had shared earlier that day, he flicked on the television. Flipping to rerun of Star Trek he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift. Within moments Fox Mulder was fast asleep. XXXXXXXXX He watched as she stopped her car in the parking lot of the hotel where he'd tracked her. She'd been unaware of their intertwined futures as he stood next to her on the ferry. Seemingly lost and distant she'd virtually ignored everything going on around her. It had been the perfect opportunity to observe her undetected. Ignoring the infernal buzzing in his brain he'd even been bold enough to try and approach her in conversation. But she had retreated her car after a brief hello. Licking his dry lips, he watched, savoring the moment as she opened her car door and dropped her foot onto the pavement. God her leg was beautiful. She truly was a magnificent creature, full of life and fire. He felt himself growing hard just watching her as she bent over to retrieve something from the passenger side of the car. Her skirt inched up her thigh with the movement and he touched himself relishing the though of what was to come in a few hours. She would be a sweet treat, full of spice as he fucked the life out of her. In anticipation his fingers rubbed the sheer and supple fabric of the nylons in his pocket. Would she scream as he wrapped it around her neck and squeezed life's breath out of her? The predator in him screamed, yes, as the ecstasy of contemplation heightened his already agitated state. But he knew she wouldn't. There would be no begging, or pleading from this one. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. But he would make her squeal with pure pleasure as he entered her, they all had and she would. The anticipation was almost more than he could stand. She stepped out of the car and proceeded to her hotel room. He moved like a cat, quietly, carefully as not to alert his prey that he was stalking her. She was tired, he could tell by the way her body moved, the quality was a weariness that seemed to have sunk through to her bones. He sniffed the air catching her sent like a cat seeking the aroma of his prey. His pants became more uncomfortable as the anticipation of his conquest played in his mind again, over and over like a ritual in preparation the for the inevitable. He would take her to his private place. The hotel was too public, the walls were paper thin he didn't want to entertain the possibility of being interrupted as he brought her to ecstasy and then took it from her. He'd take his time with this one she was special, like a diamond in a sea of cheaply cut zircons. She'd enjoy it. He was a powerful lover. His wife called him magnificent. He missed her again for a moment before the memory of what they had done to her making her tainted and unclean for his love. This one he would purify with his sex before he freed her from the bondage she suffered at their hands. It was his mission to take revenge on the men who'd taken his life-love and robbed the other women of their purity. He felt for the bottle of chloroform in his pocket. He'd carefully wrapped it in his handkerchief . He was ready. Now, all he needed was the opportunity. Slipping under the stairs he sat, making himself comfortable. It wouldn't be too long now. A few more hours and she would be his. XXXXXXXXXX