TITLE: Old Ghosts 4/6
AUTHOR: Marsha Taylor-Bare & Cheryl De Luca

 It was almost midnight when Scully walked slowly into her hotel room. 
Exhaustion had set in after a long day and the ensuing emotional upheaval
with Mulder. Unfortunately, the trip back to the morgue had done little to
help her disposition, either. She was fairly certain that the victim she
had autopsied earlier that day was not related to the case that Agent
Sullivan was working on. Regardless of this fact she was still expected to
finish the job she'd started and hopefully give the poor girl a name to be
buried under. After reviewing the 20 or so recent missing persons, she'd
narrowed the field to three, one of who was senator's daughter. Once she'd
laid out the possible identities for the Agent Sullivan and the families
had been notified, the pressure was on for a definite identification. But
that wouldn't come until the following morning when the dental records
arrived.
           Her emotions had calmed somewhat on the way to the morgue. 
Exhaustion and the control needed to focus on the autopsy, as well as the
meeting with Agent Sullivan, has usurped them somewhat. The work had
provided a sorely needed distraction from the emotional carnage the day
had wrought on her.
           Entering her room, Scully didn't want to think about Mulder,
murder, autopsies, loneliness. All she wanted was to fall into bed and
hide in unconsciousness. She had barely removed her clothes when her
strength ran out and she slipped under the covers falling into a deep
exhausted sleep. 
                                XXXXXXXX

           Glancing at his watch, a wide grin spread across his face, four
thirty AM. The hotel had been quiet for almost an hour. The evenings last
stragglers, had headed off to their rooms not to long after the bars had
closed and except for the odd stoned hooker and her john coming and going
intermittently, the rooms had remained silent. 
           Checking his jacket pocket once again he fingered the
chloroform, while his other hand removed a small lock pick kit from his
pants. Look casual he reminded himself , as he stepped from his hiding
place beneath the stairs. There was no one around. Red's room was only 10
feet away so he covered the distance quickly. 
           He almost turned back as he heard a tight moan followed by a
squeal of pleasure echo near by. Had he missed someone entering the room? 
Was she still awake? Was she pleasuring herself? All these questions ran
rapid fire through his head. And the buzzing had increased since he'd
reached her door. Hard pressed to determine who's room it was coming from
he leaned his head up against the door in front of him. All seemed quiet
so he slipped the pick into the lock just as the banging began. 
           A man's loud "Fuck baby" broke the night as he rapidly jiggled
the instrument in the lock. The woman was moaning now, and he himself was
beginning to get a hard-on. His movements became almost desperate as he
twisted the pick. "Oh... Fuck me! Fuck me!" Sounded from the room next
door as the lock finally gave and the door slid open under his grasp. He
slipped in quickly and silently. His breath jagged as he listened to the
people in the other room going at it. His prey seemed to be undisturbed by
the noise next door. He stood still listening a moment as another moan and
a frantic cry sounded through the wall. He wanted the same he wanted it
now. He could almost feel her soft slickness.. Ohh yeah his mind pictured
the sweet red head wriggling with pleasure underneath him. But he
couldn't. Not here, this was dangerous. Better to follow his original
plan. The buzzing in his brain had broken free and it was making it hard
to think. He wanted her but he wanted to take it slow and easy, enjoying
her, relishing her. She wasn't like the others he could tell from the
moment he'd seen her . There was a connection, a distant one, faint in his
memory. There was something about her mouth, her hair color, her size.... 

                                XXXXXXXXXX

           There was noise in the background she was sure of it. It
sounded primal, sensual.. like one of Mulder's dirty videos. For a moment
she wondered if she were dreaming, but then the unfamiliarity and lack of
comfort of her own bed reminded her that she was in a hotel., a cheap one
at that. "Oh.. Fuck me! Fuck me!" reverberated through the room almost
shaking the walls with it's demand. Christ! She mentally cursed her
neighbors, at the same time contemplating getting up and kicking the wall
in to shut them up. But she couldn't. The exhaustion of her day had sunk
through her. She didn't even have the energy to open her eyes. They'd stop
soon she told herself. Eventually all good things had to come to an end. 
           Lulling herself back into a sleep state she'd almost succeeded
in blocking out the noise completely when she heard something else. A
slight rasp, it sounded like breathing. It couldn't be. She was alone, yet
she wasn't. She knew it instinctively. The hairs on her neck stood on end. 
She'd have to move quickly. Her gun was placed carefully on the bedside
table. One lighting the quick move and it could be in her grasp.
           She couldn't open her eyes who ever was there might see her. 
Scully's respiration's quickened in her chest and in an instant she was up
fumbling for her gun. But he was there, on her before she had a chance to
even grasp it. She knocked at it and it uselessly thudded as it hit the
floor.
           A slight scream escaped her throat, just before chemical soaked
material covered her mouth. Deep piercing blue eyes stared at her, as her
head became heavy, and she slipped into darkness.
           She was beautiful. He ran a thick finger over her porcelain
complexion. Thick full lips.. She was silent now. The fight drained from
her as the drug had taken effect. Perfect timing! The room next door had
grown quiet. He bent down and pressed his lips against hers, tasting her. 
Mmmmm.. Sweet, like candy... his mind whispered around the thick buzzing
in his head.. His hands roamed pushing aside the blankets. She was wearing
an light and loose knee length teddy her movements having worked it up
almost to her crotch. Brushing it up the rest of the way he slipped his
hand in through the leg hole of her underwear his fingertips reveling in
the soft patch of hair they discovered there.. He was hard now - ready. He
could do it now..  He should do it Now! Now! Now! NOW!.. His mind ordered
him, as he hungrily licked his fingers. No! His reasonable self argued, as
his hand oblivious to the internal struggle going on, pushed the nightie
up to reveal one supple breast. Without thought his fingers made their way
across the areola to tug gently at one thick pink nipple. Overcome he
reached down and took it into his mouth imagining the moan of pleasure she
should be uttering. He would do her here... He pulled the stocking out of
his pocket and slipped it around her neck.
           A loud pounding on the door stopped him cold.. From outside a
man's voice filtered through the door.. "This is the manager - I've had
some complaints.. keep it down or I'll have to call the police. " 
           Frozen in place waited for the sound of a key in the lock, but
it never came. A few moments later he heard the sound of shuffling
footsteps move away from the door. 
           That was too close! His reasonable self told him.. Follow the
plan! It ordered him. His erection gone now, he dabbed some more
chloroform onto the cloth and placed it over Scully's mouth again just as
a precaution. Then he wrapped her up in the blanket and threw her over his
shoulder. It was only about twenty feet to the car.. Opening the door he
poked his head out and looked around.. There was no one visible! Within 3
minutes he was in the car pulling away from the parking lot. 

                                                         XXXXXXXXX

           The next morning, he awoke with a start. Something wasn't
right.  He could feel it in his bones. Rolling off the couch, he stumbled
to the bathroom. Relieving himself and then washing his face, Mulder
stared at his bleary eyed reflection in the mirror. He looked like death
warmed over and felt like it too. He closed his eyes to block out the
pathetic vision of himself as his mind replayed the events of the previous
day. It had been a bust, much like the rest of his life. 
           His morning ritual complete, he walked into the bedroom. The
bed catching his eye, as he moved to his suitcase to get some fresh
clothes, his mistake had been a costly one, and the loss irreplaceable.
Would Scully every forgive him? Had he literally screwed up his chance to
break through her controlled walls to see the warm, loving side of his
partner that he only caught glimpses of on occasion? How could he have
been so careless, allowing Haley to manipulate him again? He'd given into
her seduction like a starving child in need of a mother's love. Willingly
he surrendered his control to her so he could what? Feed his male ego? Was
it because he was so desperate for someone to want and need his
protection? Was that the lame excuse? Mulder continued to berate himself
as he reached down and touched the sheets he had shared with his ex-wife
earlier. He could still smell traces of the evidence of the crime he'd
committed against his heart.
           Enraged at himself and Haley, he ripped the sheets off the bed. 
Savagely he pulled them from the mattress, rolled them up and threw them
across the room. Mulder wanted no evidence of her in his life for
eternity. He'd kept her shrine alive long enough. 
           He'd suffered for her, mourned her absence almost to
destruction. He remembered a saying from years ago his grandmother had
told him. 'That which does not destroy you will make you stronger.'
           He didn't know if he was necessarily stronger but he was
finally smarter. He would not succumb to the leverage and insecurities his
broken past had thrust on him. He would close his mind to the image of
Haley hovering above him as they had repeatedly made love. It would still
exist and be part of his life, but he wouldn't allow it to dominate nor
direct him any longer. The exquisitely complex love/hate, need to be
needed, roiling emotional mess that had roots in his childhood would no
longer be empowered.
           It had made him sick the first time, his subconscious
unsuccessfully warning him away, but like an animal going to slaughter, he
allowed her clutches around him again. The second and third time he'd
barely felt the guilt of enjoying her pleasures. It had been a release. 
Perhaps their inevitable separation had been a way to torture the
torturer. 
           In the distance his reflection was broken by the ring of the
downstairs phone. It was more than enough to send him running. "Scully."
He murmured as the heavy burden of shame settled over him again. He rushed
to the ringing phone, his knee deflecting off a small end table and a
tight "Shit" drifting from his lips as he quickly grabbed the phone.
"Mulder." 
           "Agent Fox Mulder? "A man's voice filtered in from the other
end of the phone line. 
           His heart fell when he didn't hear the one voice he'd hoped
would be on the other end. "Yes. And you are?"
           "This is Agent Sullivan here Boston. I'm presently working with
Agent Scully on local a case." 
           "Yes I read part of your case file last night." 
           "I see. She mentioned that she'd been to consult with you
yesterday in the afternoon. I was just wondering if you had seen her
since? 

           Mulder's heart almost stopped in his chest. "No not since
yesterday."
           "And you haven't talked to her since then?" 
           "No, why??" Mulder's intuition was kicking in, a deep sense of
panic building inside him. 
           "We spent the better part of the evening last night trying to
identify a young girl here in the county morgue. We'd agreed to pick it up
here again this morning, but agent Scully hasn't arrived yet and she's two
hours overdue. I called her hotel this morning and she didn't answer. I'm
at the hotel, now and her car is parked out front but there was no answer
when I knocked. I just wondered if she might be with you." 
           "Which hotel is she staying at?" 
           On full alert, Mulder wrote down the address given to him and
yelled, "I'm on my way" into the receiver before he slammed it back into
it's cradle. 
           He ended the call practically jumping into his clothes before
bolting out of the door towards his car. Mulder knew the killer must have
stalked her and now wanted to add her to his list of casualties. If his
profile was correct, the perp must have something to do with the tests.
But why was he killing these women? Revenge? Was he a government employee
like Krishgau? Could he be a dysfunctional part of the experiment?
Questions ran through Mulder's head as he pulled out of the drive racing
toward the airport for the short hop to Boston. He knew he would have to
act fast, or his whole reason for continuing might not last another day. 

                                XXXXXXXXX

Mulder arrived at the hotel in record time, screeching the tires as he
swung the car into the parking lot. He saw a car that looked like the one
she'd been driving the previous day and pulled into the empty spot beside
it. Parked ominously on the other side was a dark government issue sedan. 
It's occupants conspicuously absent.  Mulder took the stairs two at a time
with ease, he arrived at her room to find the door open and a tall dark
hared man digging under the bed. The bed obviously been slept in it's
sheets rumbled and dragged on the floor during what looked like a
struggle. 

           "I'm Fox Mulder." He stared at the man as he rose from the
floor, with a gun in his hand. 
           "Stanley Sullivan." He held out the small gun. "I think this
belongs to your partner it was under the bed." 
           Mulder covered the short distance between the door and bed, he
squatted surveying the area closer. No blood, a silent prayer of thanks
ran through his head. Reaching up he grabbed the gun from Sullivan's hand
and checked the serial number. "It's Scully's," he told the man in front
of him.
           "It looks like there's been a struggle, but at the same time
I'm unsure." Sullivan indicated the state of the bed. "Nothing in the room
has been touched other than the mess of the bed and the hotel manager said
he was called up here last night with complaints of someone having some
very loud sex. " 
           "Sex?" Mulder looked almost dumbfounded, she wouldn't have..
Not out of revenge.. She couldn't have... Besides, he reassured himself,
Scully wasn't like that. She wasn't the type to pick up some stranger and
take him to hotel room. He thought back to Ed Jerse well she wasn't
normally the type. 
           Sullivan continued, "Her purse is gone as well, maybe she left
of her own free will and got tied up on the way into the office?"
           Mulder shook his head in disagreement. "Scully is meticulous
about time, and her gun." 
           "Maybe it fell out of her purse, or she dropped it without
noticing?" 
           Mulder shook his head again, "Scully always double checks it
before she leaves anywhere." 
           Sullivan shrugged. "She was in a hurry.." 
           "Her car is still in the parking lot." He indicated the rental
parked out front. "And this doesn't feel right." His anxiety jumped
several notches. "No something has happened to her." Mulder was certain.
Both his instincts and the boulder sitting in his stomach told him so.
           "Well, I'll call the office again, and if she hasn't arrived
I'll have them send out a team, but she'll probably be thoroughly pissed
if it turns out she's just hung up somewhere." 
           Mulder nodded and headed quickly for the door, his toe kicking
aside a small glass jar. 
           "Agent Mulder where are you going?" Sullivan's face imparted
both confusion and worry.
           The glass of the jar tinkled lightly as he picked up the small
bottle, the sight of it's contents making his insides go numb "This may be
related to the case I'm working on." He told the man distractedly as he
stared at the implant. "Keep me apprised of the situation here. I have
someone I have to go see." 
           Mulder climbed into the car his head reeling, this was all
related to the implants, The recent murders, Haley's stalking, the VA
murders almost a decade ago and most importantly, Scully's recent
disappearance, all had a direct tie-in the government, how, he wasn't
certain but he could almost smell the fetid connection . As the shock wore
off the anger set in, Mulder clutched the bottle in his hand as a new
hatred for his father's work and the smoking man surfaced. His blood
pressure increased as he felt his anger boil. 
     "Damn all of you to hell." He shouted as his frustration overtook him
and he slammed his fist into the steering wheel, the pain of it making
contact satisfying some inner need for self immolation. 
           Gaining a little control back he slipped his key into the
ignition as his cell phone rang. "Mulder." His voice was tight when he
answered. The fine wire of control he had left was already fully taut.. 
           "Agent Mulder." A sinister voice echoed through the phone line. 
He knew immediately the man wasn't a friend.
           "Who is this?" He checked the number reading on his phone, and
it was all too familiar. Whoever was calling was using Scully's cell
phone. 

           "Oh Agent Mulder, don't you remember me? I seem to remember an
incident a few years back with your, then, wife."
           Mulder's breath caught in his chest. He'd been right ... he'd
been right. The mantra spun through his head making him almost dizzy. 
           "It's been a while since we've crossed paths, and I just
thought I'd reaffirm our acquaintance..." 
           "What do you want?" Mulder closed his eyes against the spinning
that was assaulting his head. 
           "I think the question is what do I have that you want? Isn't
that it my friend?" 
           "Listen you, Fu... " Mulder didn't have time to finish the
sentence
           "She's beautiful you know..." The man's voice quivered
maniacally through the static of the cell phone. "She's tiny, probably
very tight. Her rich red hair, the pale white of her skin looks amazing
against the filmy blue of her pajamas." The man's voice dropped his worlds
thick and husky, almost sensual. "Mmmmm those full luscious lips. Has she
ever given you a blow job Agent Mulder? It must be heaven..." He laughed. 
           Mulder leaned his head back against the seat, this wasn't
happening....
           "I'll have to try it with her before.. well you know..." 
           Mulder's anger exploded . "You keep your fucking hands off of
her you bastard or I'll cut your fucking heart out with a spoon!" 
           "Now what fun would that be Agent Mulder?" The man's voice took
on a deadly tone. "I am going to FUCK her senseless Mulder, in and out and
every way possible and then I will kill her because I have to. Then I will
take that loose cunt of a woman you used to call a wife and do the same
with her because she is one of them too." There was a short pause as the
man caught his breath. 
           "One of whom? One of what?" Mulder managed to ask before the
man went on. Information, he needed to get as much as he could. Maybe the
murderer would slip and give a clue... 
           "You know the score Agent Mulder. I've been away but I've kept
tabs on you, and your career." The man's voice turned to one of almost
camaraderie. "You know about the implants and the plot by our government
to allow the eradication of our species. They are systematically
destroying us. By preparing hosts for an alien race, and by stealing the
seed of our women, the females of our species, they are slowly allowing a
genocide to occur. without the ability to reproduce we have no future.
They all must be destroyed and they will one by one. This pretty lady here
will be next. I will fuck her I will cleanse her and then I will kill her,
and there is nothing you can do to stop me. It is truly fulfilling to know
I am able to fulfill my destiny and seek revenge for the bullet wound you
gave me, all in one fell swoop. Say good-bye, FOX!" With that the line
went dead. 

                 XXXXXXXXXXX

           Mulder pulled into Haley's driveway and brought the car to an
abrupt halt, climbing out he raced to the door and knocked heavily. The
door opened and Mr. Rehill stood tall in the doorway.
           "I need to speak with you," Mulder pushed his way into the
house without invitation. "I need to know your involvement with this whole
mess,"  Mulder pinned his former father in-law with a threatening look.
Mr. Rehill didn't flinch, but sat leaned up against the wall and sighed. 
  "Fox, I am involved but anymore than that, I can't tell you.." 
           Mulder interrupted, "Bullshit! You knew from the beginning,
didn't you?" His fists clenched almost painfully trying not to lose his
control. "Right back to when the murders happened back in the 80's, you
knew the connection." 
           "When Haley was younger, I worked for the state department. I
even knew your father. It was about the time your sister disappeared. I
found out some things I probably would have been better off not knowing. 
Needless to say, I paid for it by Haley disappearing for a couple of
months." 
  "You mean Haley had missing time? She never told me," Mulder
interjected. 
  Rehill moved into his study motioning for Mulder to follow. "She doesn't
remember it. She was young. They did something to her mind. That's why
I've been so protective of my daughter Fox. I couldn't bare to lose her
again."  His voice broke remembering Jeannine was gone.  "I'm sorry for
taking Haley away from you Fox. When she was attacked all I could think of
was my little girl. That's why I objected so strenuously to your marriage
in the first place. I needed her somewhere where I could protect her. You
didn't know the score." Tired, drained by his revelations Rehill sat
heavily on his time weathered sofa. 
           "She was a married woman, with a husband who loved her," Mulder
said in a quiet voice. 
           "I know that Fox, and I'm sorry." Mr. Rehill averted his eyes
not being able to bear the intense anger radiating from Mulder. "I thought
if I went along with them, they would leave my family alone. Then, I got
in too deep."
           "And Jeannine?" 
           "They took her too but she's wasn't like the others. She didn't
have an implant. She was sterilized but there was something wrong with her
genetically. She was born with Thalessemia minor. Her blood was bad. They
sent her back without an implant." 
           Mulder was livid, as his protective instinct took over. "And
you subjected your children to this? You agreed to it?" 
           Rehill shook his head in denial. "No. Not at first. I was
horrified at what they were doing. Then Haley was taken, and I had no
choice but to go along with it. For their safety and for our survival." 
           "So you've sacrificed Haley's happiness, and any chance she has
at a normal future?" 
           Mr. Rehill nodded his head. "At least she has a future." 
           Mulder couldn't help but huff a sarcastic breath. He gathered
his thoughts. There were so many things he wanted to say to Mr. Rehill,
but it wasn't helping Scully throwing accusations back and forth. "What do
you know about these murders? They're all connected to this, right?"
Mulder asked flexing his hands. He'd been holding a fists so tight that it
had cut off his blood flow. 
           "We knew long ago that someone was preying on our.. subjects." 
Mr. Rehill choked out the word. " At first we thought it random deaths. We
lose a few people to natural situations. But then a pattern seemed to
emerge; method of death, locations." Looking haggard and aged Mr. Rehill
rose from the sofa and began to pace. "All of the women murdered had
been..  taken catalogued, implanted. All of the women had a parent somehow
involved in the government. People in the organization started talking.
Watch your children protect them. Someone?? Someone on the outside knows.
Then the FBI got involved. We knew they would eventually, and we were
hoping that you'd stop him." 
           Mulder turned on the man his voice furious. "I thought I had
brought the attack upon Haley." he pounded his chest. " I thought that it
was my involvement in the case that almost got her killed! All along it
was you.  You knew this was possible yet you never warned me. You allowed
me to bear the guilt of our failed marriage." 
           "Your involvement with the case did put her in jeopardy, Fox.
He wouldn't have known of her, at least not right away. " 
           "But eventually he would have gone after her. Like he did last
week. Only this guy made some sort of mistake and got Jeannine instead.
Was it worth it? After all is said and done?" 
           "We thought it was over. We all breathed a sigh of relief when
the agency reported his death. Then about two years ago it started all
over again."
           "Two years? You've been letting this guy kill for two years?" 
Mulder stared at the man horrified. 
           "Overseas Fox. England, Japan, Greece. Egypt.. We've had people
investigating. They've come up with nothing. We're at a dead end. At one
time we thought he might have been a member of the project but all leads
got us nowhere." Mr. Rehill sighed again feeling helpless. "I had no idea
he was back in the states." 
           "He called me. He seems to think he's cleansing these women,
saving them, somehow."  Mr. Rehill's head snapped up, Mulder had his
attention. "He has my partner, and he told me Haley was next." 
           "I'll take her away then. I can't lose another daughter." He
stopped his attention drawn out the window. 
           "Not before you tell me everything that they know about him." 
Mulder spun the man around. "My partner's life depends on my finding him,
and for that I need you." 
           "We don't know where he gets his information, but it is from an
inside source. He knows the ones that have implants." 
           "Get whatever you have on him." 
           "I can't do that. There's no way I could get the information
without exposing myself and my family." Mr. Rehill protested.
           Mulder's eyes narrowed. "You will get me the information I ask
for NOW, because if you don't and anything happens to my partner you, I'll
blow the lid off your little party." Mulder's voice was as cold as steel. 
"I'll tell everyone inside the government that you're the one whose been
leaking information to me." 
           "Don't threaten me Fox, people have disappeared for less." Mr. 
Rehill countered. 
           "Perhaps I should first tell you what happened to my last
informant? You won't be able to protect your daughter if they choose to
make an example of you. " Mr. Rehill flinched and looked away as he heard
movement behind him. Haley entered the room. 
           "Dad, Fox. What are you shouting about?" Haley's confused voice
broke the tension between Mulder and Mr. Rehill for the moment.
  "Nothing honey, leave us alone." Mr. Rehill's fatherly voice snapped
Mulder's patience. 
           "Yes Haley, run along so your father won't have to tell you
about his dirty dealings with the government." His voice dripping with
anger.
           "Shut up Fox." Mr. Rehill face turned red with anger. 
           "Come here Haley." Fox held out his hand. She moved to him. He
turned her around and lifted her brown hair. There was the same scar
Scully had, he'd never paid it much attention when they were married. 
           "Ask him about the scar on your neck." Mulder let her hair go
and Haley faced her father with a questioned look.
           "What scar? Daddy?" She reached for the scar with her left
hand.  "You said I fell when I was younger." Her confused voice wavered.
Haley turned to Mulder. "You're scarring me Fox. What is this about?" 
           "It's about information I need from your father." Mulder pinned
Mr. Rehill with a steel glare. 
           Not wanting Mulder to reveal anymore information to upset
Haley, he relented. "Okay Fox, I'll cooperate. As much as I can. Let me
make a call." He left the room. There remained an awkwardness between
Haley and Mulder. 
           "Fox, what's this about?" Haley demanded. Mulder turned his
attention back to Haley. Her eyes were swollen and her hair mussed. 
           "My partner, Dana Scully." He began
           "From the house, the redhead?" She asked. 
           "Yes, she's been kidnapped." His eyes fell to the floor as his
voice trailed off. 
           "Oh no. I'm so sorry Fox." She moved into his personal space.
He held up his hand to stop attempt at comfort, not welcoming her
closeness. 
           "I think??. I think he was following you Haley." Mulder
explained seeing her gasp bring her hand to cover her mouth. Tears welled
up in her eyes. Mulder felt a tinge of joy seeing her in pain. He didn't
move to comfort her. Mulder's concern lay with Scully and the sick bastard
that held her.

                                          XXXXXXXXXXX

           Scully felt consciousness slowly creep back to her. The fuzzy
feeling in her head caused her focal skills to fail. She blinked twice
trying to pull the world back into focus. Scully knew her hands were tied. 
She could feel the bonds cutting into her wrists above her head. Her
thoughts though still clouded warned her to stay still. The last thing she
remembered was the sickly sweet smell of chloroform. It's stench still
clung to her. She was being held captive. That much she knew, but what
would happen to her if her captive knew she was awake was far too
uncertain. 
           She was prone lying on something soft. A bed?? Her thin pajamas
did little to protect her from the cool air blowing around her. The place
was air conditioned. A Home? The linen smelled fresh. A Hotel? It was dark
in the room, but her eyes were adjusting slowly. 
                A chill ran through her as she remembered the terror of
waking and knowing she wasn't alone. He'd knocked the gun from her hand.
If she was still her hotel room it had landed on the floor. Was it still
there?? He'd been strong and it had been over in a matter of seconds. Who
was this man? What did he want from her? She lay still listening for
breathing, any noise to signal he was in the room, nothing, silence
throughout the small space.
           Scully risked the cover of her unconsciousness by moving
slightly, when no one came for her or no sound was heard she lifted her
head to look around. Her eyes had adjusted enough to the dimness of the
room, that she could make out some of it's simple furnishings. Up against
one wall there was a small mirrored dresser, with a chair sitting next to
it. Something that looked like an old tea cup sat on an old sturdy table
near a barred window. Curtains that were faded and aged, but thick enough
to block out most of the sunlight trying to sneak in the window. Moving
her head more her eyes found what appeared to be the only way out the
room, a large oak door. A slim light shone from beneath it indicating that
there might be someone else in the house with her. She let out a slight
moan and shook away the dizziness that was warring with her consciousness.
Just a titch of movement made it's way to her ears. It had come from the
other side of the doorway. The knob squeaked slightly as the lock gave. By
this time Scully had dropped her head back onto the bed, hopefully that
her guise of unconsciousness would be successful, and that her captor
would leave her alone for a while longer.
           Heavy footsteps made their way across the floor and stopped in
front of her. She could smell the chloroform more heavily now. It had to
be on his clothes too. 
           He was close. Too close. Stifling a shiver of fear, and trying
to squelch the drugs nauseating side effects Scully remained lifeless as
his hand moved over the bare skin of her legs .
           "I wish you'd wake up love. I've got a surprise for you." He
moved his hand and loosened the strap tying her feet together and moved
them apart. Scully used all her strength to remain slack.. "You're so
beautiful." His cool hands moved up under the fringe of her teddy, as she
fought the overwhelming instinct to pull away "You look so much like my
dear wife. Same hair, and soft, pale skin." He moved his hands up between
her thighs his fingers rubbing gently at the fringe of her underwear. She
could feel his breath moving up her body to where he'd shoved her
nightgown. She almost lost her control as he pressed his nose against her
panties and inhaled. Fear gripped her as he moaned and buried his nose
harder against her apex. 
           "You even smell like her. God I'm hungry. I wish you were
awake." His labored breathing signaled his arousal. She noticed movement
and heard the zipper from his pants being lowered. Dana prayed he wouldn't
notice the fear that gripped every part of her body. Fighting not to kick
out and scream as his teeth pulled at the cotton covering her sex. 
           "Ohhhhh...." He let out a soft moan of delight as he pressed
himself up against her. "Yeah." Another moan tore itself from his throat
as his hips rocked against her. "Baby" Exploded from him as he rubbed his
exposed penis against the cold naked flesh of her leg. 
           'What kind of deranged psycho was this? Smelling her, biting
her, jerking off as she lay unconscious.' Scully's thoughts were
interrupted as he let out a frenzied cry. He was rocking desperately now
one hand was pressed between her and him egging on his inevitable climax,
while the other one slipped inside her. She bit back a cry and for a
moment she drifted away. Pulling her mind from the terror of his assault,
she envisioned Mulder while her mind chanted his name. It was a momentary
distraction, easily destroyed by the animalistic scream of her captor, as
he came. His breath grew jagged against the damp material of her panties,
as he grunted and breathed someone's name she hadn't heard before. 
"Ohhhh... Yeah," he repeated as he ground his wet sticky semen in to her
leg. Revulsion slammed into her but she forced herself to relax again. He
had concluded his sick release. Hopefully he would leave her alone.
           "Mmmm" He gave her one final nuzzle, and then his fingers
slipped out of her, and moved away from her panties. Everything was quiet
for a moment. All she could hear was the sound of his rapid breaths slowly
returning to normal. Then the bed moved slightly. It's weight shifting
more than uncomfortably close to her face. A second later he was kissing
her, his lips molding themselves against her. She was horrified, almost
overcome by a reflexive need to recoil, but she stood her ground and
remained still.  Telling herself that this would be nothing compared to
what he would do if he knew she was conscious. "Soon." he whispered and
then he was gone the solemn sound of a metal zipper breaking the stillness
of the room. 
           "I may have to keep you a while if you're this hot before I'm
actually in you. I'll cleanse you with my sex before I release your
torment." He whispered. Scully could feel the air move around her as he
made his way around the bed. Remaining calm, Scully managed to stay
motionless as his steps signaled his exit. "I'll be back soon love,
hopefully you'll be awake. Then, we'll be together." The door clicked shut
as the lock tumblers turned. A moment later another door slammed and not
long after she heard a vehicle motor and the crunch of tires on gravel.
           Dirtied and disgusted, Scully wanted to cry. Opening her eyes,
she looked around. She wouldn't allow herself to cry. If he came back
before she managed to escape she didn't want the tracks on her face to
alert him to her consciousness. Frantically, she moved her bound hands
back and forth. They were tight, but the strength of her small hands
caused the soft leather to give a small amount. Her feet weren't bound, so
she moved them away of the bonds that had been holding her to the bed.
Flipping herself over she studied the leather for a moment. She might be
able to undo it.. Wriggling she managed to make her way up towards her
hands, a soft "Shit " escaping her lips as her forehead came into contact
with the hard wood pickets of the bed.
           Wrapping her mouth around the leather strap she gripped it
between her teeth and tugged at the knot holding it together. Glancing at
the door she stopped. Did she hear a noise?? A low meow sounded from
outside the bedroom window. Closing her eyes she held back the tears
threatening to fall. "Get it together Dana " came out of her mouth as an
order, and she began to assault the knot with renewed ferocity. 
           After a few intense minutes Scully could taste blood in her
mouth as she chewed at the knot. Finally, the leather loosened enough to
move her hands, she slipped one out with a tug, and with it's leverage
gone the leather went slack and her other hand slid out with ease. 
           A spark of Joy ran through her and she moved off the bed. Her
wrists stung as she rubbed at them, and made her way over to the door. 
Laying her head against it she listened for movement on the other side. 
He'd left. She'd heard him, but what if he'd returned. Satisfied
everything was quiet, she moved to the dresser looking for a weapon in the
sparsely furnished room. The drawers were empty except for a few pieces of
women's clothing. Undergarments, Scully determined as she held them up to
the light of the window. Closing the drawers carefully she moved silently
back to the door and listened again. 
           Still clear. 
           Making her way over to the window, Scully moved the heavy
curtain slightly and peaked out from between it and the frame from which
it hung. Her eyes automatically squinted from the bright light of a sunny
day.  Scully didn't know what time it was, but guessed by the brightness
it was late afternoon. She quickly turned the top latch with a faint
click. Slowly she raised the window and pulled at the bars. The feeling of
frustration along with fear rose in her gut as the bars held tight.
Looking out the window she didn't see anyone that could help her. The
closest house was several hundred yards away with no one in sight to hear
her cries for help.  Scully scanned the horizon for another residence, and
then noticed a van coming toward the house, quickly closing the window,
she frantically searched the room for anything she could use to her
advantage. 
           Finding nothing handy, she looked back at the leather tied to
the iron headboard. Moving over to where it hung she climbed onto the bed
again, careful to avoid the wet patch he'd left on the sheets. She was
beyond the point of no return now. Her movements had disturbed stuff in
the room. He would know she was awake so faking wasn't even an option.
Pulling at the leather until it was freed from the wooden post, she
figured that if she could overcome him, she would tie his hands behind his
back. Turning she took another almost frantic look around. He would be
here soon.  Noticing the table and chair, Scully moved over to them, and
picked up the chair. It was a cheap chair, but too heavy for her to
effectively lift over her head. Trying to remain calm, she pushed the
chair back under the table, and almost smiled when table wobbled. 
           Grasping the edge of the table flipped it over tugged at the
legs. One was painfully weak so she worked at it until the flimsy wood
gave with a dry crack. Brakes screeched as the van drew to a halt outside
the house. Her heart began to race. Carefully moving the curtain to catch
a glimpse of her captor, Scully's eyes widened and a gasp escaped her as
she recognized the man from the ferry. Quickly she moved toward the door
taking position behind it hoping to gain an advantage over him when he
returned.
           Footsteps in the hallway signaled his reentry to the house. She
waited until the footsteps stopped in front of her door. Her lungs sucked
in the musty air of the room as her respiration's increased. Adrenaline
was coursing through her as her body to tensed. The anticipation of the
upcoming confrontation was almost paralyzing yet somehow exhilarating at
the same time. Scully raised the leg over her head the leather strap held
firmly in her mouth. Then suddenly the door opened and there was no more
time for thought. 
           The wood of the table made a agonizingly heavy thunk as it made
contact with her captor skull. Scully wanted to jump for joy as the man
fell to his knees clutching his head. Scully brought the table leg down
again this time connecting with his back, with that he grunted and fell to
the floor. 
           "Bitch," Scully heard him groan. 
           Angered, terrorized, ferocious she wanted to swing her weapon
at him again and again. She wanted to kill him slowly and painfully. He
should suffer for what he'd done to her. No one would blame her. She
brought the leg down one more time and stopped, as he slumped against the
worn wood of the floor. She was an FBI agent second only to a doctor and
life was sacred. 
           She paused to see if he would move again, then stepped over him
to run for freedom. 
           He was lightening quick and grabbed her ankle as her foot
landed beside him. Scully fell to the floor flipping over and kicking him
in the chest. Another groan and two swift kicks to the man's ribs caused
him to let go of her ankle and Scully stumbled to the door still clutching
the piece of wood that had aided her in the escape. 
           She barely looked as she made her way down the dusty corridor
towards what looked like the front door. In an instant she was through it. 
Outside the van sat in a graveled driveway, and she ran to it looking for
the keys, her adrenaline high preventing her from feeling the cool air on
her exposed skin, are the sharp gravel beneath her bare feet. Scully
cursed finding the door to the van locked. Remembering the house, she
turned and ran through the field separating the two houses hoping someone
next door would be home. Looking back, she didn't see movement around the
house she'd just fled. Maybe he'd passed out. 
           The field was thick with thistles and weeds and they scratched
brazenly at her legs and feet as she made her way through it. "Hello? Is
anyone home?" Scully called through labored breaths. Reaching the front
porch she peered inside the house. Tattered curtains clung to the window
and there was no furniture inside the house. She tried the door handle but
it was locked. "Damn." Frustration evident in her voice as she climbed
down the porch and moved to the back of the house. All the doors locked,
and even if she did get in it would only be a trap for her if he came
after her. There was quite clearly no one living there, hence no phone. 
Frustration played havoc with her already frayed nerves, as she looked
around for another house. Her tension level rose, there was nothing around
but fields and forest. She walked to the edge of the empty house and
peered around the corner. A feeling renewed terror took her as the man she
saw her captor stumble to his van and unlock the door.
           Her eyes darted around trying to decide which direction to run
without him seeing which way she'd gone. Scully quickly darted into the
woods and hid behind a large tree as his truck barreled down the driveway
and headed in her direction. Without thinking, she ran deeper into the
woods, tripping over raised roots, and fallen trees.
           Scully looked back a few times to see if she'd been followed,
but the thick foliage prevented her from seeing more than a hundred or so
yards in any direction. Finally, she stopped for a moment to both gather
her thoughts and catch her breath. Bending over, she breathed as quietly
as possible at the same listening for footsteps. Faintly she heard a twig
snap. It was enough to cause her to bolt. 
           She had to find a road. If she did it would inevitably lead to
a phone somewhere. 
           'Mulder.' She thought running and jumping over obstacles in her
way, but she knew he couldn't help her. She had do this on her own, and
she would. Dana Scully had overcome worse in the past. Feeling a spark of
renewed strength, she spied a clearing in the woods. As she approached the
edge of the trees she slowed, carefully inspecting the horizon. Past the
fence surrounding the woods, Scully saw a road sign. *Great Meadows
National Wildlife Refuge* Under it read *Wayland 5 miles*. Moving through
a barbed wire fence she caught the filmy material of her nightie on a
prong.  She heard it rip, but didn't bother to look at it. It was the
least of her problems. It was a road. Not much of one, more gravel and
dirt than concrete but it would take her to where she needed to go.
           Scully ran in the direction of the town until she could run
anymore. The sun had begun to sink on the horizon and she feared exposure
if she didn't find additional clothing. Hearing the faint noise of a car
engine she stopped and strained to see if it was a friend or foe. Her eyes
widened as she recognized the shape of a van. Rushing for the fence again,
she slipped through and took refuge in the trees. Standing complete still
she held her breath, and listened as the van slowed.
           Knowing any kind of movement would expose her. And then surely
end her life, she flattened herself to the tree praying that God would
have mercy on her.
           Relief flooded her tense, tired body as the van crept past her
and moved out of her view. When it had been out of sight for a few
minutes, she moved again, This time staying in the cover of the woods. The
road was faster, easier and far less painful but she would wait until well
after nightfall before trying it again. A shiver ran through her,
reminding her of her almost naked state.  Rubbing her arms with her hands,
she forced herself to keep moving through the forest. Her eyes
continuously searching the road for the van. 

           					XXXXXX

Mulder stared at the mound of paper in front of him, Rehill had been
right.  They'd been searching for years and had amassed mere scraps of
information.  The file on his lap was at least a hundred pages thick but
it repeated the same information over and over. It was someone within the
government who had access and knowledge. They'd had a suspect years back,
a scientist by the name of Jim Falls, but he had died in a plane crash
over Arizona. With that occurrence the clues had run dry. Yet the murders
had continued.
           100 pages by 25 different operatives had turned up nothing. 
           He ran a shaking hand through his hair. Hours wasted and he was
no closer to Scully than he had been at the hotel. Mr. Rehill could have
duped him, not given him the whole file, but regardless of that fact
Mulder was sure that there was little else he could get out of the man. He
was probably long gone by now. His beautiful home now abandoned, given up
willingly for a life on the run. Despite the difficulty of living that way
it was still no retribution for what he had silently allowed to be done to
his children or the nation. While losing his daughter Jeannine was a
start, Mr. Rehill by no means had paid his dues. 
           Scully.... 
           She was out there somewhere. He could feel it. She wasn't dead
yet. He would know when that happened, wouldn't he? He would feel it. He
was sure. There was a connection there one that went beyond words and mere
emotions. Like a bonding of souls. He would know if the bright flame that
was Scully had extinguished. She was there somewhere and he would find
her. 

           Beside him on the seat of his car lay her gun. He picked it up,
it's weight was light in comparison to the gun he normally carried. It was
made for someone smaller, though it was still just as powerful and still
could kill just as easily. Tears clouded his eyes. He was at a dead end,
and there was little else he could do. Scully was out there and there were
no leads. She was on her own. Shoving aside the paper on his lap he tucked
her gun into his holster, and pulled the keys out of the ignition. Time to
go in. 
           Agent Sullivan had come out once since he'd pulled up in front
of the Boston office, but had left Mulder alone once he'd seen the haunted
look in his eyes. 
           Maybe they'd come up with some information from the hotel. A
finger print, a clue of some sort that would give away the killer's name. 
He opened the door and climbed out, a page from the folder floating
helplessly to the ground. He snatched it up and was ready to shove it back
into the folder when he caught sight of the picture. It was an old and
cloudy employee photo, but even distorted he recognized the man as someone
he'd seen "around". The heading under the picture gave a name to the face. 
Jim Falls, the dead scientist. Mulder's heart leapt. It was him, the
killer. He was alive. He'd seen him recently, on the street, in a passing
car. Somewhere... 
           He flipped the page over. There was an old address and a
picture of a farm house, Fall's former home. It was an unlikely lead, but
killers had a tendency to remain attached to certain things.
           Mulder eyed the address, Wayland, it was several hours drive.
He checked his watch. 6:00 PM he could be there by nine, but would that be
soon enough? He slammed the car door behind him and darted into the
building. A helicopter would be faster even with all the red tape
involved. 

Old Ghosts 5/6

Scully's adrenaline high waned as she edged closer to town. Dusk had set
and the chill in the air that caused almost as much discomfort as her
bruised and bleeding feet. All along the way she had been assaulted by
stumps and shrubs and other debris, and her now ached with each
consecutive breath. The van had passed her a couple of times still looking
for her.
	Somehow he had managed to hover around her almost as if she were
carrying a homing beacon. He'd move away sometimes for 20 minutes at a
time but he always managed to come back down the road and figure out
approximately where she was. She'd kept deep enough in the forest that she
felt minimally safe but she knew he was out there somewhere nearby,
waiting.
           Scully didn't know how far she'd traveled, but hoped she'd see
some form of life soon before she became swallowed up by darkness. She had
considered attempting the road again but his last pass had been with the
lights off, so she'd decided to stay in the relative cover of the trees.
On the road she would hear him coming but not before he saw her, that she
was sure of now. Stopping to rest for a moment, Scully searched the dim
forest floor for some type of weapon. Primitive as it might be, it would
be better than being caught without any form of protection. She caught
sight of a small spindly tree that would be sturdy enough for a spear. She
grabbed the base of the tree and tried to pull it out of the ground,
trying to keep any unnecessary noise to a minimum. The small tree gave way
under her movements and then it's roots finally released it from the
ground. With dirty and scratched hands Scully pulled as much of the bark
away from the end as possible to form a crude point. She broke off the
greenery from the top of the tree and broke it in half so she could use it
as a walking stick. Then she began her trek once again. Her thoughts
turning once again to Mulder. Did he know she was missing, yet? Did he
even care? Yes, she knew he cared, but the painful memory of his awkward
betrayal still assaulted her along with the thoughts of her partner. 
           Shaking her head, she tried to think about the autopsy she'd
finished before the abduction. Could this man be the same psycho that had
killed the girl they'd fished out of the water? Maybe he was the one
responsible for the waterfront deaths. Or had Dana Scully been just a
random victim for some rapist? There had been no way to determine whether
the victim had been sexually assaulted, but she had one thing in common
with the woman she'd autopsied, and that was the implant. 'God " She
muttered to herself, "You're beginning to sound like Mulder."
           Bringing her mind back to the present. Scully noticed the fence
end as well as the woods, in the distance she could see lights. Her hopes
lifted as she, once more, crawled through the barbed wire. 
           Scully felt more and more uneasy as she neared the town. She
hadn't seen the van a while which should make her breath easier, but it
could also mean that he where she was headed and he could waiting for her
just up the road with his lights off. It was not was an option she wanted
to think about. Maybe he'd given up she told herself. Perhaps he was gone
off to find another victim. Selfishly she hoped for the possibility, but
humanly she didn't wish her experience on anyone. Besides she knew. She
could almost feel that he was up there somewhere ahead waiting.
           She shuddered again remembering his breath on her body. Pushing
the thoughts aside, Scully searched her surroundings for any sign of the
kidnapper. Her instincts told her to find the first phone and call 911 or
find solace at the first home she found someone home. 

                                XXXXXXXX

           He felt the buzz in his head again, so he knew she was close.
It rose and fell as she drifted in and out of his range. It was funny how
he just knew that she was there, nearby. He could feel her presence grow,
along with the buzzing in his mind. He'd been taken many times as a child,
and he shared the same implants that his prey did. But his was different. 
He could actually feel another like himself. That was his talent, a skill
he was sure had been given to him by God to protect the world from the
upcoming invasion. Someone in the government was sacrificing the human
race for some other agenda and it was his duty to stop it. They'd taken
his love early on, and then returned him to her, changed and barren. He'd
killer her to spare her, and then set about making them pay by taking what
was valuable to them; the women, their breeding stock and their hosts. It
was a plot he'd discovered early on after his indoctrination into the
secret government world. 
           He had been someone at one time, a brilliant scientist. But
then he'd found out about the tests and the organism, and objected
strenuously.  So they'd taken her, his beautiful wife and turned her into
something recognizable but horribly wrong. This was his life now. He'd
saved plenty of money so when he's had his run in with the law he'd made
the decision to travel. There were plenty of victims all over the world
and he'd done them all. A martyr's work shouldn't be totally without it's
rewards. He smiled, most of them had been beautiful, and those that
hadn't, could be fantasized into someone else.
           Reality broke in, as his eyes relayed some sort of movement
somewhere ahead of him at the edge of the forest. She was there somewhere
in the darkness, possibly waiting and watching as he was. He'd looked for
the last hour frantically trying to cut her off from the nearest town. The
fiery redhead, was a smart one, and he cursed himself for being so caught
up in her charms to forget to bound her feet tightly. With each passing
minute his admiration grew for her. She'd gotten much farther than any of
his other victims, but would teach her a lesson for hitting him and
rejecting his cleansing. But first he had to catch her before, he could
inflict his punishment. The excitement and buzzing in his brain pushed him
forward. 

                                XXXXXXXXXX

           Scully wanted to cry out in joy when she saw the lights of the
first house. She pushed her tired, and painfully bloody feet onward,
fighting the fatigue trying to overtake her. The cool night air chapped
her lips as it passed into her aching lungs. She ignored the discomfort
and kept moving. There was no time to stop to rest. She ran up to the
front door of the house and knocked frantically on it, her breath raking
it's way into her chest. Looking through the window for movement, she
almost laughed at the sight she must have made. She probably looked like
an extra on the set of one of those Halloween films, with her tattered
night gown and a large spear in her hand.
           There was no answer, so she pounded again. Someone had to be
home. But no one came to the door. Cursing, she descended the steps and
ran around the side of the house, not wanting to lose hope just yet.
Reaching the back porch she hammered on the door there as well, but to no
avail.  There was no one home. 
           "Where is everyone in this town? At the damn Dairy Queen?" She
asked herself. "Oh.. That sounds good right now, Dana." Some frivolous
part of her mind put in and it was joined in tandem by the growling of her
stomach. She'd had a cold dry vending machine sandwich the night before
and a cup of stale coffee, to wash it down with. A feast it hadn't been at
the time, but right now she would have settled for the leftovers if given
the opportunity. All thoughts of food flew from her mind as she heard the
sounds of approaching footsteps. Turning around round her hopes were
dashed when it was a large dog waging his tail made his way to the bottom
of the porch. Exhaling the breath she was holding, Scully almost smiled
but the emotion wasn't in her. 
           'Where's your master fella.'' The dog barked as he wagged his
tail. 'Some watch dog you are.' She turned back to the road, but heard the
sound of a car engine. Scully crouched searching the darkness for moment. 
If it had been the homeowners they would have pulled into the driveway. It
had to be him, she through a strained look over her shoulder and slipped
back into cover of the woods behind the house. 

                                          XXXXXXXXX

           He'd heard a dog bark near the dimly lit house through the open
window of his van as he crept down the road. She was so transparent in her
search for a rescuer. He listened more intently with the engine off. The
dog didn't bark again. 
           No matter, she'd be trying to get to the nearest shelter or the
nearest phone and her options at this point were limited. He'd grown up in
this town. Smiling to himself, he hit the gas peddle. He knew where to
wait for his prize. 

                                          XXXXXXXXX

           Scully was moving through the woods again, just inside the tree
line. She was far enough back so as not to be seen, yet still fairly close
to the road. Fatigue threatened to overtake her with every step. She was
exhausted. It had been only two or three hours since she'd escaped but to
her muscles, and feet it felt like a week. Everything hurt. The thought of
her deep warm sud-filled bathtub passed through her mind. The press of it
against her skin and the comfort of it's scented water surrounding her
sounded very much like heaven at this point.
           Soon she told herself. Now wasn't the time to lose focus on her
goal. The closer to town she came, the more the lights of the town broke
through the darkness. She called on her remaining strength to bring her
closer her destination. It was just up ahead, the welcoming and familiar
red white and blue lights of a small AAMCO gas station and convenience
store.
           A feeling of relief and gratitude flooded her body when she
spotted a phone booth near the side of the store. Stealing a quick look
around, she noticed little or no movement inside the store. And a swift
inspection if the parking lot revealed a single decrepit motorcycle. Maybe
he did give up. Scully told herself. Steeling her nerves she stepped out
of the darkness of the trees and then sprinted across the pavement towards
the booth. For a moment she entertained the idea of going inside and
asking to use the phone there, but if she was still being tracked or he
did manage to find her, she'd be putting whoever was in the store in
danger too. Her conscience wouldn't allow it. The man who'd taken her was
probably desperate by now. She'd seen him, and knew where he lived. He had
nothing to lose and probably would think little twice about killing an
innocent bystander. She'd call 911, and then slip back into the woods and
wait for the police to arrive. 
           Reaching the booth, she stepped in and pulled the door close
behind her. The thick metal flooring was ice cold but by now her feet were
so sore and bloody that the coolness felt good against the pain. Leaning
the stick she still held up against the glass in front of her, she picked
up the receiver. A deep hum reverberated through the line. And at this
particular moment it was like music to her ears. 
           Checking over her shoulder once she quickly dialed 911. 
Nothing.. The town must be too small for the service. She was trying to
remember her calling card number when she heard a noise behind her.
Turning around she let out a gasp of horror at the sight of her captor
pressed up against the door. His sinister smile sent cold chills down her
spine. He had a gun in his hands, and it was pointed directly at her. 
           "Hang up the phone Agent Scully," His voice was flat. 
           Dropping the receiver, Scully quickly grabbed the stick and hid
it behind her back. Then backing up against the phone she shook her head
in defiance, while her free hand felt it's way along the keyboard. A small
beep sounded from the phone as she hit what she thought was the '0' key,
but it went unnoticed by her captor as he through open the door.
           "You've been a very bad girl." He told her, and then motioned
with the gun for her to step out of the booth. Hesitantly she moved out
onto the pavement, waiting for just the right moment . It came almost
immediately when the distant sound of laughter broke the silent night air. 
He turned to look over his shoulder in the direction of the noise and
Scully took the opportunity to embed the sharp end of the stick in his
stomach. He groaned and fell back as the wood pierced his skin. On reflex,
she brought her bare, sore, bruised foot up to knock her gun from his
hand.  His equilibrium was compromised so severely by her assault he fell
to the ground with a thud. Blood ran out of the wound in his belly and
over the fingers now gripped around the base if the spear. 
           Scully scrabbled for her gun as her assailant desperately
reached for her with one hand, all the while he was attempting to pull the
stick out of his gut with the other. 
           She grabbed it first, and backed away from him. Her arms
anchored in front of her. "Freeze you son of a bitch. You're under
arrest,"  Scully shouted. Her heart was pounding in her chest. 
           He stood on wobbly legs staring at her with a look of confusion
and pure disbelief. He took a step toward her. 
           "I said freeze or I'll shoot," Scully warned him. 
           "You won't hurt me will you Phyllis?" He asked. "I only tried
to free you from the torment of what they did to you.' He pleaded, and
moved another step closer. 
           Scully took aim and fired into his shoulder, and he jerked back
but didn't fall. His eyes came back to hers thin and angry. He lunged for
her and she fired again. This time he stopped dead in his tracks as blood
oozed out of his chest and spread along the front of his gray shirt. He
was dead before he even hit the ground. 
           Dana Scully didn't hear the shouts from the attendant who'd
emerged from the gas station. When she saw he was no longer in any shape
to move, she her strength suddenly dissipated. "Oh God..." Escaped her
mouth as her legs suddenly turned to mush. Unable to stay upright any
longer, she slid down the wall of the phone booth, and with the weapon
still clutched in one hand she began to cry. 
           In a matter of moments a flurry of police and local sheriff
cars appeared in the parking lot with a squeal tires, and a chaos of
lights and sirens blaring. Scully felt a hand cover hers as it took her
weapon. She looked up as a blanket was draped over her shoulders. 
           "You all right miss?" A kindly man in his mid fifties lifted
her to her feet. "I'm Sheriff Wentman." 
           "I'm Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI," Scully mumbled as
she pulled the blanket tightly around her. "Please Call my partner, Agent
Fox Mulder, he'll verify my identity." She rattled off Mulder's number as
strong hands guided her towards a waiting ambulance. She looked back at
the still body on the payment. "He could be a serial killer I've been
investigating." She told the policeman. He nodded as Scully assisted onto
the stretcher. "I'll need to do an autopsy as soon as I get cleaned up." 
Her voice was weak, and the sheriff smiled the look on his face conveying
the fact that he thought she was delirious. 
           Another uniformed cop stepped into the telephone booth and
picked up the receiver. "Hello, Sergeant Cassidy here." He listened. "Yes,
we have the situation under control thank you for alerting us." He hung up
the phone and moved to the bystanders for questioning.

					XXXXXXXXXXX
           
           Mulder drove well over the speed limit to the local hospital,
he'd arrived at the police station mere minutes after the call for help
had come in. The dispatcher had relayed enough of the details that he'd
been able to determine that the victim was in fact Scully, and was told
that she was in her way to the hospital. Not much happened in Wayland so
Scully's stabbing her attacker to death was the big news of the evening. 
	It hadn't taken much effort with the bored housewife type that
called herself a receptionist. He'd been able to commandeer a small police
vehicle and directions to the hospitals in only a short time. 
	Pulling up in front Mulder eyed the squat red brick building with
little or no interest. His heart was beating wildly in his chest. They'd
said she was a mess over the radio, but just how badly injured they'd been
unable to tell him. To someone who frequented large city hospitals it
looked like little more than a clinic, but in this case beggars couldn't
be choosers.  Bringing car to an abrupt halt in front of the lighted
'Wayland City Hospital' sign, he sprinted across the parking lot shoved
the emergency doors open with a smack. The waiting room was virtually
empty yet his frantic arrival brought stares from those who'd taken up
residents in the Emergency department's standard issue orange plastic
chairs.
           "I'm Fox Mulder, you have my partner here?" He asked making his
way over to the front desk, his badge already in full view.
	The graying black woman behind the counter grinned. "Small, red
hair, about 5'3"?" 
	"Yes, where is she??" He demanded. His eyes searching the small
trauma area sectioned off from behind the desk.
	"She's in trauma room two." She caught Mulder's arm as he made his
way past her. "Sorry, I can't let you in there just yet." 
	Mulder shook her off and tried to force his way past her. 
	"Sir." She grabbed his arm once again, her next words grounding
him like a two ton lead weight. "They're running a rape kit on her right
now." 
	His blood ran cold. "Rape?" The word fell painfully out of his
mouth, and he shook his head in disbelief. "No." He muttered and tried to
make his way by the woman keeping him from Scully. He had to see her. To
know she was all right... 
	"I understand your worried, sir." The nurse tried to reason with
him. "If you'll wait right here I'll see if they're done, and if she wants
to see you right now."
	He was beyond moving at this point anyway. Rape??? His mind had
finally wrapped itself around the word. Just the thought of someone
hurting Scully like that, but it was part of the guy's MO.. He could have.
Probably had...  Tears built up behind his eyes. Not Scully. She didn't
deserve it. For most women who'd undergone the experience, life was never
truly the same. It stole a part of them that they could never get back.
	"She'll see you now, sir." The nurse had returned. This time when
she took his arm it was to lead him to the room.
	Inside Scully was sitting up on the side of the bed, a nurse and a
woman doctor hovering around her. "Hey." He opened the door and entered,
drawing a tired smile from his partner. He was overcome by the urge to
pull her close to him and never let her go. But he didn't know if that was
what she wanted or needed, after what might have been done to her.
	There were soft material bandages wrapped around her two tiny
feet. They traveled up her legs to the edge of her hospital gown and from
the looks of it beyond it. There were red angry looking abrasions
decorating her arms and he winced along with his partner as the nurse
tried to dress them.
	"Are you okay?" He asked from a distance, unwilling to move any
further into the room unless invited. 
	"I'm fine Mulder." Classic Scully he should have expected that
that would be her answer.
	"The nurse said that they were running a... a......" He wanted to
say rape test but the words couldn't make it out over his tongue. "Some
tests.." 
	Scully's eyes fell to the floor. Her entire body ached and they
were about to cover ground she didn't have the strength to get into at the
moment.  "I'm fine. Really Mulder, he didn't rape me. At least it doesn't
look as though he had." She let out a small cry as the nurse moved behind
her and dabbed some iodine on a particularly deep gash. "Can you just take
me to a hotel somewhere so I can get some sleep?" 
	"I'd like to keep you for observation for just one night." The
Doctor piped up. 
	Scully shook her head, "No, I just need some tylenol and a bed."
She held her hand out to Mulder, and he obliged her by moving across the
room and taking it. "Can I just borrow some scrubs to leave here in?" The
tone of her voice left little room for argument. She wasn't staying.
	Using Mulder's hand for support she gently lowered herself from
the stretcher. Her feet hurt a lot more now, than from when she had been
brought in. Warm and no longer numb she was being fully assaulted by her
injuries.
	"I'll get you some scrubs, and slippers." The nurse left, carrying
her small dressing tray with her.
	Signing a release form and passing it to Scully the doctor made
her way over to the door, "If you're sure you want to leave." Scully
nodded her head. "Then I'll leave a prescription for you at the front desk
and I'll call you with the fluid results as soon as we get them back Agent
Scully." 
	"Thanks.." Scully studied the floor tiles again. The tests had
been humiliating, but necessary. She just wanted to put it out of her
mind, to make it all disappear, but this was something she knew would be
with her for a while. Raped or not she had been violated in the most
intimate of ways. She felt dirty, sickened by it all. The memory of him
touching her flooded back and she quickly put it out of her mind.
	Mulder watched as the woman left and then brought his attention
back to his partner. "I need to go to the bathroom and then I'll get
changed and we can leave." She gulped back the bile sitting in her throat.
"I'll just be a minute." Scully told him her eyes following his, he was
looking past her to a small table beside the stretcher. On it lay the
remnants of her small pajama. "He took me from my bed." She informed him. 
	Mulder's hand came up and caressed her neck, as his fingers moved
up to cup her chin. He applied only a small amount of pressure but it was
enough to bring her around to look a him. In her eyes he saw barely
contained tears. He gently brushed at one as it began a slow track from
the corner of her eyelid. He took her in his arms.
	For a moment he thought she would resist, and she had but it had
been fleeting. Then she buried her face into his chest and began to cry.
It was heartbreaking, and had the guy who'd done this to her not already
been dead Mulder would surely have killed him himself.
	A few moments later the tears subsided and Scully found herself
lost in the sensation of being held by Mulder. For a short time she felt
safe and secure, and then the memories of the beautiful brunette surfaced
through her tired mind. She pulled away from his embrace missing the
warmth as she wiped her tears and threw up her defenses. 
           "I'm fine Mulder. A bit bruised and battered. " She backed away
from him. "but I'm fine." She looked at the ground. "I want to do an
autopsy on him, tomorrow if possible.." 
	Mulder interrupted, "Scully leave this for someone else okay? I'll
find us a hotel for tonight, and tomorrow we head back to DC. Someone else
can pick up the ball on this one." He reached for her hand again but this
time she moved out of his reach.
	She backed towards the washroom door, as the nurse returned with
the clothes. "Tonight I'll get some sleep, no argument. But tomorrow I
want to do the autopsy."
	The nurse handed her the scrubs. "Large is the only size we have,
right now."
	"That's okay. Thanks.." She clutched the clothes to her chest her
eyes begging Mulder not to fight her on this one. 
	"Take care." The nurse left the room.. 
	"You don't have to be the one Scully. Someone else can do it.
They'll send us a report. The case is closed. He's dead." 
	"But there's something strange about this man." She told him. The
pieces would come together but only after she'd rested, then she would be
able to think straight.
	"We'll talk about it tomorrow." Mulder rose and walked over to the
phone and punched O, as Scully headed to the washroom. "This is Agent
Mulder. Can you recommend a hotel close by." 

                                         XXXXXXXXXX

           The county morgue reeked of death and formaldehyde as the
darkly clothed men slipped in silently. They checked the night attendant,
then quietly opened the drawer where Jim Fall's body lay. After a moment
of acknowledgment, a body bag was unfolded on the floor. They then lifted
the dead weight and wrapped it in the bag. Well-trained in this sort of
game they silently slipped out of the morgue with the evidence. There
would be nothing left for Agent Scully to tie the murders to, no hint of
military experiments, no one to point a finger at. Jim Falls would just be
remembered as the Psycho he was. 

			XXXXXXXXXX

	It was the 9 am ringing of the phone that rudely startled Mulder
awake. 
	"Mulder." He said his voice still sluggish with sleep. He was
exhausted, drained. He hadn't slept well after they arrived at the hotel.
Scully had been distant and quiet while answering his questions, her
simple yes and no answers lending an air of finality to the conversation,
he'd loaned her one of his shirts and shampoo since she had nothing of her
own. 
	For almost an hour after he left her, he'd listened through the
door. Much of that time she'd spent in the shower. He could almost picture
her trying to scrub away her memories, whatever they would be. She'd said
she hadn't been raped, but the asshole had done something to her he could
tell. And victims, assault victims generally complained of feeling dirty.
Mulder had listened as she'd prepared for bed wanting badly to hover over
her, and only when he was satisfied that she was asleep, did he climb into
his own bed. Then he lay for hours thinking just thinking about what had
happened, and how he'd almost lost her again. 
	"What the hell?" He asked loudly as he sat up in the bed. "What do
you mean the body's gone?" His voice became angry and louder. "Don't you
have security around that place? Have you dusted for prints???" Mulder was
interrupted and listened for a moment, then hung up the phone. He pinched
the bridge of his nose dread sitting heavily in his stomach. This was not
news he wanted to break to Scully.
           Reluctantly, he rose from his bed and knocked on Scully's door. 
He didn't hear a response so he opened the adjoining door

                                XXXXXXXXXXX

           She stepped out of the car on shaky legs moving slowly to her
apartment door. Mulder followed close behind, but knew not to help her
unless it was warranted. His concern for her mental state overshadowed the
injuries on her body. Warily he moved up beside her already knowing what
her answer would be before he even asked the question. "Are you sure you
want to be alone tonight? I can stay if you want." He offered.
	Recently she would have welcomed his concern, not now. She felt
confused, angry, frightened as she'd faced death's calling once again.
Another threat to end her life too soon before she had a chance to live a
normal life. Opening the door she stopped and spoke not turning around. "I
don't want you here Mulder, I'd rather you go home. I'm exhausted........"
Her voice trailed off as she felt her emotions rise and a lump form in her
throat. 
           "I just want to make sure you're okay." His soft soothing voice
caused her emotions to crack another inch. She had to get away from him. 
Seek consolation within herself. Safe. Uncomplicated. Trusting. Scully
felt she couldn't trust him with her innermost fears and sadness. Not
after.....  Closing her eyes she swallowed before answering him. 
           "Mulder, I'm...... fine." 
           He knew she wasn't. She knew she wasn't, but how could he
collapse the steel barrier between them? He sighed. God she was stubborn. 
He heard the lock click, turning the door handle she paused. 
           "I'll talk to you later." She picked up her bag , and pushed
the door inward all the while torn by her need for him to leave and desire
for him to stay. Scully hated feeling so weak once again, maybe she would
call Karen Kosseff, and make an appointment. It' had helped before when
she needed someone to talk to. Then there was her mother. But she didn't
want to hear her mother telling her she was overreacting again. She sighed
aloud. It wasn't Mulder causing her sadness, well not all of it. She
needed to break away from the dark life she'd led for too long. The world
would have to save itself for all she cared at that moment. 
           Wearily she crossed the threshold of her apartment and dropped
her bag against the wall. Not wanting to look back and possibly catching
Mulder's gaze, she kicked the door with her foot. It didn't shut. Sighing
heavily she turned around, and Mulder stood in the doorway glaring at her. 
           "I'm not leaving until you allow me the opportunity to tell you
why........ what happened." The pleading face wasn't working on her
tonight. She narrowed her eyes. 
           "Mulder, I'm in no mood for your lengthy explanations, and I
really don't want to hear this tonight. Besides I've already told you that
what you do.........."
	He stepped toward her cutting her off. "Just let me explain,
okay?" His voice grew louder with frustration.
	She wanted to stomp up and down, and tell him to leave. She didn't
want to cover this ground. But on a deeper level she did want to know why.
As much as she hated to admit it to herself she needed to know.  Turning
and making her way slowly across her living room floor , she through her
hands up in exasperation. "Fine. you can explain while I change. But
Mulder, don't expect too much."
	Her voice was cool and level as she moved the rest of the way
towards her bedroom and closed the door half way. "Talk Mulder." Her
muffled voice gave him an inkling of hope. He walked her door and leaned
against the wall. He needed all the support he could get this wasn't
something he'd wanted to face or talk about for a long time. 
 	"When I left Oxford I came home full of sadness. Phoebe...... well you
know what she did." He knew she didn't want to hear the story of Phoebe
again., and he didn't want to tell it. It was just another failure in a
long string of poor emotional investments. "I grew up with Haley. When I
came back to the Vineyard she came to a dinner party my mother had." He
paused for a moment listening for movement through the door. The
temptation to peek into her room was overwhelming, but he couldn't risk
her anger or the possibly of her throwing him out. He continued. 
           "Haley was everything Phoebe wasn't. I thought I could make up
for every failure and disappointment I'd caused my family by marrying
her."  He thought for moment, this wasn't going very well. "I convinced
myself she was everything a wife should be. Kind, loving, family oriented.
I loved being apart of her family. A real family." He sounded pathetic ,
even to his own ears. "We eloped right after I finished at Quantico. We
were happy.  She was fragile, like my mother. I felt needed. Wanted. I was
a protector.  Something I'd failed to do with Samantha." He paused again.
"Scully?" 
           "I'm listening Mulder." Her voice was soft through the solid
door. What could she be doing? Maybe she didn't want to face him. Sighing
to himself he started again. 
           "I began to leave her at home alone. You know what it's like. 
I`d be called out of town, or just end up working late. She hated being
alone. Then one night I got called out to a crime scene. It was out of
town and I was gone all night. It was a case we'd been working on for
weeks I had to go despite her protests. She'd gone out for a walk after I
left and was attacked on her way back to our apartment building. When I
arrived at home, her family had already beaten me there. They took turns
telling me what failure as a husband I had been. They threatened to take
her away from me if I didn't take better care of her." 
	The stinging memory of their words still hurt him. He paused for a
moment swallowing the lump in his throat. 
	"I stayed close to home for the next few weeks, determined that I
could make it up to her. But she withdrew from me little by little. One
day, I found her bags by the door when I arrived home. Her sister picked
her up and she divorced me a month later." He shifted on his feet the
uncomfortable silence was unnerving. 
           "I felt...... abandoned. Alone. A failure once again. I buried
it deep inside me, and then went crazy. I worked nonstop on every case
they would give me. No matter how much information flooded my mind, I
couldn't shake the sadness that weighed on my heart." He felt the pain in
his chest and breathed deeply to calm the anxiety he felt. 
	"I wouldn't allow anyone to speak of her again, erecting a shrine
in my mind and heart to her. I even removed all reference to her in my FBI
files.  As far as everyone was concerned, she and our marriage never
existed."  Leaning his head on the wall trying to feel closer to his
touchstone on the other side he continued. "After a while the pain dulled.
Then Diana came into my life. I knew her from the Academy. She was
intelligent and shared my interest in my new found focus. The X-Files. We
became...... close. In the end......" Mulder knew Scully didn't want to
hear about his failed relationships. He waited a moment to hear a
response. Nothing. He couldn't stopped himself he turned and looked in the
room. Scully sat on her bed staring at the floor, the sad, weary look
displayed on her face pained him to the core. He moved in front of her and
knelt for eye to eye contact. She remained unmoving, trance like... 
	Unable to look him in the eyes she stared at her hands fidgeting
slightly.  "I understand your pain Mulder. And in an odd way, I understand
how you would bury this inside you." Her voice was quiet and flat. "But it
doesn't explain why I found you......" She rose needing to put space
between them.  He allowed her the space. As she moved to the window and
stared out at the light smatter of rain that had begun to fall. "Mulder,
you are the most complicated man I've ever known." Her back was to him.
"It's none of my business why you chose not to tell me about her. I guess
there was no need.  But......" She took a deep breath. "It didn't soften
the blow of finding you there, with her. I know we're not a couple. We're
... We're. I don't know how to describe what we are..." He tried to speak
but she held up her hand to stop him without turning around. "But I
thought I meant more to you Mulder. Honestly, after your words in the
hallway of your apartment I thought we were more than............" She
paused. "Than just friends. Not lovers or anything like that, but we share
a bond, it's something strong.  And I though you trusted me and that I
could do the same with you. But you ran off, and ditched me again. People
who care about each other shouldn't do that . You gave me no reasonable
explanation other than an I'll tell you when I get back - maybe. " 
           She turned around to look at him for the first time since
arriving at the apartment. "Did what you said in the hallway mean anything
to you? Did it have one ounce of truth to it? Or was it just a Mulder,
Psychologist, maneuver to keep me from leaving? To keep me following you
in your crazy pursuits or hunches?" 
	He noticed the sarcasm in her voice. She stopped him again as he
opened his mouth to speak. "Look, I'm tired and feel like shit. I need to
sleep and recover from my latest brush with death. If you don't mind, I'll
ask you to let yourself out. Thank you for explaining what happened."
Mulder didn't realize his heart could ache more than it already did. He
reached for her as she brushed by him grasping her wrist. 
           "Scully....." She whirled around jerking her hand away. 
           "What Mulder? What do you want from me?" Her voice laced with
anger. Mulder flinched and rose slowly then sighed as he gathered his
thoughts. 
           "Scully I realized, maybe too late, that Haley isn't what I
want. I can't apologize enough for what happened. I don't even understand
it myself. It was....... like....."  He didn't know how to explain it. 
           "Mulder, don't try to explain you being attracted to another
leggy brunette. Whether she be your ex-wife or whomever, it doesn't
concern me anymore..." He interrupted moving closer. 
           "But it does. I care for you. You're as involved in my life as
I am in yours. I want to let go of these ghosts that I have buried deep
inside me for so long. You have helped exorcise these demons in me one by
one. It's our quest, our search. I made a mistake, and I know I hurt you.
I am sorry. But I swear to you, as I said before, I need you, you make me
whole....." She felt her resolve crack, and stopped him from continuing. 
           "Mulder, I know you care for me, but this can't be all there
is.  There has to be more somewhere. This is my life." She waved her arms
at her surroundings. "I come home to an empty house. I eat a solidary
dinner almost every evening. I live in the shadows, Mulder, barely eeking
out anything more than a purely superficial and empty life. I need to
reexamine all of this. I have to think about how many times I'm going to
put my life on the line for this. " Her voice became soft as her eyes
dropped. Dana Scully wasn't a woman to reveal her vulnerability. 
           "You don't have to be alone Dana....." Mulder moved a step
closer hoping he could comfort her.  She backed up as she huffed a breath
and her lips tightened as she shook her head. 
           "Mulder I'm not your needy ex-wife or ......." When she looked
up his eyes were narrowed in anger. 
           "Maybe it would improve your attitude if you did admit that you
need someone. " He wanted to shake her. To make her want and need him,
instead he tried to bargain. "It's wonderful to know someone needs you,
wants you to be their strength. Sharing each other's strengths as well as
vulnerabilities, is an integral part of any relationship. Haley... Haley
may have been needy, I don't deny that, but she also made me feel like I
was important when she leaned on me for strength. It's something you ought
to try Dana. You might enjoy it. You don't have to be a martyr......" His
voice laced with frustration at trying to make the woman before him
understand he wanted to share that type of closeness. She was harder to
break than any perp he'd ever interrogated. 
           "I'm not a martyr, Mulder. Just because I don't sit there
sniveling in a corner waiting for some man to come in and save the day for
me, or open up and sleep with every man I meet... ........" Her anger grew
as she spoke, and she wanted to slap him. 
           Mulder nodded his head as if finally understanding something,
"Maybe you should try it Scully, you might like it.. I'm sure you can find
another candidate at the tattoo parlor. I finally got it. You don't want
to allow anyone to get close to you. One night stands are more your
flavor, aren't they? That way no one will have time to break through your
icy facade? His sarcastic voice made her snap. She slapped his face as a
reflex. They both stared at each other in shock. 
           "Get the hell out of here." She screamed at him. Knowing he'd
completely blown it he stepped closer, apologetic and trying to make
amends. When would he ever learn to keep his mouth in check? 
           "I'm sorry Dana," Mulder reached for her face with his hand,
Scully merely looked into his eyes with a blank stare, then turned and
walked into the bathroom closing the door.  When Mulder heard the lock
click he knew she had locked him out, possibly for good. 
           He dropped his head and sighed heavily, his thoughts teetering
precariously between breaking the door down, or leaving? If he could only
make her understand that he loved her, why was it so hard to make her
understand that she didn't have to be alone any more? He moved to the
bathroom door. 
           "Scully..... Dana, why is this so hard? We know each other so
well. This relationship shouldn't be so difficult?" He didn't here a sound
from the other side. "I'm sorry. I lost my temper. You frustrate the hell
out of me sometimes. I didn't mean what I said. I know you're not cold and
I know you're not the type for one night stands." He paused to gather his
thoughts. "Can't you need me as much as I need you?" He could see this
wasn't working. Maybe the straightforward approach was his last hope. 
"I....... I love you. I couldn't tell you about Haley because I was
terrified that you'd think I'm a failure at all relationships." Mulder
hoped the words would cause a reaction from her, but silence surrounded
them like a tomb. 
           Behind the door Scully silently wept sitting on the floor
leaning against the door. Had she heard the words correctly? Did he just
say he loved her? Did he say he needed her, that he wanted her to need him
as much as he needed her? God was he so blind as not to see she needed
him, too. She wanted him, and had loved him for such a long time. The
tears streamed down her face remembering the beautiful woman who'd shared
his body with him, how could you love someone and do that, how could you
say you love someone and then run off with a few hastily uttered words.
Her parents taught her when you love someone, no one, and nothing could
shake that love. No ex-wife, long sea travel, nothing came between her
parents.  But then again Mulder didn't grow up as she had with a secure
family unit.  If she did take the chance and forgive him, would she have
to worry every time a wrinkle formed in their union? A sick feeling of
doubt and insecurity flooded through her.
           She felt as threatened as the first time she'd met Diana
Fowley.  Diana waltzed into their lives with her intentions displayed for
all to see. She wanted a place in the x-files and had her sights set for
Fox Mulder. Dana remembered passing the windowed door where Mulder and
Diana were holding hands during the Gibson case. Then after his confession
in the hallway of his apartment, she felt reassured that they shared a
real partnership. His words left her feeling as thought there was nothing
that could tear them apart.  Shaking her head and wiping her tears, Dana
sighed as she rose on trembling legs. 
           "Dana? Are you okay in there?" Mulder's muffled voice, thick
with fear, sounded through the door. 
           "I'm fine." She tried to sound convincing to herself as well as
the man on the other side of the wooden door. "Can you leave Mulder, I
need to be alone." She pleaded with him. "I've heard what you said....."
Her voice faltered. Breathing deeply she hoped he would just go. 
           "Let me call your mother. You don't........" He didn't want her
to be alone after the events of the last 24 hours. 
           "Mulder, I don't need you mothering me." She knew as it left
her mouth it was the wrong thing to say. 
           Sighing, Mulder leaned his head on the door. "That's what I'm
trying to make you understand, you think you don't need anyone, Scully."
He paused. "But everyone needs someone. Why can't you allow yourself to
need me, anyone, but especially me? Don't you think it's time that you
allowed yourself to share your fears, your hopes, and vulnerability?
Mulder's voice sounded lost and sad.
           Silent tears were falling again as Dana listened to Mulder's
tender words. She reached for the door, but her mind wouldn't allow her
hand to turn the handle. Why? Was her pride worth losing the man she
loved?  Was the picture in her mind stamped forever on her brain and the
hurt to severe? She wanted to tell him that she needed him. She had needed
him for a long time in her personal life not just professional. Dana
needed him to know she wasn't always the strong person he thought, that
she felt alone, helpless, and scared sometimes. That there were times she
would have died just to feel his touch, or to have him truly hold her. 
           Just as her brain gave permission to her hand, she heard the
door close and knew she'd lost her chance to tell him. Dana closed her
eyes and cursed herself silently for being so weak. Taking a deep breath
to steady her emotions, she opened the door half hoping he would still be
waiting on the other side. But Mulder wasn't waiting, he had left without
another word. 
           Dana sat for over an hour in the darkness of her apartment.,
numbed by the events life had jokingly thrown her way. She looked at the
illuminated clock over the mantel. It was too late to call the bureau for
someone to talk to. Thinking again, she reached for the phone. and hit
auto dial. 
           "Hi Mom?" Dana listened. "Yes, I'm fine, no, Mulder's okay. 
Listen Mom. Can I come over? I know it's late but......." She smiled sadly
as her mother assured her she wasn't going to bed anytime soon. "I'll see
you in about an hour."  Dana put down the phone and lifted herself off the
sofa. If anyone knew how to untangle the mess inside her head, it was her
mother. 

Old Ghosts 6/6


	Dana pulled into her mother's driveway. She'd thought continuously
about what she'd tell her mother. Should she share all she felt or just
the facts about Mulder and his latest escapade? She walked wearily up the
steps to her mother's front door, and adjusted her track pants. Her legs
and feet were still more than a little tender, so she'd chosen loose flats
and pants for comfort and to hide the bandages from her mother. Ringing
the doorbell she waited for the porch light to click on. 
	 "Hey Mom." Dana hugged her mother as she entered the foyer. It
felt good to have the safe, and loving arms of her mother around her.
"It's late."  She whispered into her mother's shoulder. "Maybe we should
talk tomorrow."
	"Nonsense." Margaret Scully interrupted her. "Let's go get some
thing to drink." She led the way into the large family kitchen. The warmth
and security of the room radiated, reminding Scully of some of the more
treasured moments they'd shared there. It was her family's most important
part of the house. So many problems, and dreams had been shared at the
table or lounging around the counter. Bill had announced his wedding plans
one night while Dana and her mom had been doing the dishes after a
Thanksgiving supper. 
	Dana felt at ease here, like nothing could touch her or harm her
as long as she was surrounded by so many wonderful memories. 
	 "Cocoa, or...?" Her mother reached into the fridge and pulled out
a chilled bottle of white wine. `Something stronger?" Dana was rather
surprised at her mother.
	 "Yeah, sure." She took a seat at the table as her mother moved
around.
	"I thought this would make it easier to spill your guts." Her
mother teased. 
	 Dana's eyes widened and her mouth opened to counter her mother's
accusation. But how could she? That was exactly why she was here. "Am I
that transparent?" She asked as her mother set a bottle of wine and two
glasses on the table. 
	 "A mother knows dear. I could tell by the tone of your voice on
the phone that there was something seriously wrong." She poured both
glasses full of the liquid. 
	Dana picked up her glass and took a healthy sip from it. The cool
fruity liquid slid perfectly down her throat and pooled in her stomach.
She could already feel the mental warmth it provided, and her tension
began to ease. 
	"Just what the doctor ordered?" Margaret Scully eyed her daughter
patiently as Dana took a couple more sips, and then nodded. 
	 "Before our office burned, Mulder had an acquaintance reappear in
his life" Dana stared at the wall opposite where she sat. "I felt pretty
sure no one could come between us. I mean there wasn't any written
agreement, but I thought that we had a strong partnership."  This wasn't
beginning the way she'd hoped. 
	 "Her name is Diana Fowely." She took another sip. It was much
easier to pour your heart out with the wine dulling the ache, in her
chest. "Diana was an old acquaintance." Dana took a deep breath. "No, she
was a former lover of Mulder's." She took another drink of wine. 
	"Did Fox tell you this for fact?" Margaret studied her daughter's
tightly held features of pain and sadness. 
	"No, not at the time, but some friends of Mulder's told me she was
his *chickadee from the
 academy*." She looked at her mother. Margaret nodded as she took another
sip of her wine. "Anyway, Mulder wouldn't tell me anything about their
relationship, but it didn't take much effort to put two and two together
from vague answers they supplied me with." She faltered and took a deep
breath followed by another sip. "You should have seen them, mom. They
interacted so easily. It was very clear that they had been extremely
close.  Then one day, I found them holding hands and staring into each
other's eyes like long lost lovers." Dana took another sip. 
	 "Oh Dana." Her mother reached across the table and squeezed her
daughter's hand. Dana shook her head.
	"No, I kept my cool Mom. I walked away before they caught sight of
me and kept going on things were business as usual. I sat in my car for a
few minutes trying to sort out the feelings I was experiencing." She took
another drink. It was becoming easier to talk with each numbing mouthful. 
"I felt so .. I don't know... You see she's so much like Mulder. She
believes like he does." Dana chuckled. "She agrees with him much more than
I ever have. She makes it easy for him. Supports him, in a way I simply
can't." Looking at her empty glass, she reached for the bottled and filled
it again. "I hated myself for feeling so jealous, at the time. I was like
some floundering female wanting to guard her territory." She stared at the
thick yellow liquid in her glass. "You know where Mulder is concerned I've
always tried to keep my personal feelings at a distance." 
	 "Dana, feelings are natural. The idea is to go with them, enjoy
them and learn from them. That's why God gave us emotions to begin with."
Her mother assured her, knowing it was difficult for her daughter to
expose the insecurities and vulnerabilities that most women recognize as
commonplace.
	 Dana's mouth turned up into a tight smile. "I'm not your normal
female am I Mom?"
	Margaret let out a chuckle herself. "But you are honey. No matter
how you try to pretend that you are above the simple emotions everyone of
us possesses, you are a woman." Her mother's words were only above
whisper. 
	 Dana nodded her head. It was becoming a bit difficult to hide her
sadness as the wine worked on her stoic attitude. "I was surprised when
Mulder didn't run to her side when she was shot. He never acknowledged
their past relationship to me even after the fire. She recovered, he
visited her a couple of times, at least that I know of, but he didn't act
as if she was an important part of his life anymore." She took another
sip. "Mulder is such a complicated man. I think I have him figured out,
then he unfolds another petal. "
	Her mother looked at her with a quizzical look. Dana smiled. "On a
case we were on..... Well, Mulder was on. I told him he kept unfolding
like a flower." She suddenly frowned thinking of Phoebe Green and the kiss
they had shared in the hallway of the hotel that she had to witness.
	Her mother noticed the frown. "Another unhappy thought Dana?" 
	Dana nodded her head and took another deep breath. "Anyway, after
the office burned and we were reassigned it seemed like we were becoming
friends all over again. The pressure of the X-files didn't loom around us
as much as before. I could tell Mulder was bored, but we took our
assignments seriously." She sighed. "Then they dropped bomb. Someone set
us up to take the fall for something we had no part of and they decided to
split us up by assigning me to an office out of Utah. It was the perpetual
nail in the coffin for our partnership."  Dana took a large gulp before
she began the rest of the story. She hadn't told her mother of this yet.
"When they told me I would be reassigned, I went to tell Mulder that I had
resigned. I didn't want to work for the bureau if they wouldn't allow us
to work together. " She stared at the patterned wallpaper remembering his
exact words. "I told him I held him back and that he would be fine on his
own. It almost killed me to walk out his door. When he ran after me and
told me I was the one who kept him honest and that he didn't think he
could continue without me, or that he wanted to." Dana looked at her
mother. "He told me he owed me everything and I owed him nothing." She
felt a lump in her throat.
	 "Sounds like a confession of love to me Dana." Her mother smiled
as Dana stiffened in her chair. 
 "Well, the confession was only the beginning. He reached for me and
pulled me closer as if her were going to kiss me." 
	 "And?" Her mother asked. 
	 "A bee stung me and I ended up in Antarctica almost frozen to
death." She looked at her mother. "I haven't told you all the sorted
details, it's classified." Dana took another sip. 
	Margaret Scully stared at her only daughter in horror and
disbelief. 
	Dana shook her head and squeezed her mother's hand. "I'm fine,
really! I just can't talk about it." 
	Looking less than pleased Dana's mother nodded. 
	 "After everything was straightened out and the X-files were opened
again, it was business again as usual. We never discussed the almost kiss
in the hallway of his apartment building."
	She was interrupted by her mother shaking her head. 
	"What?" 
	 "For two people as intelligent as you two are, you can both be
dumber than dumb." Dana's mouth fell open as her mother wiped her eye
where a tear had escaped. "I'm sorry honey, but you two have such tightly
held emotions.  You are both so afraid your private lives will interrupt
your professional lives that you lock out so much joy that's only an
admission away. It's no wonder you are both lonely."
	Dana pondered these words for a moment, then opened her mouth and
hesitated before she closed it again. "That's why I'm here Mom. I want to
know how to need someone. I have always tried to be so self sufficient,
which is partly because I am afraid to allow anyone to get too close to
me.  It only hurts in the end if you lose them. " She hesitated a moment
remembering the sadness of Emily. "But you know , after the cancer, and
after Emily came into my life, I realized I do need someone in my life.
For the short time she was with me she filled a void I never new existed.
I want to feel that way again, and Mulder does that for me right now, on a
limited scale. Sometimes I think that if I could just let go, and tell him
how I feel... " She shook her head and rose from the table. "I just....
I'm so scared. Almost everyone I have ever loved has left me. Look at dad,
Melissa, and Emily..." She moved to stare out the back window. 
	 Margaret felt the pain of her daughter's loss and the confusion
she was suffering through., and reached for her daughter's hand.
	 "I feel so messed up some times, Mom..." Tears were welling up in
her eyes. "What if I allow myself to love him, and he leaves or does
something foolish and gets himself killed." Her voice was barely above a
whisper as she focused on the trees in the back yard. Margaret wanted to
enfold her daughter into her arms and protect her from this pain, but knew
that would defeat the purpose of Dana's visit. She had to allow her
emotions out and if it was through this type of pain, then so be it.
Margaret waited until Dana gathered her strength
	"I hate this.. I hate being afraid." Dana turned around and looked
at her mother. The alcohol had loosened the foundations of her emotional
wall, and the tear s began to flow. 
	 Margaret couldn't stop herself from moving to her daughter. "Oh
Dana, it's completely normal to need others. Dying is a natural part of
living.  You can't shut yourself off from feeling, Dana. Loving and
hurting are different sides of the same coin. " She hugged Dana as she ran
a comforting hand over her sobbing daughter's hair trying to heal the hurt
as only a mother could.
	Dana stood there for a few minutes relishing enjoying the solace.
Then Margaret pulled away and went over to the cupboard. "Would you like
some cocoa now ,honey?? " 
	"No thanks.." She pulled herself together, and moved back to her
seat again ready to continue. Picking up her almost empty glass, she took
the last sip of wine and found her courage again. 
	 "After our office was refurbished, everything seemed to be back to
normal. We connected again. The closeness came back between us that had
been missing for so long was back. On one of our cases, I bet Mulder that
he was chasing something that was a waste of time." It brought a bit of a
smile to Dana remembering the bet that seemed years ago. "The bet was my
way of breaking the wall that had built up between us again. Between our
emotions I mean, not our partnership." Dana tucked lock of stray hair
behind her ear. "We were set to spend the weekend together. I had hoped it
would afford us the opportunity to talk about what had almost transpired.
I thought if I could convince Mulder to put aside his hunt for the truth
for a few hours, maybe we'd be able to relax and......" She didn't
continue feeling embarrassed with her intimate thoughts. 
	 "You were hoping he would finish the kiss right Dana?" Margaret
Scully smiled at her daughter and put the kettle on the stove. She
wondered how they had hidden these feelings from each other for so long.
Wanting to laugh at the sight of them tearing into each other like they
were starving to death made her suddenly miss her precious Bill again.
Putting aside her pain, she focused on Dana. 
	 "Well....... I uhm...... She smiled. "Yeah, I guess that's what I
was hoping. I sometimes feel like I'm going to explode when I'm around
him.  There are days I just want him so badly." She stopped abruptly at
her confession. Margaret knew it was the wine loosing her daughter's
tongue.  She wanted her to feel at ease. 
	 "I know how you feel honey." Their eyes met and she felt the loss
of her father, not only as a parent, but as her mother's husband. 
	 "Oh Mom, I'm so sorry." 
	Margaret shook her head. "Don't be Dana. I have many wonderful
memories of your father." They were silent for a few moments as they
remembered the man they both loved. 
	 "We were finishing up paperwork on the case last week and they
phone rang. Mulder was summoned to Skinner's office. He disappeared. I
found a note when I returned to the office that told me he was taking a
case and requested I not join him." 
	 "I remember, you told me about it." Dana nodded. 
	 "When I left your house the last time, Skinner called and summoned
me to Boston to do an autopsy on a murder victim. I rushed home and then
had to run to the office before I had to catch my plane. When I went to
the basement, I found an envelope addressed to Mulder. It was supposed to
be sent to him via an agent in Boston, so I took it with me thinking I
could drop it off at the field office for him." 
	She reached for the bottle of wine again, needing to dull more of
the heartache the next part of her story would bring. "I tried to drop the
envelope off at the field office, but it was closed. So I ventured to the
island and thought I'd drop it off and leave."
	 Her mother's brow lifted. 
	 "Okay, I was hoping to talk over the case with him." Caught at her
own game of denial Dana studied the table top.
	Her mother's brow smoothed out. 
	"When I arrived at his father's house, I was met at the door by
this woman. She was beautiful mom. Tall, thin, long brown hair, Just the
way Mulder likes them." She took a large gulp of wine the sensation now
doing little to assuage the pain. She was wearing Mulder's shirt."
	Margaret gasped. 
	Dana looked up to see her eyes large and dark. "Needless to say, I
was hurt... Really... hurt." She felt tears resurfacing. "I thought we
were on the verge of becoming closer and I find him post coitus." She
stopped. A solid lump was forming in her stomach.
	Margaret remained silent. 
	 "I should have known not......." The tears began again. 
	Margaret reached for her daughter's hand. Her heart was breaking
at the pain her daughter was feeling. "Then, I was kidnapped.. And well
everything is okay... I got away..." 
	"Kidnapped??" Margaret didn't know if she wanted to hear another
story about her daughter being in danger. Why couldn't she just practice
medicine and marry a pediatrician? She sighed inwardly knowing that that
wasn't who her daughter was. Yet, she could hope couldn't she? "Who was
she Dana?" 
	Dana wiped her eyes with a tissue her mother handed her. "She was
Mulder's ex-wife."
	Margaret gasped loudly enough for Dana to hear. 
	"My thoughts exactly." 
	 "When? You didn't know about this either?" Margaret asked. 
	 "No, not a word. He has so many facets, so many secrets. I thought
he shared himself with me but I realized that there are sides to him that
I don't even know about. It's so tiring, sometimes." She sighed and rose
from her chair and padded over to the cabinet . Pulling out a glass she
filled it, and took a mouthful. She needed some water to wash down the dry
lump in her throat. Drinking the rest of it quickly she moved back to the
table. 
	"So have you talked to him about what happened?" Margaret forged
ahead. 
	 "I wasn't in the mood for explanations Mom. He was cruel to me.
Yelled at me for invading his lair, so to speak."
	 "Feeling guilty huh?" 
	 "I guess." Dana took a sip of water and wiped her eyes again. "He
tried to explain, he told me about Haley. That's her name, Haley." She
added it to her ever growing list of names she didn't care for along. That
mad five so far, she rhymed them off ;Phoebe, Bambi, Detective White,
Diana and now Haley. "He told me he didn't tell me about Haley because he
was afraid I'd think he was a total failure at relationships." 
	She looked into her mother's eyes. "He said he slept with her
because she needed him. That I don't act like I need him, and he seems to
believe......" She shook her head. "I don't know what he thinks."  Dana
cradled her head in her hands staring at the table. 
	 "So Fox tried to explain, and you wouldn't allow yourself to
forgive him?  Right?"
	Dana nodded her head. "Sort of.." 
	 "So is that it? You're just throwing away over five years of
growing together because of one indiscretion from a scarred lonely man?"
	Dana's head snapped up. "Mom, he slept with a woman that broke his
heart, then yelled at me for it.  I don't think I'm being unreasonable
here." Dana rose again and moved to the window again. "I've pulled his ass
out so many predicaments I've lost count. I've proven to him time and time
again that I'm on his side. I've shown him for the past years that I love
him by sticking with him, and believing in him. Why do I feel you're
blaming me for this?" Dana ran her hand through her hair and stared out at
the night. 
	She'd come here for comfort. Now her mother was betraying her too.
She wanted to gather her things and run as far away from everyone as she
could at that moment.
	Margaret knew she'd touched a very sore spot. She rushed to Dana's
side.  "Honey, I'm not blaming you. Fox was wrong for what he did. I'd
have to hear his side of the story, but I think he told you the problem.
He needs you to need him. And it's not really the need at all but the
trust that you would be showing him if you were to allow him to see your
vulnerabilities.  That's very important to a man and a woman." She knew it
was time for a confession of her own. "Dana let's go into the den, I need
to tell you a story."
	Leaving the empty bottle of wine on the table they walked silently
into the den and seated themselves on the sofa. Margaret could see the
tension in Dana's shoulders and knew it was time to defuse some of her
rampant thoughts. 
	"Before your father and I were married he had a long sea duty
facing him.  We'd planned to marry as soon as he returned. I loved your
father with all my heart. I wasn't looking forward to the long separation
knowing what I did about the islands they would visit. I'd heard stories
of women wanting to escape the small islands by seducing lonely service
men hoping to lure them into marrying them so they could escape the
boundaries the small islands." She hoped this wouldn't tarnish Dana's
memory of her father. "He was gone for a long time. We wrote each other
religiously, but it was difficult to court each other from long distance."
She sighed remembering the lonely time. "Anyway his tour of duty was
extended for another three months after he'd been gone for six already. I
was growing impatient, but cherished every word I received from him. I
could tell the separation was wearing on him as he told stories about the
men on board becoming irritated being away from heir wives, girlfriends
for so long. But I believed my Bill would be strong. I never doubted his
love for me." Margaret paused again feeling an old pain, long buried. 
	 "Mom, what happened?" Dana put her hand on Margaret's. 
	 "I didn't hear from your father for a month. I wrote on a regular
basis, but no answers came. I was beginning to panic. I called the base,
but they could only tell me he was not in any danger, but that was all.
Finally the day came when I received a letter. He wrote a short, rambling
letter about where they had been, etc. I could tell there was something
wrong. He didn't mention why he hadn't written and I was so thrilled after
reading that he was finally coming home, that I put it out of my head."
Margaret smiled at her remembrance. "I was so excited the day he came off
that ramp. I ran up to him and threw my arms around his neck and kissed
him repeatedly making sure he really was there, and I that wasn't
dreaming."
	The smile vanished. "I could tell something wasn't exactly right
with his embrace, but I thought maybe he was trying to hold onto his
professionalism in front of his mates. We went home and for the next few
weeks everything seemed to be back to normal. Then came the day we were to
marry. He came to my house that morning at 6:00, and confessed to me he'd
had a......" She paused. "They had been close to some fighting and to make
a long story short, he had a brief fling with one of the survivors." She
waited for Dana's reaction.
	"Mom." Dana gasped. Not her father, Captain Bill Scully the man
she'd thought was perfect in every way.
 	She felt a knot form in her stomach. "Now Dana, let me finish. Your
father told me the whole sordid story. I sat there patiently for him to
finish. I was shocked. Numb. Brokenhearted. I felt betrayed. My heart was
broken on my wedding day. I walked away from him as he sat in my living
room. He followed me and turned me around to face him. He told me he loved
me and that he'd never do anything to hurt me again. My mind whirled with
emotions. I was totally confused. Could I trust him, again? Did I love him
enough to allow myself to take a chance with him after what he'd done?" 
	 Silence rained over the room. Margaret waited for Dana to process
the information she had just related to her.
	 "What happened then?" Dana asked. 
	 Margaret smiled a tender smile. "You're here aren't you?" 
	Dana grinned. 
	 "I thought about it and talked to my mother. I almost backed out
of the wedding only hours before it took place. My mother helped me make
the decision to take a chance on your father. If he hadn't been an
honorable man, he would have told me after the wedding, or not at all. I'm
not excusing him for what happened. But he told me that loneliness and the
pull of being needed over took his common sense. It took me years to fully
trust him when he went out on maneuvers. To ease my mind, he took a
different command that would ensure he wouldn't have to be away from us
for long spans of time again." She squeezed Dana's hand. "The question is,
do you love Fox enough to forgive him and allow yourself to need him?" 
	Dana remained silent. 
	Margaret knew they were both becoming weary with the late hour.
"Dana, let's get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning." She rose
and bent over kissing Dana lightly on the cheek. "I'm glad I took another
chance to love Bill Scully. He was a good man." She walked toward the
stairs.
 	Lost in her own thoughts she spoke them out loud. "If I forgive him, how
can I be sure I can trust him in the future?" Dana looked up as her mother
turned around.
	 "We learned to talk to each other. From the day we were married
there was always open communication between us, no secrets. There wasn't
anything we couldn't discuss." She smiled. "Communication is what a
relationship and marriage are based on. It's just as important as love
Dana. You have to have openness, trust, and be willing to accept the
person you're committed to, as they are. " Her smile turned into a frown.
"You and Fox don't talk to each other do you?" She waited for a reply.
	Dana simply shook her head. 
	Margaret turned again to the stairs. 
	"Thanks Mom." Dana said softly. 
	Her mother turned with a smile again on her face. "Anytime honey,
that's what mom's are for." She climbed the stairs leaving Dana with her
thoughts. 

	Scully sat in silence for several minutes her mind winding down
from being overtaxed. With a deep exhausted sigh, she rose and slowly
climbed the stairs, willing Fox Mulder and the world to let her sleep for
once. As she climbed the stairs her eyes scanned the pictures of the years
gone by . She felt safe here in her home away from home. Dana hoped that
safe feeling would yield her a night without nightmares. 
 
  XXXXXXXXX
 
 6:00am
 Margaret Scully's Home
 
 Scully's eyes moved rapidly back and forth under her eyelids. Lost in a
deep sleep her was psyche trapped in the thick of a nightmare surrounded
by horrors from her past. Alone and fearful she fought.
	She could slay these demons, Couldn't she?? She didn't need
anyone's help, did she? "Fight Dana." She told herself unconsciously. "You
don't need anyone to fight your battles." Her logical thoughts were
interrupted by a vision. She couldn't see who, but someone reached out her
from the blackness. The image was obscure yet some how comforting and
caring. "You don't have to be alone, it's okay to need someone." Scully
tried to move her mind beyond the terror filled images plaguing.  Seeking
the calm voice just beyond her reach. The vision grew brighter, and then
faded again, why couldn't she see who it was. If she could just capture
the vision maybe she would be free from this nightmare. 
	 Again horribly marred faces from her past invaded her vision. She
couldn't go anywhere, no matter how hard she shoved pushed and fought to
break free, moving beyond it was impossible. The more she struggled the
more ensnared she became. Just ahead the soft voice grew more faint as it
repeated. "Dana, just
 reach out, I'm here." But the faces and the other chaotic voices were too
strong. "I can't." She said with her desperation growing, and her
determination waning. She was too tired to fight what seemed to be her
fate. Scully felt herself collapsing under the weight of her burdens and
she began to sob. "I can't do this on my own. I need help. There's too
much sorrow. I can't hide it from myself anymore." Shame washed over her
at the acceptance her weakness. The control she'd coveted so long
dissolved. Years of holding in her fears, disappointments, failures. Dana
Scully realized she wasn't able to withstand the solidarity of being an
island any longer.  Her feelings, though well hidden, had surfaced. Her
tears streaked her face as she gasped between the sobs wracking her body.
She felt as if she were dying in her own prison surrounded by pain and
suffering.
	 Suddenly the voice grew louder and the air eased around her. The
fear seemed lessened by the presence. She looked up and breathed the word
she knew would save her. "Mulder." 
	 Scully woke with a start, and a scream caught in her throat as she
realized where she was. Looking around her old room she relaxed into it's
familiarity. It was just a dream she whispered to herself, no frightening
faces, no fear. Yet it's residue had left her more than shaken. Leaning
back into her pillows she caught the first flashes of daylight peeking
under the window shade. Twisting her head around, she looked at the clock
- 6:30 am. Sighing, she raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. 
"What a bizarre dream." She said to herself. Sighing Scully threw back the
covers and climbed out of bed. Her sleep was gone for the day . Moving
slowly down the stairs Dana yawned, and rubbed her eyes. A warmth washed
over her and she smiled. The path she was taking was innately familiar. 
Many mornings through out her youth her and her siblings would stumble
into the kitchen for breakfast with the family. A pang of sadness made her
heart clench as she remembered family members who wouldn't be at the
table. She stopped in the middle of the stairs looking at the family
pictures . Their content ranging from Scully as an infant right up to the
last one taken right before Melissa decided to disappear for a few years.
Scully touched the happy pictures, and remembered laughter during the
photo session, Bill had been trying to look so proper in his uniform and
Melissa had scoffed at his arrogance. Through her entire childhood Scully
had been caught in the middle of her brother and sister. As she touched
the picture tracing the frame as if she could feel the love from the
close-knit family that once existed here. Her mother just entering the
foyer from the kitchen caught sight of her.
	 "Sometimes I sit on the stairs and stare at the pictures. It
brings comfort to me remembering the happy times we shared." Her voice was
soft.  Scully looked toward her mother as she dropped her hand from the
picture, "You miss him a lot don't you?" Scully took a couple of steps
down the stairway. 
	 "Everyday." Margaret answered. A moment of silence passed between
them.  Margaret didn't want to start the day in a blue mood. "Would you
like some coffee?" Scully noticed the warm smile hiding the lonely woman
of a moment ago. 
	 "I'd love some," Scully answered allowing the memories to remain
in the background. She had enough sadness in her life at the moment to add
additional grief. "How about one of your famous omelets?" Scully asked as
they made their way to the kitchen. 
 
  XXXXXXXXXX After a large breakfast only a mother could make, Scully went
up stairs to shower and dress for the day. She'd just finished slipping
into her blue jeans and soft cotton sweater when the familiar shrill of
her cell phone, broke the relative quiet of her room.
	Thinking it was Mulder, she stared at the phone a moment, unsure
of what she should do. She wasn't ready to talk to him yet. She needed a
little more time and some space to sort out all the confusion in her head.
Picking up the device she fingered the send button an extra moment before
finally depressing it. She tentatively brought it to her ear... "Scully." 
	 "Agent Scully." She let out a breath of relief at the sound of the
voice on the other end. "I'm not interrupting your day am I?" 
	"No Sir. What can I do for you?" She waited for his response. 
	 "I know you've been through an ordeal." He sounded more than
hesitant. He was almost regretful. 
	He didn't know the half of it. She'd told him only what was
absolutely necessary. The assault , the way the sicko had touched her and
fondled here was something she'd kept secret even from Mulder. The
scratches and cuts on her legs were healing nicely. She'd taken he
bandages of this morning in the bathroom and left them open to the air so
they could dry and scab. It was still a little painful walking but for the
most part everything was fine, except for one gash on her back that still
throbbed. 
	 "I'm fine Sir." 
	"I hope you are. I have a favor to ask of you." A sense of dread
shifted through her. Scully wasn't ready for an X-file just yet, an x-file
would mean Mulder.. 
	 "Since I know you won't take any time off, I've decided to give
you an opportunity to put some distance between you and work for a week."
His voice was more relaxed and friendly. 
	 "Sir, I can assure you I'm fine......." Scully defended herself. 
	 "I'm positive you are. This assignment is a conference between the
CDC in Atlanta, several high profile American Hospitals and the military.
They'll be discussing control of infectious diseases, and I'd like you to
be the representative I send. I had assigned another pathologist, but he's
stuck with his head in the toilet as we speak, so I though of you. It's
still work but it might give you a chance at a little R&R." Skinner paused
waiting for her answer. Hoping he sounded sincere and also hoping she
wouldn't find out that he had actually unasked Bill Monterose. He knew by
the quiver in her voice when she'd talked to him the evening before that
she was in desperate need of a break. He also knew she wouldn't take one,
so this was his way of making her rest, despite herself.
	 "Where is the conference Sir? When do I have to leave?" Scully's
mind was already racing ahead to what she should pack.
	 "Charleston, South Carolina. You need to leave tonight." He looked
at the brochure in front of him of the resort on the Isle of Palms. Very
impressive, he thought. "I'll send the information, your ticket and
brochures about the conference in a couple of hours, if that's agreeable
with you." He added waiting for her reply. 
	 "Yes Sir, I'll be happy to attend the conference. Skinner noticed
her voice sounded almost chipper. 
	 "Thank you Agent Scully, I'll inform Agent Mulder." 
	 "Thank you Sir." Scully felt relieved not having to interact with
Mulder yet. She disconnected the phone as a smile formed on her face. She
had heard about Charleston and the southern charm of the area. It might be
just the perfect place for her to relax and enjoy something other than the
usual workload she shared with Mulder. She speculated on why she had been
Skinner's next choice. Monterose usually attended these conferences, and
if he was sick Tamara Riley filled in. She wondered if he'd heard about
the rape kit they'd run, or maybe he'd heard about the conflicts between
she and her partner? Had Mulder requested this? Or was Skinner just trying
to give her a sorely used break? Shaking her head, Scully decided not to
read anything into it.

 XXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
 Arriving at her home in just under 2 hours, Scully had just pulled her
bag out of the trunk of her car and made it to the bedroom to unpack when
the doorbell rang. Making her way to the door peered out the small
porthole to see a young man with a package in his hands. 
	Slipping the lock out of it tracks she opened the door and signed
for the envelope. Passing the guy a tip, she kicked the door shut behind
her and walked toward her couch. Inside it was a color brochure, airline
tickets and a convention badge identifying her as the FBI representative. 
	 Putting down all the items but the brochure, Scully' perused the
small pamphlet, her eyes widening at the beauty of the area. The coats was
rich with white sandy beaches, and Palm trees. A yatch club boasted tall
sailboats and an ocean view.  "Nice place." She sighed and closed her eyes
her mind wandering along the shoreline. The resort looked fairly new. The
caption read *recently renovated*. Flipping to the back of the brochure
she noticed it was a few years old. "Must have been renovated after
Hurricane Hugo." She said to herself. It had been a devastating storm that
had leveled much of the area. Scully thought for a moment, was this
hurricane season?
	She scolded herself, more learned paranoia. No, it wasn't until a
month or two before threats of storms would besiege the area. The brochure
also showed pictures of historic Charleston and it's
 southern charm. "Might be a nice change of pace." Scully reached for the
airline ticket to confirm her departure time then checked her watch, and
rose to go gather some fresh traveling close. On the way past it she a
blinking light on her answering machine silently indicating someone had
called her. 
	Punching the button the familiar voice of her partner broke the
air.  "Scully, I've been called back to the Vineyard to finish up on the
Falls case. Skinner tells me you're going to Charleston. Ya'll have fun." 
Scully smiled at his attempt at southern speech, "I'll see you when you
get back. If...... if you need me, call me." She understood the meaning of
his words and sighed. 
	 "I'm terrified to need you anymore than I already do. That's what
you don't understand," Scully spoke to the empty room. 
 
 XXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
 Mulder arrived at his father's house mid-afternoon, he'd made an
appointment to meet a real estate agent at 4:00 pm. Needing to put his
past behind him and rid himself of the demons that had plagued him for
years.  Selling suddenly seemed like the only answer.
	He still had the summerhouse in Quononchontaug, and as far as
places go it didn't house as many ghosts and bad memories as the house in
West Tisbury did.
	Everywhere he turned painful recollections assaulted him. Early in
his child hood they were happy enough but they became sad and scary all at
once after his sister disappeared. Not to say that the family had ever
been truly a happy one. All through out his childhood even from his
earliest memories there had been ab uncomfortable and nerve wracking
tension running just under the surface. Memories of his father's death,
his less than healthy childhood, coated the house with pain much like a
thick sheath of old and faded paint. Then there was Haley and their time
as lovers, newlyweds and then virtual strangers. Then there was his most
recent memory of Scully standing in the doorway with the stricken look on
her face. How many screw-ups could one man accomplish in his short 30+
years? Mulder was convinced he'd past his allotment. 
 A knock sounded at the door as he busied himself cleaning up the rooms
before the real estate agent arrived. As he walked to the door and threw
it open fully expecting the elderly sales agent he'd talked to on the
phone.
	Instead a Doe like set of brown eyes greeted him. 
	 "Hello Fox." Haley spoke softly with a smile. 
	Mulder felt his stomach sink remembering the last time she arrived
unannounced. 
	"Haley, I thought you'd be gone by now. " Mulder's flat voice
caused Haley's smile to fade. 
	 "I wanted to talk to you, before Dad and I go on vacation, so I
called your office and they told me you had to return to Boston. I took
the chance you'd be here." She knew it was a weak alibi but she didn't
want him to know she'd paid the neighbor $100 to call her if her returned. 
	 "It's not like my office to divulge my itinerary," Which he would
check when he returned. 
	 "I...... I told them I was calling for your....... mother." Her
eyes dropped to the ground feeling guilty for using his mother as an
excuse.
	"I see. What do you want Haley?" His voice as low and fraught with
dread. 
	 "Can I come in Fox?" She looked around. "I feel funny standing in
the doorway." Haley's voice had taken on an almost pleading tone.
	Sighing Mulder stepped aside and allowed her to pass by him. Then
he closed the door and leaned against it waiting for her to begin talking. 
	Haley looked around the living room before meeting his eyes. In
them she saw none of the familiar warmness, she'd come to expect..
"Fox...." She pushed her hair behind her left ear. "I wanted to thank you
for helping find Jeannine's killer......"
	Mulder interrupted her, "I didn't find him, my partner was
abducted by him and she escaped and later killed him." His tight voice
made Haley nervous.  Never had she seen Fox Mulder act as cold to her and
it unnerved her.
	 "She must be a strong person." Trying another tact. 
	 "Yes, she's the bravest person I know." The reference to his
partner brought a warmth to his voice causing Haley to winced. This wasn't
going as well as she'd hoped. 
	 "Haley I'm pretty busy here so if you have something to
say......." His voice faded out as he met her pleading eyes. "What do you
want from me Haley, is this another attempt to seduce me? Why are you
here?" Mulder was growing agitated and impatient at her presence. A
presence he craved for so many years. 
	 "Fox, I wanted to apologize for....." her voice cracked, "for all
the pain I've caused you. My father told me some things. I was so blind
Fox. I didn't realize I was being manipulated. I didn't see clearly as I
do now."  Tears streamed down her face. "But..... but when I saw you
again, I knew." 
	 Mulder's eyes narrowed. "Knew what Haley?" 
	 "I knew I still loved you. I've missed you all these years. I'm so
sorry I left you. I never married because somewhere in the back of my mind
I always thought you'd return and take me home. Then...." She sniffed.
'Then when you were here and I needed you, it was like we'd never been
apart."  She moved closer to him. "We were good together Fox. Remember the
way our bodies moved together the other afternoon? It was like old times.
Full of passion, and love." She moved closer as her soft voice attempting
to seduce him, once again.
	As she reached for him he grabbed her wrist. "No Haley, it wasn't
like old times. It was a needy fuck that's all. You needed me and I needed
to be needed by you. Plain and simple."
	She pulled her hand away as if burned. Her eyes flared at the
rejection.  This was new to her. It was something she'd never experienced
from any man. 

	 "What? Is it that redhead? What does she know about you? Are you
sleeping with her too?" Her sudden change in mood amused Mulder. A smirk
formed on his face. 
	 "Haley you have no idea what kind of a woman Dana Scully is, nor
will you ever come close to being half of the person she is." 
	 "What makes her so special Fox?" Haley's defiant voice evident by
her angry features. 
	 "I trust her with my life. She's intelligent, warm and caring.
She's never lied to me over the five plus years I've known her and she
accepts me for who I am. I owe her my life, and stupidly I risked all that
for a ghostly memory and convenient fling with you. Whom I at one time
thought I DID love. But you're nothing like the woman I am in love with."
Mulder no longer cared how much he hurt Haley. An uncomfortable silence
passed between them. 
	 "I guess there's nothing I can say to change your mind?" Haley
asked looking at her hands.
	 "No. We're in the past Haley. If you'd stayed with me when we were
married I'd still love you to this day. But....." He let out a huffed
laughed. "I am glad you did what you did. If you hadn't, I would never
have had the chance experience what I have with Scully." There was a
conviction in Mulder's voice he hadn't heard in a while. He was free from
Haley's clutches, now. He'd found true love in Dana Scully, and hoped with
time she would need him as much as he needed her. "I need her Haley,
like....... Like I needed you. But you walked out on me and that is
something Dana has never done. No matter what has happened I could always
count n her to be there for me. Except....." He stopped
	 "Except for you indiscretion with me?" 
	Mulder detected a slight smirk on Haley's face as he nodded.
Silence rained again over the living room. 
	 "Then I guess there's nothing left to say is there?" Haley asked. 
	 "No. I guess not." He offered no additional openings for
conversation, and indicated the door. It was an invitation for her to
leave. Haley was no longer a haunting and shame filled memory. 
	Haley wiped her eyes realizing she didn't have an inkling of a
chance with her ex-husband. She paused at the door, on the way out. "I'm
sorry Fox.  Really I am."
	He nodded. 
	"Take care of yourself. I hope you find happiness." Her voice was
soft.
	 "Thanks Haley, I..... I hope you're happy too." Mulder's voice was
sincere. It was true. He wished her no harm and as he closed the door
behind her, he felt a sense of peace flood his mind for the first time in
many years. Why had he held onto the past for so long? Why did he always
hold on to things unhealthy until they almost destroyed him? 
	Mulder looked around him, just checking to see if everything was
clean enough for showing. He
 knew the property wouldn't be on the market for very long. He'd had
offers to sell it several times after his father died. The amount they
would be putting it up for was more than reasonable for a home on the
vineyards. No it wouldn't take long to sell at all. 
	Mulder hadn't thought much about what he'd do with the money. Buy
a house of his own?  Was he being a little too confident? Maybe so he
thought, but hopefully he could convince Scully he was trying to put the
demons behind him, and wanted to spend his life facing the future. And he
hoped that future included Dana Scully because even though she was
fighting it right now , he knew they belonged together. 
 
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
 It had been three days since Dana arrived at the coast of South Carolina. 
The weather typical for summer, in Charleston. It was warm, humid, breezy
but pleasant. Mornings were spent strolling on the beach, followed by a
light breakfast with fellow attendees and then a four-hour lecture about
new techniques in disease control. Scully smiled as she remembered the
interaction period where questions were allowed, she had stumped more than
one speaker with her questions and insight on some of the things she'd
seen with the X-files. Staring out at the rolling waves from the comfort
of her hotel room she pictured Mulder's face. He would have been amused at
the sight of the gaping scientists, after she'd explained about
retro-virus and how she'd saved her partner's life. They had asked her to
be a key speaker at next year's conference.
	Mulder, just his name warmed her. Stepping out onto the balcony
she absorbed the beauty of the sun slowly descending into the ocean as a
late evening breeze swirled around her. She and her partner had had a few
interesting conversations over the last couple of days. In the beginning,
he'd made a call to her about the Jim Falls' case, or lack there be of
evidence in it. The military or whatever part of the government had done a
flawless job of cleaning up after themselves. The Boston office had ruled
the missing body and serial related deaths closed, due to pressure being
exerted by someone in Washington. Skinner was cutoff from any information,
and Mulder had given up when Mr. Rehill refused to speak with him again. 
Shortly after he and his daughter had left on an extended vacation. The
case was solved in the eyes of the local bureau and that was all that
anyone cared about. The perpetrator was dead and they were satisfied.
	In one of the conversations her partner had asked if she wanted
him to have the guys look into it further, but she'd told him no. She very
much just wanted to put it behind her and forget the trauma she'd been
through.  The fluid tests had come back negative indicating no semen
found. There had been no trace residue of latex or spermicide so it seemed
that Fall's hadn't done anything more to her than what she'd consciously
experienced at his hands. Not that it had been a cakewalk for her but the
test results had brought a fair measure of relief. She still felt dirty
sometimes when her mind allowed the moment to drift back to her. But the
occurrences were less frequent they it had been the first few days. Scully
could tell Mulder's mind was whirling with questions, when she told him to
let it go, but he merely agreed and told her that if she needed him to
call.
	 Scully had thought about what it would be like to truly need
someone as complicated as her partner. The last time she'd openly admitted
she wanted to be close to someone, it had been to the social worker about
little Emily. 
	 Opening herself up to anyone much less Mulder wasn't an easy task.
Even talking to her mother had been no simple feat. She'd had to get tipsy
to do it. But then her mother understood her because she'd lived with Bill
Scully for so many years. She'd pretty much figured out how to make her
daughter talk and for this Dana was thankful. The chaos of her emotions
had subsided somewhat after she'd unburdened herself to her mom.
	Her mom had told her many times that she was very much like her
father.  When she was younger she had scoffed her comments, but now she
realized that Margaret Scully was right. Her dad had been one of the
strongest people she'd ever met. He'd never truly needed anyone that she
could remember. He'd loved his family and had been there with support and
caring at most times but he'd never shared his vulnerabilities or his
fears with anyone except for perhaps her mom.
	Bill Scully was a stubborn man who'd frowned on neediness and
weakness, and Dana realized that she too shared those same values. Scully
smiled, while the salty breeze assaulted her . On the horizon the last
vestiges of the sun sank below the ocean. Her parents had had some
difficult arguments over the years. Her mother would stand her ground as
her father turned red in the face at her defiance, and despite the trouble
of it at the time Dana knew her father had respected her mother for just
being strong enough to argue with him. Maybe she had a bit of her mother
in her too.
	 "Excuse me," Scully turned and smiled at one of the doctors from
the conference. He was standing on the balcony attached to hers. "I'm not
disturbing you am I"? He was extremely handsome Scully couldn't help
noticing.
	"No, I come out here every evening." She said in a friendly voice.
They had exchanged conversations the last couple of days over breakfast
and at a group dinner.
	 Dr. Bill Hall smiled at her then turned his attention to the last
blaze of sun disappearing into the horizon. "I love the sea. My wife is
joining me here at the end of the conference for a few days." He looked at
Scully again. "She loves the beach. Living in Atlanta, we try to spend as
much time at the beach as possible with the opportunity rises. I proposed
to her on a beach near here. Now every time we go to the shore I try to
think of a clever way of proposing. She loves it. "
	Silence passed between them as they breathed in the salt air and
listened to the lure of the sea as the waves crashed against the shore.
"Are you planning to stay a few extra days? The conference committee has
the rooms booked until Thursday. It seems a waste not to use them. " 
	"No, I'm not planning any additional days, I need to get back to
DC,"  Scully spoke softly staring out over the water. 
	"Too bad, I'd like you to meet my wife. She's a pathologist
working out of Emory University. I'm sure she'd be interested in hearing
some of your stories." He said looking at his watch. "Well, I'd better get
back, she's suppose to call me in a few moments. I'll see you at the
farewell breakfast, Dana."
	 They exchanged smiles and he moved back into his suite. 
	 Turning her attention back to the water she suddenly got the urge
to be silly. Climbing over the balcony railing, she dropped three feet
onto the grass below, and walked towards the water. The sand was warm and
rich beneath her feet. Moving forward she padded through the sand until
the cool waves reached her toes.
	She couldn't help remembering what Dr. Bill had said about his
wife and the love that showed on his face as he spoke of her. Scully tried
to picture what it would be like to have someone to propose to her on a
beach? A handsome man taking her into his arms kissing her professing his
undying love? God she sounded like a sappy chick flick. She noticed a
couple walking hand and hand slowly smiling and talking. 
	Suddenly Dana Scully felt very alone. She did need someone in her
life. It was something she'd known it or a while now, but she had denied
it because the only person she could picture filling that position in her
life was Mulder.
	What she didn't know was why. Was it because he dominated her time
with work, and he was the only person in her life who was a constant? Or
was it because she wanted truly wanted and needed him in her life? 
	With all his imperfections, dry humor, insecurities, would they be
happy?  With all of her stubbornness and difficulties at opening up, could
they be happy.
	She'd thought a lot about being alone since she'd arrived at the
at the conference. She'd watched all around as people lived, loved, cried
and fought, and had realized at some point she'd stopped truly living and
experiencing her life. She'd sheltered herself from all of the common
emotions, trying to be strong when in reality she was just hiding for fear
of being hurt. She'd turned over in her mind the conversations she'd had
with Mulder and with her mother. Maybe it was time for her to take chance
at being with someone and allowing that person to be apart of her life?
Bill seemed to be perfectly happy. Her parents had been happy.
	Glancing at her watch, Scully turned and walked back toward her
hotel. It was seven.
	"Hi." She smiled and nodded at a young couple sitting in the hot
tub as she passed by it and slipped back into the hotel through the side
door.
	After freshening up, she sat on her bed and stared at the phone a
few minutes before pulling it onto her lap.
	This was a big step for her. There was no turning back once she
opened herself up to possibilities of their future. Taking a deep breath,
she dialed the familiar number. 
	 "Mulder." His voice warmed and excited her despite the distances
between them.
	"Hey, it's me." She answered. 
	 "How's the conference?" He asked casually. 
	Scully could hear the television in the background, "Fine. Mulder,
what are you watching?" She smiled as she heard him mute the sound. 
	 "Just the news. Did you know there was a small swarming of locusts
in south east Asia?"
	 "Nope. I've been too busy watching the sunset, Mulder." 
	"How romantic.." His voice trailed off for a moment " Hey Scully?"
It was his turn. "What are you
 wearing?" He smiled knowing it would throw her. 
	 "Mulder, if you knew it might give you heart failure." It was her
turn to smile at the gasp that came through the phone line. 
	 "That might be a pleasant way to go..." He informed her at the
same time trying very hard not to let on how her last statement had
effected him.  This wasn't the Scully of the past few months. His partner
was being almost playful. "Is everything okay, Scully? You sound... I
don't know..  Different." 
	There was a long pause before she found her voice. "Mulder, I need
you. I was hoping you could get away and come down here for a few days."
She held her breath as silence once again passed between them. 
	"I'll be right there." 
	
The End