From puplove@ix.netcom.com Fri Jan 24 17:10:22 1997 Okay, finally worked out how many parts it's going to be (hopefully)! Here is the story from the beginning. Part four has yet to be completed, but I'm impatient. Disclaimer: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, and Walter Skinner do NOT belong to me. Chris Carter claims the credit for that one. Rebecca Lewis, however, is mine mine mine. This started out as a Mulder/other romance with a case thrown around it, but turned into an x-file romance/angst (Mulder/other). I kind of like it this way, and I hope you do too. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think! Reflections of Mulder (1/4) by Anne Vermillion ======================================================================== The man's fingers drummed a nervous tattoo on the steering wheel as he pulled out of the toll booth. Had she pretended to drop his change to get a better look at him? How long had it been since he'd left? He glanced at his watch, then in the rear view mirror. She looked so small under the blanket. So perfect. His eyes focused on the truck behind him; how long had that truck been following him? He watched the truck carefully as he eased his foot down on the gas pedal. He barely registered the large sign as it flicked by; WELCOME TO PENNSYLVANIA. His mind raced as he checked his watch yet again. They had to have come home by now, found the babysitter's body...the speedometer crept past eighty as a sweat broke out on his brow. He had to find somewhere to stop, to begin his work. She would be perfect forever, if he could only find the right spot. Chief Matson scowled as he saw them walk in; him in his bland grey suit, government -issue haircut, and patently bored expression, her in a business-cut suit and skirt, her short heels clicking on the linoleum floor, surveying the small office as both of them approached his desk. *Feds,* he thought, *Christ, just what I need today.* He took a deep breath as they reached him and glanced disinterestedly at the proffered IDs. "Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully," The man said; even his voice was bland, devoid of emotion. The woman, Scully, pulled an 8 X 10 photo from her portfolio. "We're investigating the kidnaping of Tina Graves," Scully's voice was a clear contralto. He grimaced at the little girl's smiling face. Cute kid. He'd heard about it on the news. Kidnaped from her home a week ago; it was a shame. "We have reason to believe Paul Eckland has entered this area with Tina and we were wondering if you could spare a couple of uniforms to assist us in the search for him." Oho. They needed his help? He scowled down at his desk, flipping through a couple of files. "Well, let's see here...." Simple. They screwed up his Friday, he'd screw up theirs. "That is, if we're not interrupting your busy day." Mulder's voice grated into his thoughts. He slowly raised his eyes to meet the tall agent's hooded gaze, getting a good look at his partner's figure as he did so. Good looking broad. Still a Fed, and now they were giving him lip. His eyes roamed the outer room, and he smiled. He knew just who to give them. "Very well, Agent Mulder." He looked past the two agents and raised his voice. "Lewis!" Both agents turned to look as a young woman looked up at the summons. "Sir?" "Getcher butt in here." Mulder had had just about enough of the abrasive Chief Matson. Too many times he had experienced people like him; too high on their own power that they balk at any authority over them. He regretted his wisecrack, which had earned him a scowl from the Chief and a barbed glance from Scully, but it had felt good to rattle both their cages a bit. However, Chief Matson would probably assign them the bottom of the barrel when it came to assistance because of his loose tongue. He was dubiously surprised when the young officer walked into the crowded office; surprised because she looked fresh and competent, dubious because Matson had smiled when he called her in. She was small, slightly taller than Scully, with dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, unruly bangs slashing across her forehead, green eyes and a slender, athletic build. A gauche male part of him noted how nicely her uniform fit. She gave them a curious glance as she stood in front of the desk. "Yes, sir?" "This is Agent Bob Mulder--" "*Fox* Mulder." "--and his partner. They're with the FBI investigating the Graves kidnapping and need you to tag along." Mulder shot the Chief a glare but held his tongue; it would do no good to say anything more. He gained a new respect for the young officer's tolerance of her Chief's chauvinism. "Yes, sir." Her expression never wavered, though Mulder thought he saw her jaw clench just a little...a lot like Scully's was now. "All right then," Matson said, and gestured at Mulder. "This is Officer Lewis; she's the only officer I can spare at this time. If I can give you more help later, I'll do my best." A hundred nasty comments sizzled in Mulder's brain, but he bit his tongue. "Thank you, Chief Matson." He bared his teeth in a conciliatory smile. Matson returned the grin tooth for tooth. "Anything to help, Agent Mulder." Mulder tried not to slam the door as the three of them walked out. "Jeez, thought we left all that behind in the fifties." He cast a sympathetic glance at his partner and the officer. Officer Lewis smiled ironically. "I suppose there could be worse things than having a neanderthal for a Chief," she said, then held out her hand. "Rebecca Lewis." Her grip was warm and firm. She smiled at his partner. "Chief Matson predictably forgot to introduce us." "Dana Scully." They shook hands, and gave each other a tentative smile. "It's a pleasure to work with both of you." She stopped at her desk to pick up her hat and a set of keys. "Seriously; I hope to get into the Bureau myself." Mulder's eyebrows shot up. "Ambitious." "Ambitious enough to put up with the caveman for another two months," she said matter-of- factly, "Two years in a job and a degree; I have a Bachelor's in Criminal Psychology, and I opted for police academy when I graduated. That way I'll have law enforcement experience as well. Anyway, I'll help you the best I can." "Glad to hear it." Mulder said, and he was. "The Graves kidnaping," She said, picking up a notebook from the cluttered desktop. "I've been following the news on that." She opened the notebook and read aloud. "Tina Graves, age twelve years, kidnaped from her New York home, more specifically from her bed, sometime between eight and nine p.m. one week ago...babysitter murdered, shot in the chest, ballistics report a silenced, high-caliber pistol used...no witnesses..." She glanced up at the two agents and smiled sheepishly. "I..ah...I've been following a bit more than the news, I guess." "Very good." Mulder said. *Initiative like that will be sure to get her into the Bureau.* Scully nodded appreciatively. "We have reason to believe that the kidnapper has entered this county." "Well, I know where the motels are, and I've tried to befriend the locals. Nothing better than having the people on your side. If he stopped at any of the motels, we should be able to track him." She looked at the envelope in Scully's hand. "Do you have anything that belongs to the little girl?" Scully withdrew a plastic bag with a rumpled piece of cloth. "Tina was wearing this the night she was abducted; we think it was torn off in the struggle." Mulder's throat tightened at the sight of the small nightgown. She was so young...he tore his eyes away from it, looking instead at Officer Lewis, her lips pursed in concentration, her eyes--she glanced up, catching him staring. She held his gaze for a moment, nearly stopping his heart. He cleared his throat and broke the stare, feeling the heat rising in his neck, blushing for chrissake! How long had it been since a woman had made him blush? "Well, agents, you're in luck," she said, "You didn't just get one officer, you got two." She gave a whistle. "Sammy!" Both agents gave a start as a large furry head poked up from behind the desk. They heard the clicking of claws on the floor as the rangy German Shepherd padded up to sit in front of Lewis. She ruffled the dog's head affectionately, and it licked her hand. "We make up Clinton County's sole K-9 unit, as well as the only two female officers on the force." She said as the dog looked on. "This is Samantha." The name hit Mulder like a brick between the eyes. Samantha...He could hear her calling his name as he stood frozen...something cold and wet pushed into his hand, startling him. He looked down into a pair of dark, sympathetic eyes. The dog nudged him again, and he petted her, grateful for the chance to collect himself. "She's beautiful," he said when he could speak. "Thanks." She clipped a leather leash to the dog's collar. "Sammy, say hi." Scully knelt down and accepted a kiss from the happy dog, then stood back up, delicately wiping her cheek. "Used to smaller kisses." she said with a smile. "Sammy's a dual-purpose dog; she's a patrol dog as well as a scent dog. She's trained for protection, narcotics, and tracking. If she can get a scent from that nightgown, she can track her down." "Then Chief Matson's loss is definitely our gain." Mulder thanked Matson's chauvinism for providing them with not only a competent team, but one specifically geared towards their search. The four headed toward the front door. "Your gas or the Chief's?" Lewis asked. Mulder smiled. "Better make it ours. If we go over budget, at least we won't get yelled at for spending it on nail polish." Lewis laughed, and the sound of it warmed him. "Even dog hair on the car seats?" "We've been yelled at for worse." Scully replied as they walked out. "Given the fact that the kidnapper was prepared to kill the babysitter, this isn't the first time he's done this, is it?" Lewis asked from the back seat. "Make a right here." Mulder made the right onto a side street. "Correct." "How many others?" "Three. All of them girls, all of them around age 12, and all of them killed within 10-12 days after their abduction." "Doesn't give us much time." Lewis sat up and pointed over Mulder's shoulder. "That's the place." "That's a motel?" Scully said. Lewis chuckled. "Back in the sticks, it's pretty much anything goes, Agent Scully. I've had to make a few drunk and disorderly arrests out here last week, so I know it's still in business, and the owner knows I'm the only officer who works the night shift on weekends." Mulder eased the car into one of the many open spaces and stopped the engine. "Think the owner will cooperate?" "I'm sure he can be convinced." Lewis got out of the car, followed by Sammy and the two agents. Mulder watched her walk up to the door, the dog at her side, and smiled at his partner. "She's really something." Scully tilted her head in hesitant approval. "Let's just make sure she doesn't get over- enthusiastic trying to impress us." "I'm just happy to find someone in local law enforcement that doesn't think we're the Anitchrist." He saw Scully's lips curl into a reluctant smile. "Too true." He chuckled as they followed Lewis into the grimy office. "Becky!" The man who could only be the manager spread his meaty arms wide as Lewis walked in. "What're you doing here? You're gonna scare my girls away comin' around unexpected like!" He looked to the door as Mulder and Scully walked in, and his friendly expression faded. "Whatthehell is this?" he said, "You tryin' to--" "Relax, Wally, we're not here to bust you." Lewis gestured at the two agents, who flashed their badges. "This is Agents Mulder and Scully with the FBI." "We'd like to ask you a few questions about someone who might have gotten a room here." Scully stepped forward, photo in hand, "Someone who might have been here with a little girl." Wally barely glanced at the photo. "I dunno nuthin' about that," he mumbled, folding his arms across his broad belly. His eyes shifted from Lewis to Mulder to Scully. "People come and go; I don't have time to make sure they got kids. They got cash, they stay." "Really." Mulder's sarcasm was evident. "Maybe you should take a better look." "I just told you I dunno!" Wally took a step forward, poking a stubby finger at Mulder. "You got no right--" Wally's tirade was interrupted as Lewis slammed her hand down on the counter. "You've got no right withholding information, Wally! If you know something, and you don't spill it in the next ten seconds, the next time you get some drunk trucker shooting out your windows, I just might take my time getting here!" She glared at him hard and took a step forward; he took a step back. "This is a little girl we're talking about, about your niece's age, and she's in a lot of trouble, so you damn well better cooperate!" The test of wills continued for nearly a minute before Wally broke the stare. "Yeah, someone was here this afternoon," he said sullenly. "I didn't see no kid, though, but he said him and his daughter needed to rest." "What kind of car was he driving?" Mulder asked. "Dark sedan, Ford I think; New York plates." "How long did he stay?" Scully put in. "How did he pay?" "Paid cash, but didn't stay long. After about two or so hours he comes in screaming about what a hellhole this place is, that he wouldn't keep his daughter here another minute." Scully looked around at the office and dilapidated building beyond. "Not surprising," she said under her breath. "What time did he leave?" Mulder glanced at Scully; this could be the break they were looking for. Wally looked at the clock. "‘Bout four." It was six. "What room?" "Sixteen." He passed over a key before they asked. "Thanks for your help, Wally." Lewis' voice was sincere. "We want to catch this creep." The three of them walked out of the office and to number sixteen, Sammy trailing behind them. "Can I see the piece of nightgown, Agent Scully? I want to see if Sammy can get a scent from the room." Mulder turned to her. "Before you do anything, let's follow procedure; call up the state boys and get an APB out on a dark Ford sedan with New York plates, white male driver, five foot nine or so in a t-shirt and jeans." Mulder turned back to the door. "You can use the radio in the car. Then get a forensics team out here on the double." "Yes sir, Agent Mulder." Lewis trotted back towards the car. Glancing at one another, they drew their guns as Mulder slipped the key in the lock. "...yeah, that's a dark Ford sedan with New York plates." Lewis tapped her foot nervously as she saw the two agents draw their guns. She jumped as the confirmation of the APB sputtered over the radio. "Thanks, dispatch. Over and out." She looked up to see Mulder and Scully enter the room, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. How could she have been so dumb, so unprofessional? She was supposed to be assisting them, not trying to run their investigation for them. She silently berated herself as she saw their shadows moving about in the room. *Jesus, they must think I'm such an idiot! First I blow up at Wally, then all my training goes flying out the window! Dammit, what was I thinking?* She pounded the steering wheel once; Sammy whined and nosed her hand, picking up on her distress. Lewis' anger melted at the gesture and stroked the dog's ears thoughtfully. "I'll get my act together, Sammy, I promise." With a deep breath, she stood and approached the room. "Agent Mulder?" she called, "The APB is out, and forensics is on the way." "Good," came the muffled call in the room. "Thanks; you can come in, just don't touch anything." Mulder watched Lewis as she told Sammy "stay" and came in. She stood off to the side as they looked around, not offering any of her observations, and he regretted chastising her earlier. He was just as impulsive at times; Scully could certainly vouch for that, and he knew what it was like being on the outside of things. He smiled to himself; it was almost funny, he had never met anyone so like him. In a way it made him feel better; he wasn't that alone after all. "Did you want to see if Sammy can verify this?" he asked, startling the officer out of her thoughts. She glanced nervously at Sammy. "Umm, sure, if that's okay with both of you." "Scully, do you have the cloth?" She handed it to him distractedly, then went back to her investigation. He passed it to her as she called the dog into the room. Lewis opened the bag carefully, holding it out to the dog's nose. When the dog had gotten a few good sniffs, she told the dog "Find it!" Sammy whined and began sniffing eagerly about the room. She padded over to the bed and put her paws on it, and her sniffing became more frantic. She barked once and looked over at Lewis, who smiled and came over to her. "Good girl, Sammy!" she said, hugging the dog excitedly. "She's been here; she must've laid on the bed." Lewis' voice was more enthusiastic, all the hesitancy gone. Mulder smiled, as did Scully; this was their strongest lead, now they had to hope that the APB would bring this guy in. The man ground his teeth in frustration as he drove down the country road, his glances in the rear view mirror much more frequent as the miles ticked by. He had to find somewhere to stop; soon it would be too late, and he wouldn't be able to keep her perfect anymore. He had kept her unconscious during most of the trip, but he knew she had to eat sometime. His hands twitched, aching to touch her, to preserve her perfection, her innocense...he grasped the steering wheel tighter; *not yet, dammit!* He pulled off on the first driveway he could find, a long sloping gravel hill. As he continued up the incline, his hopes rose; perhaps he could stay here, so quiet, it would be perfect for the kind of work he had to do. As he topped the rise, he nodded in satisfaction; the cabin was large, remote, looked spacious, and more importantly, it was empty. He switched off the motor with a sigh; now his work would begin. "Wake up folks; we're back." Lewis blinked sleepily from the back seat at the sound of Mulder's voice and saw the familiar lights of the station. She yawned and stretched, then nudged the dark head laying on her lap. "C'mon, Sammy, we gotta go." She opened the car door. "What time do you want me to start tomorrow?" She wished she could have stayed at the site with Scully, but she didn't know much about forensics work, and knew she would only be in the way. "We'll find you at the station," he said, then his eyes darkened in concern. "Get some rest; you look beat." She smiled. "I guess I am. This is my first trip away from my desk in over a week; not used to it." "See you tomorrow, Lewis." "Night." Mulder watched her and Sammy walk up the steps to the station. Sammy waited while she went inside. He smiled; she was really trying her best, doing as much as her chauvinistic boss would let her. He admired her dedication, sticking to her duty despite the discouragement from her co- workers...Jesus, she was just like him...*better looking,* a sarcastic part of him put in. He agreed; more than once today he caught himself watching her, imagining things...he jerked his mind out of the gutter with a soft curse. He had left one of the casefiles on her desk. He switched the car off and got out, and his body painfully reminded him of all the coffee he had consumed today. First the bathroom, then the file. Samantha's dark eyes tracked him as he walked up the steps; he ruffled the dog's head before he walked in. As he turned down the hall towards the bathroom, he heard voices from the locker room area. He cocked his head to one side as he neared the locker room door. "So what's going on with you and the feds, Lewis?" Mulder's eyes narrowed at the man's sarcastic, taunting tone. He opened the door a crack and saw the man, his arms folded across his broad chest, a sneer twisting his dark features. He couldn't see Lewis, but heard a locker door slam, then her voice. "I'm assisting them in their investigation, Parker," her voice was terse. "Chief Matson assigned me to work with them." "I'm telling you, Parker, she's just kissing up to ‘em. If they like what they see, she'll get a recommendation for the Bureau." Another man joined in the conversation, and Mulder's lip curled in disgust at their attitude. He wanted to go in there, to straighten out their smart mouths, but knew that if he did, it would only exacerbate her already miserable work atmosphere. "You got it all worked out, don't you Lewis?" Parker again. "Just give a little piece to that Mulder guy and you're all set for Quantico." "How dare you!" Mulder could hear the rage in her voice. "How dare you even *suggest* that I would sleep my way into the FBI!" "I think she's yelling a little *too* loud, Parker." "My feelings toward Agent Mulder go no deeper than the utmost respect." Mulder winced at her statement; she was only digging herself deeper. The other man barked a short laugh. "Yeah, sure, respect." "Now wait a minute, Jack, I think I see now." Parker's eyes narrowed. "It's not Mulder you're after then, it's his partner." "WHAT!" "Never figured you for a lezbo, Lewis." "You...I can't believe..." Her voice was choked between rage and tears. "I don't blame you, Lewis; she's a hot little number." Mulder's jaw clenched at that remark, feeling his hands close into fists. He heard another locker door slam, and finally Lewis walked into view, her eyes flashing and fists clenched. "I don't have to listen to this," she growled, "And nothing I can say will change your filthy minds. Good night." Mulder retreated from his vantage point at the door; he didn't want her to know he had seen this. When she didn't come out right away, he chanced another look. Parker was in front of her, his arm blocking her way. Jack stood behind her, looking her up and down slowly. "You know, Lewis, you should be nicer to us." Parker took a step closer, and she backed up a step. "We could put in a good word with the chief for your Bureau application." Another step forward; another step back. "Parker..." "All you have to do is be nice." Mulder reined in his temper and backed silently down the hallway, opened one of the office doors and slammed it loudly. "Lewis!" he called, "You still here?" He walked towards the locker room. Through the smoked glass he caught the blur of a brief struggle as she twisted out of Parker's grip. He opened the door slowly, exercising all of his restraint not to kick it in. He didn't look at the other two as he addressed her. "I thought I left a file on your desk, but I can't find it. Do you think someone put it in your desk?" Lewis looked at him, and his jaw clenched tighter at the sight of the red marks on her arms where Parker had grabbed her. Parker and Jack had retreated to their lockers, studiously ignoring the conversation. "Umm...I don't know, Agent Mulder, but I'll check for you." She grabbed her purse and practically ran out of the locker room. He followed her, taking care not to get too close. Lewis bit her lip hard, her cheeks flushed with shame as she walked to her desk. She heard his footsteps behind her, not too close, and knew that he had seen what happened. She grabbed the file and handed it to him. "Here you go." Her hands were trembling, and she busied them with straightening out her desk. "Did you need anything else?" "No, that was it, thanks." She saw the look in his eyes, and looked away, her eyes stinging with unshed tears; she didn't need his pity, she just wanted to go home. "See you tomorrow, Agent Mulder." She slung her purse over her shoulder and walked out, just wanting to get away from what happened. "Lewis." His voice was right behind her; she jumped, her heart pounding as she turned around. "Yes, Agent Mulder?" "In the Bureau, we have a strict rule of conduct that is rarely broken." He pushed the door open, where Sammy waited expectantly. "Never go anywhere on the job without your partner." She knelt down and called Sammy over to her, burying her face into the fur on the dog's neck. She looked up at him, and saw that the look in his hazel eyes was sympathy, not pity. "Thanks, Mulder," she said with a shaky smile. "I won't forget it." She stood up with more confidence and looked at him curiously. "But what are you doing without your partner now?" "Forensics are more her thing than mine; she'll call me if there's anything she feels I should see." "So you're just going back to the hotel?" "After I scrounge up something to eat, probably." He cocked his head at her and smiled. "An FBI agent's work is often spent waiting; it's not always cops and robbers." She laughed. "Well in that case, let me take you to one of my favorite restaurants. The food is great, and the atmosphere is very relaxed." She paused, then added, "And I have some questions about the case, if you don't mind answering a few." His stomach growled audibly, and he gave a little chuckle. "I guess that's a yes." He said. "Lead on." Mulder followed Lewis' truck through the twists and turns of the backwoods road, his mind on what he had seen at the station. He knew that the bastards would try again; they had a perfect setup, one of her, two of them, her partner couldn't talk, and her chief wouldn't believe her. Part of him was surprised at the fact she hadn't reported any of this harassment to the district chief, but the cynic in him already knew why; troublemakers didn't make it into the FBI. Two more months...there had to be something he could do; he couldn't leave someone with such potential in a situation like this. He'd talk to Scully about it later; maybe she could think of something. He was still pondering this when she turned into a long gravel driveway. He followed her and his eyebrows rose appreciatively when he saw the cabin nestled among the large trees. "Very nice," he said as he got out, inhaling the scent of earth and leaves. "Peaceful." "The only nice thing about living in the backwaters of Pennsylvania; these woods make you feel like you're the only person around." She opened the door and hopped out, followed by Sammy. "Go on in, Sammy," she said, giving the shepherd a pat on the head. "Guard the fort, I'll be back in a while." She smiled as the dog raced in through the doggy door. "She'll probably sleep on my bed until I get home." She ran a hand through her dark hair, now free from the ponytail, and he saw her hands were still shaking. He felt a surge of protective feelings for her, and the shock of it stunned him. Why, after months of not dating, was this young officer having this affect on him? Others had tried to seduce him, or even just be friendly, but he had always rebuffed them without even giving them a chance. Her voice startled him out of his thoughts. "Ready to eat?" He smiled at her. "You bet. Your car or mine?" She pondered a moment, then, "Mine; you've driven me around all day, and I know all the back roads." "Thanks guys, you can fax the report to the station tomorrow morning." Scully tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear as the cars began to pull away from the motel, then she remembered that Mulder had taken the car. She quickly flagged down Chuck, one of the forensics team, as he was leaving. "Can you give me a ride back to the hotel?" She asked, praying the answer would be yes; she didn't want to stay in this dive any longer than was necessary. "No problem, Agent Scully. Hop in." She smiled gratefully as she buckled her seat belt. "Thanks." A minute later they were on the road. "This is the first call we've had in over six months," Chuck said, "I hope the hair and fiber turns up something." "Officer Lewis was at least able to verify the room was the one the kidnaper had taken. She gave us something to go on." "Yeah, she sure is something." Scully looked curiously at him, surprised by his tone of voice. "Is something wrong?" Chuck started guiltily. "Ummm, no....well, sort of." He sighed. "You know that she's trying to get into the Bureau." At her nod, he continued. "Well, I don't know if she's going to get in." "Why do you say that?" Scully was confused. Sure, she was a little overeager and underused by her superiors, but that would change. "Well, Matson talks. A lot. He, ah...he said that he wouldn't recommend her for the FBI." Chuck's face was red with embarrassment, and he ran a hand nervously through his short hair. "Why?" "The Chief's old-fashioned, Agent Scully. He doesn't agree with women on the force, much less working for the Bureau." He glanced over at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry." "There's nothing for you to apologize for, Chuck." Her voice was flat; her jaw clenched in anger. How many other potential agents had been stonewalled by the same chauvinistic bullshit? How many times had she been under scrutiny simply because she was female? She was silent for the rest of the drive back to the hotel; she would have to talk to Mulder about this, maybe he could think of something. Enjoy, and let me know what you think! This has been edited since it has gone to the archives, so if whoever is keeping track of these things please update it? Thank you so much! the truth is out there, AnneV From puplove@ix.netcom.com Fri Jan 24 17:17:30 1997 Hi again everyone! Here's part two; disclaimers still apply. Reflections of Mulder 2/4 by Anne Vermillion ======================================================================== "This is the last place I expected to find a good Chinese restaurant." Mulder took another bite of the sweet-and-sour pork and smiled. "You're telling me!" Lewis smiled back, sipping her tea. "This place is never crowded, yet it's still doing terrific business. I guess they deliver to the college a lot." She speared a piece of broccoli with her fork and chewed thoughtfully, the incident back at the station nearly forgotten. She pushed it further towards the back of her mind; she would worry about it later, right now she was having a terrific evening. They had chatted their way through three bowls of fried noodles, steamy bowls of Wonton soup, and were just now starting on the main course, which also was leading to the meat of their conversation. "So, Agent Mulder," She took another sip of her tea, "What kind of profile have you come up with for this guy?" She paused. "You can go and tell me to stay out of your investigation if I'm going too far; I'm just curious." "Please, it's just ‘Mulder', and no, you're not going too far." He smiled at her. Part of her warmed to that smile, and she tucked that feeling aside to remember later. She had caught herself watching him more than once today, and part of the reason she had been so vehement with Parker and Jack was because she was still trying to determine what her feelings were for this tall, roguish man who not only respected her, but encouraged her efforts instead of slapping her on a desk job and ignoring her. Over and over during the conversation she was surprised by how similar their tastes and attitudes were. All that and looks too....She jerked her mind back to the conversation with a mental shake; *think about it later!* "His name is Paul Eckland." Mulder grimaced and took another sip of tea. "Age 35. He worked as a bus driver before the kidnapings started. He kills the girls with poison, a heavy barbiturate that sends the girls to sleep before stopping their hearts. He then bathes them, combs their hair, and lays them on a bed naked, spreading flowers around the bodies, usually daisies." He paused as the waiter refilled their water and asked how they were enjoying their meal. "The manner of display indicates a reverence for his victims. The fact that all of the girls were twelve years old leads me to speculate that something happened to him when he was near that age, something that he wants to keep these girls from having to face. Things were different with the third girl, though." "In what way?" "The third victim was sexually assaulted before she was killed, and she was strangled instead of poisoned. The only reason we knew that it was the same perpetrator was through fingerprints; he didn't lay the body out as he had before, he just left it." "Hmm." She grimaced as she took a bite of chicken. "Was there anything else different about that kidnaping?" He thought for a moment. "He kept her alive the longest; she was killed twenty days after she was abducted." She thought hard as she chewed. Reverence for victims...didn't kill this one right away... "What if he kept the last girl alive too long? Maybe he can only control himself for so long before he does to the girls what had been done to him at that age." His eyebrows shot up, and she could almost see the thoughts rushing through his mind. "That fits..." "But it doesn't give us...I mean you...much time." She barely tasted the last bite of her meal; if her supposition was correct, they only had two to three more days before Eckland killed Tina Graves. She saw Mulder's jaw clench, and he ground his teeth. "And all we can do is wait." She could hear the frustration, and something more, in his voice, and her heart went out to him. Without thinking, she put her hand on his, trying to reassure him. He jumped, startled out of his thoughts. He glanced down at her hand, then at her, and she quickly pulled it back, looking at her plate as the heat rose in her face. "I'm sorry, Agent Mulder," she stammered. "I...shouldn't have done that. I only wanted to--" She jumped as she felt the warmth of his hand on hers. She looked up at him, and was caught in the intensity of his hazel eyes...god, she could fall right into them...."It's all right," she heard him say, "Really." He put down his napkin and picked up the check and the fortune cookies, which had arrived during their conversation. "Why don't we get out of here." Mulder glanced frequently at Lewis as she drove in silence, wanting to say something but not wanting to spook her any more than he had already. He looked down at the unopened fortune cookies in his hand. "Did you want your cookie?" "Huh? Oh, sure." She took the proffered cookie and cracked it open one-handed. "Thanks." She slipped the fortune out and handed it to him. "Save that for me. I'll read it when we get back." As she crunched the cookie, he saw her hands were still shaking. Again a wave of protective feelings washed over him, and he was still surprised by the strength of his emotions. He wasn't surprised by the feelings themselves, he liked her; she was bright, funny, she didn't think his views were ridiculous, but when she didn't agree, she was quick to challenge him. He had enjoyed talking to her tonight; their similarities were almost uncanny, and it only made his attraction stronger. He wanted, *needed* to help her get out of her work situation, he didn't want to see her hurt. She was so vulnerable...a lot like he was, but she didn't have a Scully to back her up. The crunch of tires on gravel nudged him from his thoughts as Lewis pulled up the long driveway, parking next to his car. "Thanks for dinner," she said, "It was nice of you." "My pleasure, and thanks for showing it to me." They opened their respective doors and got out. Mulder fished in his trenchcoat pocket for his keys. "Agent Mulder?" He turned away from his search and met Lewis' eyes, realizing for the nth time that night how easy it would be to become lost in them...then she dropped her gaze and turned towards her house. "Never mind." Her hands were still shaking. "Lewis." He caught up with her as she reached her door, putting his hand on her shoulder. "What--" "Don't!" She jumped and whirled around, slapping his arm away, her eyes wide with fear. Mulder raised his arms and backed off. "I'm sorry, I--" Her eyes focused, and she dropped her gaze again, her face flushing red. "I'm sorry..." she turned back to the door, dropping her keys in haste to get inside. "Dammit!" "Lewis." He tried to put all the concern and sympathy he had into her name. "Please, talk to me." "About what, Mulder?" She bent down and snatched her keys up, shoving them into the lock. "About what?" Her voice had a hard edge to it now, one that he had frequently used on Scully when he was trying to keep her at a safe distance from his feelings. He did the same thing Scully always did to him; he pressed. "You can start by telling me what's bothering you, and what you were going to ask me before." He kept his voice gentle, and resisted the urge to move closer. Now, if he knew himself as well as he thought he did, she should... She sighed and her shoulders slouched; he smiled to himself. She opened the door and went inside, leaving the door open for him. He followed and closed the door gently, keeping his distance as she slumped into the living room couch. He sat in a chair across from her and waited, watching her collect her thoughts. After a moment, she took a deep breath. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to come in for an iced tea or something." Another shaky breath. "I stopped because of what was bothering me." "Because of what happened at the station?" She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "You *did* see." He moved off the chair and onto the couch next to her. "Yes I did." He reached out and gently put a hand on her shoulder. She twitched, but didn't slap him away. "They've done things before, you know," her voice was trembling, but controlled, "Stupid things; goosing me, nasty remarks about how I really got my degree, teasing me about my interests. I put up with it because..." "...because troublemakers don't make it into the Bureau." "Exactly! And I knew the Chief wouldn't believe me if I cried ‘harassment'. If it were up to him I'd be barefoot, pregnant and making him breakfast." She gave a weak chuckle, then, softly, "I never thought they would try something like that." Her shoulders began to shake, and Mulder's heart contracted painfully. Without hesitation, he gathered her to him; she didn't resist, and he held her gently while she cried, whispering soothing words into her sweet-smelling hair. She felt his arms slide around her and leaned into his strength; it had been so long since she'd had support, someone who was on her side. She felt safe with him, as if she could face the world...but his touch wouldn't last forever; soon his investigation would be over, and she would be left to face Parker and Jack. They wouldn't stop, she knew without a doubt, and she felt a new wave of despair washing over her. "What am I going to do?" She couldn't meet his eyes as she went on. "Getting into the Bureau means everything to me, but I can't go back. They'll find a way to get me alone again, and I won't be able to stop them. God, what am I going to do?" She swiped her tears away with the back of her hand and looked up at him, slowly sitting up. His hands remained on her shoulders, and he squeezed them as he spoke. "We'll pick you up here tomorrow. Don't worry about going to the station; if he says anything, well tell him we've commandeered some of his force for assistance in the investigation. I'll talk to Scully and see what we can do about your application to the Bureau once this is all over." "You mean..." She couldn't believe it; she had cried on his shoulder like a baby, and he wanted to help? "I mean I know what it's like to be on the outside of things, trying to find your way in, and so does Scully. I'm going to try to help, and I'm pretty sure Scully will too." She felt her eyes fill with tears once more. "I...I don't know what to say." He smiled at her, and he brushed away her tears with his thumb. "No more tears." His voice was husky. "You're going to ruin my tie." He fingered the outrageously colored silk protectively. She chuckled, and saw his eyes warm to the sound, holding her gaze as gently as he had held her in his arms. Her breath caught in her throat, and before she knew what she was doing her lips had found his. She felt a wave of pleasure wash over her as his body stiffened, then relaxed against her, his hands moving to cup her face. She opened her eyes, nearly losing herself in the lazy, hazel heat of him... *Give a little piece to that Mulder guy and you're all set for Quantico.* Her eyes widened and she pushed away, covering her face with her hands. "Oh god, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry." She tried to catch her breath, her lips still tingling from the kiss while she continued to apologize. Mulder blinked several times, trying to clear his mind as Lewis continued to apologize. God, that kiss...it had come completely out of the blue. But not unwelcome, his mind said. He had to admit that was true; had she not pushed away, it wouldn't have stopped with a kiss...but now she huddled on the other end of the couch, apologizing frantically. He reached out to her again. "Lewis." His voice nearly cracked, and he cleared his throat. "I can't believe...I'm so sorry." Her hands were shaking again. He grabbed both her hands in his, forcing her to look at him. Her face was flushed as she apologized again. "I can't believe I did that," she stared at their joined hands. "I'm just like they said, trying to-- " "What?" Then it hit him. "Oh, hell..." He let go of her hands and hooked her chin with his finger, tipping her face up to meet his eyes. "Lewis, you're not like they say." "Yes I am! Look at me, playing the sniveling female to get your pity--" "Stop it!" He stood up, knowing if he didn't say something soon she would wallow in the same self-pity he usually did. "Let's look at this step by step, logically." Jesus, did he just say that? "Parker and Jack accused you of trying to sleep your way into the FBI. As I remember, you denied it, right?" Nothing. "Am I right?" "Yes, but--" "Hear me out. After that incident, you and I went and had dinner because I was hungry and you had questions about the case. We talked. We ate. I know *I* enjoyed myself, and it looked like you did too. Am I right so far?" "Yes." "You took me back to my car then you were going to invite me in. Your hands were shaking, like I saw them shaking all night. I tried to get you to tell me what was wrong; I knew what it was, but I knew you needed to talk about it before you self-destructed." He continued, barely pausing for breath. "We talked about what was going on at work. From what you told me and what I saw, you've been smiling your way through hell at the station, and the stakes had just been raised past your limits. You haven't said anything about it because it would jeopardize your application to the Bureau, and I offered to help." "Because of pity." "*Not* because of pity, Lewis!" He knelt down in front of her, putting him at eye level with her. "Lewis, I think you're a fine officer, and you'd be a damned good addition to the FBI. The treatment you've received from your superiors and your co-workers is criminal and negligent. You shouldn't have to put up with that just to get into the Bureau." "But--" He touched a finger to her lips, a little thrill running up his arm. "You kissed me after I agreed to help you; in fact, you didn't even ask for help. And," he paused, "You were the one who pushed away, not me." He trailed his finger from her lips to her chin. "Lewis, you are not only a fine officer, you're also one hell of a woman. You're bright, you're funny, and anyone would be blind not to notice how attractive you are." Her vulnerability was bright in her eyes. *God, we could be twins...* "You're thinking that I'll take this as a seduction attempt, that you're trying to con me into helping you." Her eyes widened in shock, and he smiled; dead on the money. "That would only be the case if you had agreed to be ‘nice' to Parker and his partner in order to get their recommendation." He traced the line of her jaw with his finger. "A...a recommendation from an agent might be worth more than one from Parker," she stammered, "I could be thinking that." "Are you?" She shook her head. Her eyes were so beautiful; he felt himself leaning closer. Her hand on his chest halted him. "But how do I know I can trust you?" He chuckled at the irony of her question. "Because I wouldn't let myself be seduced unless I wanted it too, Lewis." "Becca." Her voice was barely a whisper before their lips met once more. Her lips opened under his, and their tongues circled each other, exploring, teasing. He plunged his hands into the thickness of her hair, memorizing the way it slid through his fingers. "You can trust me, Becca." He crushed her mouth to his again, reveling in the feel of her in his arms. BEEEEEEEEEEEEP! They both jumped at the sound of his celphone, then giggled, *giggled!* like two high school kids caught necking under the bleachers. He smiled shyly at her, then yanked the phone from his pocket. "Mulder." "Hi." It was Scully. "I just made it back to the hotel and was wondering where you were." "Sorry, I was getting something to eat." He glanced at his watch; she must be starving by now. "Can I pick up anything for you? I found this great Chinese place." He could practically hear her salivating. "Chicken and broccoli." "You got it." He thumbed the hangup button and shoved the phone back into his coat...then he remembered where he was, and who he was just...he looked at Lewis and bit his lip. "I..ah.." She smiled, then reached up and wiped the lipstick from his lips. "See you tomorrow?" He sighed; she understood. "Bright and early." He wound a lock of her hair around his finger and kissed it. Her smile broadened and she caught his hand in hers. "Thanks, Mulder." He pulled her into a gentle hug, kissing the top of her head. "Anytime, Becca." He reluctantly let her go and headed for the door. Lewis' voice followed him out. "If I'm not here when you get here tomorrow, I'm on my morning run." Mulder laughed all the way to his car. Part 3 of 4 is on it's way. Let me know what you think! I crave feedback! the truth is out there... AnneV From puplove@ix.netcom.com Fri Jan 24 17:23:38 1997 Almost done, I swear! Part 1 disclaimer applies. Reflections of Mulder 3/4 by Anne Vermillion ======================================================================== Scully heard his footsteps down the hall and had opened the door for him before he even knocked. She grabbed the white cartons out of his hands and inhaled gratefully. "Mmmmm, thank you so much." She tore open one of the cartons and dove in with her plastic fork, then turned to see Mulder still in the doorway, imaginary cartons still in his hands. She giggled around a mouthful of chicken. "You can come in, Mulder. I'm not going to defend my kill." He smiled. "You're welcome." He walked over to one of the beds and sat, stretching his long legs out. "How did the forensics go?" She shrugged. "We pulled a few hairs; they're testing them for a match for Tina. Other than that, Sammy's alert on the bed is the only semi-solid lead we have." She turned to Mulder, remembering what Chuck had told her on the ride back. "I wanted to talk to you about Lewis." At the mention of her name, Mulder jumped, and Scully caught a flash of...something on his face before he regained his bland inscrutability. "What about her?" I heard something from one of the forensics techs on the way back to the hotel." She proceeded to tell him about Matson's plan to stop Lewis' application, and the anger she felt over the information began to resurface. The news didn't surprise Mulder, and she had a sinking suspicion why. "You don't seem surprised." "You're not the only one who saw something today." He then related the story of Lewis' near attack at the station locker room. By the time he had finished, her anger had risen past the point of tolerance. "I told her we'd pick her up at her house tomorrow," Mulder said, watching her as she began to pace. "This has gone beyond sexual harassment, Mulder, this is sabotaging her career." She picked up momentum as her anger rose. "I've never seen such backwater attitudes in my life! If they would only open their eyes and their minds, they would see what an asset she is to their pitiful little force! But no, she's female, so she's not even considered. The ‘little woman' will learn that she shouldn't try to do a man's work soon enough, all they have to do is give her the shit detail; night shift on the weekends, desk duty every other day. Who needs a secretary? They've got one, she's just trying to play cops and robbers!" "Easy, Scully...." She rounded on him, eyes flashing with rage. "Don't tell me to take it easy! You saw yourself how they treat her, how they will continue to treat her once we've walked out of this god- forsaken town! This is the same attitude I've had to deal with every step of the way in the Bureau. My only advantage was my medical degree, and that was barely enough to keep the looks and whispers away. Lewis doesn't stand a chance in hell of advancing in her career unless someone takes her side for a change!" Mulder held up his hands in mock-surrender. "I meant ‘easy, Scully, I'm on your side'. I agree, someone needs to do something about her situation, and I think it should be us. She only has two months to go before she's eligible; why don't we talk to Skinner and see if we can speed up her application?" Scully's anger faded in the face of his capitulation. She forced her fists to unclench, and her breathing to resume its normal pace. As she took deep, calming breaths and shook her hands out, she tried to see this situation objectively. "Mulder, I don't know if we should go as far as that." "What? You just said..." "I know what I said, Mulder, but we've only seen a piece of the picture." She sat down and folded her legs under her. "What do we actually know about her?" She held up her hand when Mulder opened his mouth. "Other than her co-workers are star quality sons-of-bitches, that is." To her surprise, Mulder proceeded to rattle off a short biographical sketch of Rebecca Lewis, from her childhood in southeastern Pennsylvania to her car accident in her senior year of high school to her four years at Penn State pursuing her Psych degree to her months spent training Sammy and finally to her two years of duty with the Clinton County Police. Her eyebrows shot up into her hair. "Where did you dig up all that?" "I had dinner with her. She's the one who showed me the restaurant." He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly and returned to the subject. "You know if we just leave her here she won't make it, so why won't you help?" She sighed, taking another bite of food and considering the situation in light of the new information. Mulder was right; Lewis would be in serious trouble if the situation was ignored, but she still felt a twinge of guilt. Working against the chauvinistic stereotypes had gotten her much respect in the Bureau, and given her a resolve that no one could break anymore. If they helped Lewis now, how could the young officer achieve that resolve knowing she had help? Mulder's eyes darkened as she hesitated. He sprang from the bed and glared at her. "Jesus Christ, Scully! Would you rather see her raped by Parker or Jack before you gave her a hand?" Her anger reared up again at his outburst; how could he think she would let this situation get out of control? "Stop it, Mulder! You should know I wouldn't let that happen, but we need to think! If we help her now, what's going to happen when another situation comes up and we're *not* around to help?" "She'll be able to deal with it, dammit! It's just that all the cards are stacked against her with this! No one could deal with this by herself and you know it!" "Yes, Mulder, I do know it, and that's why we'll call Skinner tomorrow morning and ask him what he can do!" She matched his glare with her own for a minute, seeing the emotions seething behind his eyes. With a sigh she broke the staredown, lowering her forehead into her palm. "I'm sorry, Mulder. You know I want to help, I just wanted us both to think of the reasons for and consequences of our actions in this." She heard him sigh in response. "I'm sorry too. It's just that it's hard seeing someone facing such opposition and not being able to help." Scully smiled and looked up at him. "I guess she has ‘a friend in the FBI' now." Surprisingly, Mulder gave a chuckle. "Yeah, but she'll have a harder time taping an ‘M' on her window." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks, Scully." "You're welcome, Mulder." He looked at her rapidly congealing chicken and broccoli. "I'll let you get back to dinner." He walked to the door that adjoined their rooms. "I'm starting to know how you feel sometimes, dealing with me." She met his eyes; it was a comfortable contact once again. "She really is something." Lewis couldn't sleep. She reached over and scratched Sammy between her ears; the dog grunted in pleasure and rolled over, offering her belly for more of the same. Smiling, she obliged, and answered Sammy's contented sigh with one of her own. She brushed her tongue over her lips, feeling a blush creep up her neck with the memory of that kiss...the memory was almost as sweet as the moment. *Almost.* She stared into the darkness of her bedroom and tried to force those thoughts to the back of her mind; she did *not* get involved with people she worked with. *No matter how sexy,* her id taunted her, eliciting a soft chuckle from her lips. No doubt about it, he *was* sexy, and charming and caring and...stop it, *Becca!* She took a deep breath, forcing her mind away from the unclean thoughts she was entertaining regarding Special Agent Fox Mulder. As long as they were still working together, she would keep it a working relationship, built on respect and trust. Once the work was over, however...she headed off that thought before it could retreat into the gutter. Remembering what he said about her Bureau application, her thought turned to what happened at the station. Parker and Jack had always been assholes, but they'd never tried anything like this. She hoped with all her might that Mulder and Scully could help her, but tried to steel herself in case they couldn't do anything. She had taken longer than usual in the shower, trying to wash away the shock and shame of what Parker had done; it helped a little, and she had something now that she hadn't before: an ally, someone on her side, someone she could talk to, and someone who wasn't just looking for a roll in the hay. She could tell there was something about her that spooked him, but couldn't put her finger on what it was. *Ha. You'd rather put your finger on--* With a groan, she closed her eyes, her id supplying the impetus for pleasant dreams. She was awake. She tracked every move he made with her wide, frightened eyes. He smiled; it wouldn't be long now, but first she had to know why. He turned the burner off before the soup was too hot and poured the broth and noodles into a bowl. She hadn't made a sound since she had awakened. He walked over and sat in front of her, dipping the spoon into the soup. He held it to her lips. "Eat." She shook her head slightly, never taking her eyes from his face. "Please." He nudged the spoon against her mouth, and she opened up, accepting the mouthful of chicken noodle. He smiled at her. "Thank you. Would you like more?" A nod. Another spoonful. And another. Good, she was eating. "You're a very lucky little girl, Tina. When I first saw you I knew what a lucky little girl you were, lucky that I had found you." He retrieved a nearby napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth. As he caressed her face, he saw his hands were shaking with need. He wouldn't be able to control himself for long, but he must tell her why. Just then a sunbeam slid in through the window, bathing the girl in its glow, shining in her hair, her eyes. She looked just like an angel, and he felt a flutter inside him. His hands stilled; he could wait now, until he told her the story. "When I was a little boy, I thought I was lucky too. I had a mommy and daddy that loved me, a nice house, and lots of friends, just like you." Those were good memories; he could almost feel the hugs his mommy gave him, he could hear his laughter. "I thought I was the luckiest boy in the world." A cloud passed over, sending a shadow over her angelic face, and his hands began to shake again. "I didn't know then that it would all change when I turned twelve." He put down the soup and took her hands in his. "I don't remember exactly when it was, but it wasn't long after my twelfth birthday. My daddy came to my room one night to talk to me. He said he had a favor to ask me." He could hear himself talking, but it was only a drone in the back of his mind. The memories came back as if they had happened just last week. He could feel everything Daddy had done, the pain, the violation... Daddy had hurt him so badly, it made him sick, but Daddy said that all daddys did this with their children, that it was part of becoming an adult. "I didn't understand what was happening, only that it was a part of growing up. It hurt me deeply, Tina. I didn't know growing up could be so painful. I never told anyone, and I ran away after a year of 'growing', wishing I never had to grow up at all." He could feel her trembling at the horror of his story; good, then she would understand what he was going to do. "After I was away for a while, I began to think. 'I can save people from the pain of growing up like that,' I thought, 'I can save them from the hurt.' Those thoughts gave me peace, Tina, and not long afterwards I began my crusade." He remembered the first two with a smile. Jessica Roberts and Melissa Bernhardt; they had been so lovely in death that he was reluctant to leave them there to be poked and prodded by the authorities. The third, however...he suppressed a shudder. He waited too long with Lynn Barrows. By the time he had been ready to go to work, she had begun to grow up, and he couldn't stop himself from helping her, as his Daddy had helped him. When he had come back to himself, he had ended her suffering, but she had been spoiled, and not worth the effort he had given to Jessica and Melissa. Poor Lynn. "So now you understand, Tina. You don't want to grow up, no matter what you've been told. Growing up hurts. It hurts more than you could ever think, and you don't deserve such pain." He reached over and caressed one pale, freckled cheek. "Finish your soup, then you won't have to worry about growing up ever again." He stood and left the room before his need grew too great. In a few hours, it would be over, and he could begin his search again, his search for another lucky girl. Lewis shook her bangs out of her face as she topped another rise on the path. Her breath came in short pants, and Sammy kept an easy pace with her as she jogged along the deer trail. The cool mountain air and the sparkle of the early morning sun invigorated her, and it gave her mind a chance to wake up before she actually began her day. Her thoughts returned to last night, and Mulder's promise to talk to his partner about her situation. She hoped Agent Scully would understand; she was so hard to read, but Lewis saw her reaction to Chief Matson. For now, her hopes were as high as her spirits, and it put an extra spring in her steps as she rounded a bend. She glanced idly at the Johnson's cabin, and was surprised to see a car in the gravel driveway. Usually the Johnson's didn't show up until after Memorial Day, which was a month away, and she hadn't remembered them owning a black Ford sedan... ...with New York plates. She forced herself to jog by, not seeming to notice the car despite the rush of adrenaline that surged through her. As soon as she was out of sight, she stopped, calling Sammy to heel. She reached back and touched the badge in her pocket, wondering if she should try this herself. Before the thought was even finished, she shook her head; this wasn't her investigation, and she was in no way prepared. She had to get a hold of Mulder and Scully; they knew more about Eckland, and this was their case. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her route, knowing it would take her back to her house in less time than it would take to get to the next cabin with a phone. Sammy followed silently, seeming to understand the urgency that made Lewis break into a sprint. Scully listened to the silence on the other end of the line, her fingers surreptitiously crossed behind her back. By mutual assent, it had been agreed that she would present this request to Assistant Director Skinner. "He likes you better," was what Mulder had said, and Scully prayed that it was true, hoping for any advantage in what she was asking her superior to do. "Do you realize the magnitude of what you're asking me, Agent Scully?" His normally stern voice sounded even more so. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation has strict guidelines for acceptance into the Academy, and there are no exceptions. Now you're asking me to make an exception." "I understand sir, but there are circumstances surrounding this request." She gave him a brief outline of the harassment she and Mulder had been witness to since their arrival. "Sir, it is my opinion that Officer Lewis' application should be considered in advance due to the extreme harassment in her occupational environment." "That all sounds very convincing, Agent Scully, but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do--" "Sir--" "--not until I review Officer Lewis' record and qualifications." BEEEEEEEEEEP! Scully jumped as she heard Mulder's celphone ring. He retreated into the other room and answered it. "Is that understood, Agent Scully?" She jerked her attention back to her conversation. "Yes, sir." Mulder charged through the door, shoving one arm into his shoulder holster. "Lewis spotted Eckland's car outside a cabin half a mile from her house." Scully's eyes widened, then, "Sir.." "I heard, Agent Scully. Go get him." "Yes, sir." She hung up, looking for her jacket and her gun. The minutes spent waiting for that car were the longest fifteen minutes of Lewis' life. She checked and rechecked her weapon, making sure everything was in place. When she saw the car round the bend, she heaved a sigh of relief and flagged it down. The window slid down as they approached, and she looked into Agent Scully's eyes. "The cabin is a half mile up the road on your right, number 1121, you'll see it on the mailbox. What do you want me to do?" "Approach the cabin from the rear and secure any exits you can. We don't want this guy to get away." "No problem, Agent Scully," she said, flipping her a salute. "See you there." Lewis turned and she and Sammy headed for the deer trail that led to the cabin. "There it is, 1121." The car ground to a halt at the end of the driveway, where they could just see the tail end of the black sedan. The two agents looked at each other, then with a wordless nod, they exited the car. They moved in silence, covering each other with the ease born of years of working together. Mulder slackened his strides, letting Scully keep abreast of him as they ascended the driveway. As the cabin came into view they saw Lewis and Sammy approaching from the trees, taking a position near the back porch. Creeping below the windows, they positioned themselves on either side of the front door. After a deep breath and another nod, Mulder kicked the door in. His head jerked up as he heard the door splinter inward and "Federal Agents!" shouted in two voices. Dammit! He took a last look at Tina, her face so peaceful in the drug-induced sleep, and cursed the fate that separated him from his work. He crept to the door and peeked out. Seeing no one, he made a frantic dash towards the back porch, his footsteps bringing shouts of "Freeze!" behind him. He drew his gun as he reached the back door, ready for the pursuit; he wouldn't go down without a fight. Lewis heard Mulder kick the door open and immediately saw movement in one of the windows. Her heart kicked into overdrive and she told Sammy "Watch!" Immediately, the dog went from calm to alert, a low growl echoing in her throat. She drew her gun and leveled it at the back door just as Eckland burst through it. "Freeze!" Sammy went wild at the sight of him, barking and snarling at the man. He didn't check his stride as he jumped off the porch; she knew she couldn't catch him, and she made her decision. "Sammy, *Fass!"* The shepherd charged Eckland, her teeth bared in a snarl. Eckland spun around, pulling the pistol from his jacket. "NO!" Two voices shouted denial; two fingers squeezed the trigger. Eckland spun around with the force of the impact, his gun flying from his wounded grasp. Mulder skidded to a stop as he passed by one of the rooms. "Scully!" He heard her footsteps behind him and made room for her to go to the little girl lying unconscious on the floor. "Make sure she's okay and call an ambulance." Both their heads jerked up at the sound of gunfire outside, and Mulder's heart leaped into his throat. "Lewis!" With a last glance at Scully, he charged out the back door. Lewis was on the ground, one knee shoved into Eckland's back as she cuffed his hands behind him. Mulder saw blood on Eckland's arm as she stood, and moved to cover him as she pulled the card from her pocket and began to read aloud. "You have the right to remain silent." Mulder saw her hands shaking and only then noticed tears streaming down her face as she continued. "Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law....you have the right to an attorney." Mulder looked around, confused, and saw a bundle of black and brown fur lying motionless on the ground. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you." Mulder's breath caught in his throat as he looked back at Lewis, calmly standing there and reading the Miranda card. "Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?" A muffled "yes" came from the man on the ground. "Mulder, the ambulance is on its way. She's alive, and I don't think she ingested enough of ..." Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. "Thanks, Scully. We've got things under control here. Take care of Tina." He didn't even look around as his partner retreated into the house. Lewis looked at him, and he saw the agony behind her eyes. "Agent Mulder, he's all yours." Her voice was flat, controlled. He stepped forward and hauled Eckland up by his wounded arm. "I'll take him inside," Mulder said. "Lewis..." He trailed off as she walked slowly to her partner's body and fell to her knees beside it. He ached to go to her, but he knew there was procedure to be followed. He pushed Eckland before him, shoving him into the doorframe before taking him inside. Part 4 is still in the works, but it won't be long now. Please let me know what you think; I crave feedback. the truth is out there... AnneV Puplove@ix.netcom.com From puplove@ix.netcom.com Mon Jan 27 16:41:09 1997 Hi! Well, folks, it's finally done! Thanks to all who sent me feedback, and hope you enjoy the conclusion! Part 1 Disclaimer still applies. M, S, and Skinner are CC's, Rebecca Lewis is mine mine mine! Reflections of Mulder (4/4) by Anne Vermillion ======================================================================== It was over. Mulder breathed a sigh of relief as the last of the cars drove away, carrying with it the silent silhouette of Paul Eckland, who still hadn't said a word since his rights had been read. Forensics had taken the bowl of chicken soup and other bits of evidence needed to convict Eckland. Scully had gone with Tina to the hospital. Statements had been taken, messages related to their superiors, everything was taken care of. Mulder glanced back at the front porch of the Johnson's cabin. Almost everything. He approached Lewis carefully, sitting down next to her on the front steps. She hadn't spoken a word since reading the Miranda card to Eckland, and now she simply sat, turning the leather collar over and over in her hands. Knowing that they would probably stay here until dark if he said nothing, he spoke. "Lewis." He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. She jumped, as if just noticing he was there. She looked up at him, her eyes haunted with grief. "I had no choice, Mulder," she whispered, "I couldn't have caught up with him." "I know." "I didn't see the gun until it was..." "I know." "I...I just can't believe she's gone, you know?" Her voice was deceptively light. "I mean, I keep expecting to see her come around the corner." "Lewis, you did what anyone in your situation would have done." He covered her hands with one of his, halting the turning of the leather. "Just come around the corner and give me this look like ‘hey! What are you sitting around for?'--" Her hands grasped his in a strong, desperate grip. "She's gone, Mulder. My Samantha's gone." Leaning to rest against Mulder's chest, she began to cry. Mulder put his arms around her, rocking her as she wept, his own throat blocked with grief spawned years ago when another Samantha had disappeared. He almost envied the closure of her loss, but pushed those feelings to the back of his mind, concentrating on easing her pain and pulling her from the despair that was so familiar to him. Finally, when the sobs turned to sniffles and hiccups, he gently nudged her to a sitting position. "Come on, I'll take you home." She sniffed, then scrubbed the tears from her face. "Thanks," she croaked, then took his hand. "Thanks for being here, Mulder. It means....I can't explain how much it means, but I think you know." He smiled, hoping his pain didn't show through. "I know how it feels to lose someone close to you." He stood, pulling her up with him. Their fingers remained intertwined as they walked back to his car. Lewis stared dazedly out the window of Mulder's car, wondering when she was going to wake up. Since her jog this morning, everything had seemed to coalesce into a hazy blur, save for one horrifying moment of clarity when she had pulled the trigger, trying to save Sammy. Without so much as a whimper her partner had died, and she couldn't stop the memory from slashing into her thoughts. Twice she had reached for a warm body that wasn't there. She saw Mulder watching her out of the corner of his eye as they pulled into her driveway, and tried to pull herself together; she didn't want him to see her fall apart, despite how good it felt to cry on his shoulder and know someone understood the pain. A deep breath helped, and by the time he stopped in front of the house the tears had stopped. She got out, nearly reached over to open the back door for Sammy, and closed her hand into a fist. She reached back into her seat and picked up Sammy's collar, her hands only shaking a little as she walked with Mulder to her door. She turned to him as she pulled her keys from her pocket, intending to thank him, and she would see him tomorrow. "How about that iced tea you offered before?" His question caught her off guard. "Ah, really, you don't have to--" "I want to." The look in his eyes brooked no argument, and he gently took the keys from her and opened the door. He followed her inside, and dropped the keys on the counter. Why had she let him in? She just wanted to be alone, she didn't want to deal with this in front of anyone. Without realizing it, she had emerged from the kitchen, two glasses of iced tea in her hands. She handed him one, and sat down on the couch next to him, sipping the sweet, cool liquid. The tea eased her raw throat, and made it easier to talk. "It hurts, Mulder." "I know." He set his drink on the coffee table and reached for her hand. She stood up before he could take it; if he touched her she would break down again. "Let me wash up a little," she said, not meeting his eyes. "Be right back." The cold water on her face helped calm her down, and she wiped off the last trace of tears confident that she could hold herself together until he left. She walked back into the living room, putting as much self-assurance into her stride as she could. She found him bend down, looking at the leg of the coffee table. "Did she do that?" he asked, pointing to a spot where the varnish and most of the wood had been chewed off. She smiled at the memory. "Yeah, she was such a brat when she was a puppy. You should have seen her..." She launched into the story, which was followed by another, and another...by the end of her voice she had shown him all of her photo albums, made another pitcher of iced tea, and the sun had set on the day. She looked up at the clock over the fireplace and her eyes widened as she saw how late it was. She looked back at Mulder, and realized what he had been doing, and how her grief was no longer so raw in her mind. She remembered Sammy with a smile now, seeing her as she lived rather than how she had died. "You're very slick, you know that, Mulder?" He smiled. "Did it help?" "You know it did." She looked to the photo album, open to a picture of her in uniform, Sammy at her side. "She was a good officer." She felt his hand on her shoulder, and covered it with her own. "Take some time off from work," he said, "You're entitled to it." She gave a short laugh. "How about two months?" She heard an answering chuckle. "Seriously though, I have to fill out my report tomorrow. Then I'll request some time." She turned to look at him. "Isn't your partner wondering where you are?" "I talked to her while you were in the bathroom. Tina's fine, she's conscious, and her parents are on their way to get her." "That's terrific," she said, and meant it. "I'm glad she's going to be okay." "She wouldn't have made it without you and Sammy." She smiled, and turned to face him. "Thanks, Mulder. For everything." He reached up and touched her cheek, and she leaned into his comforting embrace, once again marveling at how safe she felt encircled in his arms. She looked up into his eyes, and before she could react she was kissing him. She slid her fingers through his dark hair, holding him to her as he crushed her to him. When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard. "I...I don't want to be alone tonight, Mulder." His touch was electric as he cradled her face in his hands. "Are you sure?" he asked, "Are you sure this is what you want?" She answered with another kiss, then smiled against his lips, "That means yes." Lewis finished typing her report, a sad smile touching her lips. After this, they would be gone, back to Washington and out of her life. She willed herself to type slower, as if that alone would prolong his stay. She liked the feeling of waking up next to him, his hair tousled by sleep, smiling sleepily at her. "So, am I all set for Quantico now?" she had said impishly. He threw a pillow at her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the slap of papers on her desk. She looked up and saw Chief Matson scowling down at her. "Your request for leave is denied." She could almost see a smile hovering at the corners of his mouth. "May I ask why, sir?" She worked hard to keep her voice civil. "Your reasons are unacceptable." Through the blood pounding in her ears, she heard the door open as the morning shift began. "Sir, my partner was killed yesterday, and I--" He snorted. "Partner?" His voice dripped sarcasm. "That mutt wasn't worth the kibble you fed her. You listen here, missy.." She rose to her feet as her Chief began a verbal dissection of her incompetence during the past two years of duty. She bit the inside of her cheeks and met his assault with a cold stare of her own. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. He had just finished with her first year when an angry voice interrupted from behind him. "That's enough." Matson whirled around, furious at the interruption of his tirade, to face a tall, broad-shouldered man, his eyes flashing behind wire framed glasses. Lewis saw Mulder and Scully standing back behind him; Mulder caught her eye, and she caught his wordless wave of sympathy before he looked back at the man in front of Chief Matson. "Who the hell do you think you are to come in and--" Matson's face was nearly purple with rage. The man reached into his coat and flashed his badge. "Assistant Director Walter Skinner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Skinner looked at her. "Rebecca Lewis?" She nodded, too surprised to speak. "Now just a damned minute!" Matson was winding up again, and Skinner pinned him with a glare. "Sit down and shut up, Matson, or you'd be surprised how fast you'll find yourself out of a job." If it was possible, Matson's face got even redder, and he opened and closed his mouth several times before backing down, stepping back from her desk to let Skinner approach. "Officer Lewis, I'm here to inform you that effective immediately you have been accepted into the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia. Should you still be willing, there will be an open slot waiting for you." He handed her a sheaf of papers. "Please fill these out to complete your admission into the curriculum. You have two weeks to pack and resolve your responsibilities here, during which time you are relieved of your duties to the Clinton County Police Department." Stunned, she took the papers from his hand. "Thank you, sir." To her surprise, her voice didn't crack or shake. "I'll be there." "Congratulations, Officer Lewis," Skinner said, "We'll look forward to seeing you in the fall." He held out his hand, and she shook it gratefully. He turned back to Matson, looking him up and down with disdain. "Chief Matson, please be advised that I have reported the actions of you and your officers as witnessed by Agents Mulder and Scully to the District Chief. I'm sure you'll be hearing from him within the week. Good day, sir." He walked out, stopping only a moment to have a quiet word with the two agents. Lewis could practically smell the scorched ego of her Chief as he watched Skinner leave. Before he could recover, she quickly unbuckled her gun belt and laid it and her badge on her desk. Matson glanced down at the objects, and snatched them off the desk without a word. He stalked back to his office, and the room resounded with the slamming of the door. She looked at the door, then at the two agents approaching the desk. "Congratulations, Lewis," Scully shook her hand, "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again; I teach the occasional class at Quantico." She smiled, then turned to Mulder. "See you back in Washington." She looked at her watch. "Whoop, I've got a plane to catch. Good luck, Lewis, and see you at the Academy." With another smile, she turned and walked out. Lewis' legs finally gave way, and she thumped into her chair. She looked up at Mulder, who was watching her with a smile. "What just happened here?" Mulder grabbed a cardboard box off the file cabinet and placed it on her desk. "Well, A.D. Skinner gave me two weeks to help you get everything in order here, so I suggest we get started." "Then this all isn't just a weird dream?" Mulder's smile turned into a leer. "You want me to pinch you?" She shot him an mock-glare. "You can start with that drawer there," she said, taking the picture of her and Sammy and putting it in the box. She heard the drawer slide open as she turned to the shelves behind her, and heard a soft chuckle. "What?" She peered over his shoulder to see what was so funny, then gave him a puzzled look. He was holding a half-empty bag of sunflower seeds. Well, folks, I hope you enjoyed it! I know I probably played fast and loose with the FBI Academy schedule; my apologies! Anyway, please let me know what you thought of the story. I crave feedback! I'm sure there will be further stories of Rebecca Lewis; I really got to like her, and I hope you all did too! Let me know what you think, AnneV (puplove@ix.netcom.com)