From: bellefleur <bellefleur1013@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:56:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: The Valley of Shadows 05: Touchstone by bellefleur
Source: direct

TITLE: The Valley of Shadows 5: Touchstone
AUTHOR: bellefleur
E-MAIL: bellefleur1013@yahoo.com
DISTRIBUTION: sure, but let me know
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORIES: X/mythology
SPOILERS: Season 9
DISCLAIMER: Not mine; they belong to FOX, CC, etc.  
SUMMARY: The arrival of old friends brings new concerns.

Notes: This story is the fifth part in a series that 
rewrites the end of season 9 and then branches off in its 
own direction.  Read Parts 1 through 4 at: 
www.geocities.com/bellefleur1013/shadows_toc.html
Special thanks to Mims for the beta.  

*****
*****

The bright morning sun was intruding on his last efforts at 
sleep.  He was loathe to open his eyes, but his arms were 
empty, and he needed to know why.  One look, and he easily 
found her.  They had become disentangled in the night, and 
she was now turned away from him on the other side of the 
bed.  He quickly returned his world to its axis, rolling 
over and cozying up behind her.  She sighed contentedly and 
snuggled up to him, but slept on.

From this angle, he could see the blue sky peeking through 
the slats of the blinds, not a cloud to be found.  The 
weather here was beautiful, but he had to admit, he missed 
the seasons.  Fall was on its way, and elsewhere in the 
country, leaves would be turning soon, adding vibrancy and 
fire before the long grayness of winter.

But the feeling of eternal summer was somehow fitting.  
Despite the losses they had both experienced to get to this 
place, it was the happiest he had ever been.  Mornings like 
this, they could forget about shadowy figures and 
government conspiracies, and just be a man and woman in 
love.  He nestled her a little tighter into his embrace, 
desiring never to be without her again.

Yet, for all their joy, there was a tugging at his heart.  
There were still battles to be fought.  As much as they 
wanted to, they couldn't hide from the world forever.  
Sooner or later, it would catch up with them, and they 
would regret the time they had squandered.  His one 
consolation was that, wherever they went from here, they 
would always be together.  He would see to that.

He heard her exhale heavily and felt her stirring awake.  
Not quite to consciousness yet, just letting the day seep 
into her reality.  He propped up on an elbow and leaned 
over to place a kiss on her cheek.  She hummed and smiled.

"You awake?"

"Almost," she sighed, her eyes still closed.

"I've been thinking."

When he said nothing further, she finally blinked alert and 
turned in his arms.  Now that he had her full attention, he 
felt free to unburden his heart.  "I think it's time for us 
to move on."

She returned a melancholy smile.  "I guess we knew this 
couldn't last forever."

He lifted her hand from his chest and gallantly kissed the 
back.  "*This* will last forever," he promised.  "Just not 
here."  

Her eyes focused on their hands for a moment, but when her 
gaze returned to his, it was full of mischief.  "One more 
for the road, John?"

Only in bed did they dare to use their real names.  It was 
a talisman to him, a reminder of who they really were and 
the past they would always share.  He leaned his weight 
into her until she fell back and pressed her into the 
mattress.  "Just one, Susanne?" he asked with a smile.  

If she had a reply, it went unspoken.  Her lips were 
otherwise engaged.

* * *

The trailer was quiet, filled only by the occasional sounds 
of clapping or a childish giggle.  William sat in the 
center of the cramped living room, an assembly of colorful 
blocks set out before him.  Opposite him, Gibson sprawled 
across the floor on his belly.  

The boys were engaged in a game that was purely for the 
amusement of the younger: construction and destruction.  
Gibson added a yellow block to his tower of red, green, and 
blue.  William watched carefully for a moment; when the 
older boy made no further move, the toddler swept his hand 
across the stack and squealed with glee when it came 
toppling down.  Gibson smiled and started the cycle again.  
This time, it would be his turn to knock over the pile, but 
the reaction from his playmate would be the same.

Blue on green, red on blue.  But as Gibson reached for 
another block, he froze.  His eyes went wide, yet his focus 
was internal.  William went still and watched.  Then their 
eyes locked.

Someone was coming.

The trailer door flew open, and both looked up at Mulder,  
hastily wiping his oil-covered hands on a towel. "There's a 
car coming down the drive.  I don't recognize it."  He 
anxiously searched Gibson's expression for some clue how to 
react.  

Finally, the boy's features relaxed.  "It's okay.  He's a 
friend."

Uncertainty passed over Mulder's face.  Scully had taken 
the car into town to run some errands, and Frohike and 
Langly usually rode up on mopeds.  But with no further 
questions, Mulder turned and strode back into the bright 
daylight.

An old pickup truck rumbled through the gravel and slowed 
to a stop.  First the passenger's door opened, then the 
driver's, and Mulder broke out into a grin.

"Byers!  It's about time you showed up.  We were starting 
to wonder if you'd moved to Mexico and started another 
newsletter."

Byers returned Mulder's genial handshake and then settled 
his hand onto Susanne's back.

"I'm afraid not, although I can't say I was lonely without 
you.  You remember Susanne Modeski?"

Mulder smiled and extended his hand.  "It's been a while, 
but I've heard stories.  Especially that little incident in 
Las Vegas--you might want to avoid mentioning that around 
Scully."

Susanne cocked a shy half-smile as she clutched his hand.  
"I don't think either of us want to remember that.  But it 
is nice to see you again."

Once his hand was relinquished, Mulder looked down at it 
with chagrin and wiped it on the towel again.  "Sorry about 
that.  I've been trying to fix up this bike."  He gestured 
toward the disassembled ten-speed sprawled across the dirt.  
"C'mon inside.  I'd offer you something to drink, but there 
won't be much to choose from 'til Scully gets back from the 
store."

"Are Langly and Frohike around?" Byers asked, his hand 
remaining on Susanne's back as they followed Mulder toward 
the trailer.

"They're in town.  I'll give them a call.  I know they'll 
be happy to see you."  Mulder came to a stop, just shy of 
the front steps, and turned around.  "Did they know you 
were coming?" he inquired suspiciously.

Byers looked toward Susanne with concern before replying.  
"Uh, I take it they didn't tell you?"

Mulder's eyes narrowed.  "Those two have some 'splainin' to 
do."  The poor attempt at a Ricky Ricardo accent muted the 
threat in his expression.

Byers fidgeted.  "To be fair, I didn't say when we were 
coming, only that we wanted to make sure where they were 
before we set out."

"And I thought the only secret being kept around here was 
the special ingredient in my chili recipe."  Mulder smiled 
at the two uncertain faces staring back.  "Don't worry, I 
won't feed it to you on your first night."  He turned and 
mounted the steps, reaching for the trailer door.  "Maybe 
on your second."

* * *

Warm firelight danced over the happy faces, painting them 
in rosy tones as the sky shifted from indigo to salted 
black.  There were more than enough burdens to be 
shouldered among the clan, but tonight, they were just 
reunited friends and long-lost acquaintances.

"...and then Blondie here pulled out his rosary and started 
chanting 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'."  As he spoke the 
accusation, Frohike gestured toward Langly with the stick 
he'd been using to poke the fire.

"Hey, it was the best I could come up with on such short 
notice," Langly said.

Frohike scoffed.  "Didn't 'Hail Mary' ever occur to you?"

"I was supposed to be praying, not playing football.  I 
needed lyrics."

Their squabble was interrupted by Mulder's laugh.  "I can't 
believe you guys traveled incognito in penguin suits.  Are 
there a couple of nuns tied up naked in a train station 
somewhere?"

Frohike cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter 
on the log that served as his stool.  "No, we, uh, acquired 
them from a costume shop."

Mulder leaned back and draped his arm over the chair next 
to him.  The shift in position gave him better access to 
Scully's ear.  He said quietly, "You should've tried that 
one, Scully."

She smirked at him before returning her attention to their 
son drifting to sleep between them on her shoulder.  "You 
have fantasies about that, don't you--me dressed up as a 
nun?"  But as Mulder opened his mouth to reply, she cut him 
off.  "Never mind, don't answer that."

"I guess it's a good thing I left you two when I did," 
Byers was saying.  "I would never wear a habit as a 
disguise."  He glanced sideways and offered a sheepish grin 
to Susanne, who squeezed his hand joined with hers.

"You could've been the priest," Mulder joked.

Langly leaned back in his chair and rested his head against 
his fingers woven together behind him.  "Scoff all you 
want, but we dodged the ninja dudes."

"Do you really think someone was following you?"  There was 
a hint of anxiety in Mulder's voice.

Frohike prodded a log on the campfire, chasing sparks into 
the sky.  "Who's to say?  But we weren't going to take any 
chances."

Mulder looked over at William, now sound asleep in his 
mother's arms.  "And I greatly appreciate that.  None of 
this would be possible if you hadn't been incredibly 
careful--all of you."  His eyes lifted to meet Scully's and 
settled on her intensely.  "You've made a lot of sacrifices 
to get here."  

William made a small noise and shifted in her arms, and she 
quickly broke the connection with Mulder.  "I need to get 
him changed and put to bed."

Mulder nodded and stretched.  "It's late.  We have a lot of 
important things to catch up on, but it can wait until 
tomorrow."

Scully sat forward and moved the slumbering child to her 
other shoulder.  "We need to discuss sleeping 
arrangements."

Frohike spoke up, explaining to Byers, "Langly and I found 
a room at a boarding house in town.  We only have the two 
beds, but we could see if the landlady has any extra 
space."

Byers looked to Susanne and then answered, "Thank you, but  
we'll be fine sleeping in the back of the truck.  We've got 
a couple of sleeping bags in there, and a tarp in case the 
weather turns.  It's suited us just fine for the last few 
nights."  He glanced back at her for confirmation, and she 
smiled in return.

"You can use our bathroom and kitchen," Scully offered.  
"You're welcome to sleep in the living room if you need to, 
but we only have the couch, and there isn't much room on 
the floor.  I'll see if we have any extra blankets, at 
least.  It can get pretty cold out here at night."  She 
stood, and several of the others took the cue that it was 
time to depart.

"Thank you," Byers replied, remaining seated.  "I think we 
might sit out here by the fire for a while, to keep warm."  
He and Susanne shared a smile, the secret language of 
lovers wrapped up in a world of their own.

Frohike smirked at them, but his expression soon sobered 
and he cleared his throat.  "We better get the kid home 
before we bore him to death."  His nod toward Gibson drew 
all eyes to the teenager slumped on the steps of the 
trailer.  His ears were covered with large headphones, and 
the tilt of his body away from the fire obscured his 
walkman in the shadows.

From his position behind Scully, Mulder spoke softly into  
her ear.  "Too many voices."  Scully looked away from the 
boy to gaze up at him.  He didn't elaborate, but the 
sympathy in her eyes showed that she understood.

Byers responded to Frohike's comment.  "Is Gibson staying 
with you two?"

"No, he's been living with a friend in town," Frohike 
answered.

"Eric Hosteen," Mulder added.  "Albert's grandson.  I can't 
say enough about what his family has done for us since 
we've all started showing up on their doorstep.  
Considering some of the grief they've suffered because of 
their involvement with me, I expected a little more 
reticence, but they've been very welcoming."

"I just hope they don't mind that we keep multiplying."  
Scully's comment was lighthearted, but it evoked a look of 
concern from Byers.

"Maybe it's best if we looked for somewhere else to settle 
down," Byers said.  "In a nearby town, off the 
reservation."

Mulder shook his head.  "We need to stay close.  Albert's 
still here."  He swept a hand to the sky.  "He's watching 
out for us.  And his family knows it.  I think we could use 
a few spirits on our side." 

The group descended into a thoughtful silence, as though 
listening for the spirits to announce their presence.  But 
only the hiss and pop of the fire answered.  

Scully was the first to break the moment, speaking her 
goodnight and turning toward the trailer.  As she arrived 
at the steps, Gibson looked up, seeming to notice for the 
first time that the evening was over.  He moved off to join 
the two Gunmen on their trip back into town.  

Langly spared one more glance toward the couple by the 
fire, but Byers didn't notice, his eyes fixed solely on 
Susanne.  Mulder soon followed his family into the trailer, 
leaving the flickering firelight to stand chaperone.

* * *

With the three heads crowded around the monitor, it was 
almost like old times again--only, now, there was just one 
computer to be shared among the trio.  And that was only 
when they came by the trailer to visit Mulder.  

While the Gunmen pored over data on the screen, Scully and 
Susanne were seated at the table, looking over chemical 
formulas and medical records.

"I can't believe how much information you managed to 
accumulate.  No one ever suspected?"  Scully looked up from 
her page in anticipation of Susanne's response.

"There's a good deal less than I had hoped.  This is all 
I've been doing for three years.  I wanted to take more 
risks, but if I got caught, all of this work would've been 
in vain."

Byers stood up from where he had been leaning over the back 
of Langly's chair.  "You were right to wait.  We know how 
things went the last time you tried to go public.  You 
couldn't risk the same thing happening again."

Scully glanced back at the pages in front of her.  "But why 
did you decide to track the use of chloramine?  It was 
introduced as simply an alternative to chlorine.  The use 
has become so prevalent that I have a hard time believing 
it's all intended as some nefarious government plan."

"I know that the Department of Defense intended a number of 
tests on the public to be disseminated through various 
methods by air and water," Susanne answered.  "I kept tabs 
on as many of these as I could.  I wasn't involved directly 
in the chloramine project, but I knew enough to realize 
there was more to it than simple water purification.  It's 
part of a much larger scheme.  So large, in fact, that no 
individual is allowed to see more than pieces of the whole.  
Even with the research I've been able to do, I still know 
very little about the overall scope."

"So you've been keeping records of all the locations where 
chloramine has been introduced into the water supply?" 
Scully asked.

"Along with analyses of the water samples, when I can get 
them, and data on birth rates and health trends among the 
local population--especially reproductive health."

Scully went rigid at her statement.  "Why reproductive 
health?"

Susanne and Byers shared a look.  He approached the table 
and took a seat with them before answering gently, "I told 
Susanne about the ship, the secret lab, the ova, everything 
that Shannon McMahon told you about the Super Soldiers and 
the water--"

Scully interrupted.  "That woman was one of Them.  We can't 
trust a word she said."  She stood abruptly and crossed to 
where William was playing on the floor.  He looked up as 
she approached, and she gathered him into her arms before 
taking a seat on the couch.  

Mulder had been watching the whole scene quietly, standing 
at a distance behind the Gunmen but near enough to see the 
screen.  He now joined Scully on the couch and drew her 
close under his arm.  "Byers, there's something you don't 
know, something that happened to William after you three 
disappeared."

The room was hushed, waiting for Mulder to elaborate.  
After a moment, Scully responded to his silent prompting 
and softly, yet clinically, told of her encounter with 
Jeffrey Spender, and the injection he had given William.  

After she had gone quiet, Byers prompted, "Do you think 
it's related somehow to the chloramine?"  

The question was directed toward the couple on the couch, 
but Susanne was the one who answered.  "I think it is.  
They're all pieces of the puzzle.  I'm just not sure yet 
how the pieces fit together."  

"Ms. McMahon said that the chloramine initiates a genetic 
mutation during fetal development," Byers added.  

"I can't verify that, but the data seems to support the 
opposite result."  Susanne grabbed a piece of paper from 
the table and gestured with it.  "In all the areas where 
the water has tested positive for a particular strain of 
altered chloramine, there is a commensurate rise in 
infertility rates and reproductive intervention."

Frohike had turned away from the computer to follow the 
conversation.  "The ova in that secret lab?"

Susanne nodded.  "It's another necessary component in the 
project.  If the chloramine alone can't produce the mutated 
offspring, that combined with the manipulated ova--"

"They're not mutants."  The room went silent at Scully's 
harsh words.  "They're innocent children."

"I didn't mean to imply..." Susanne offered apologetically, 
but Mulder held up a hand to stall her words.

Mulder spoke gently to Scully, although the words were 
spoken loud enough for the whole room to hear.  "They're 
Super Soldiers.  Or, at least, that's what they're meant to 
become."

Scully looked up at him with sad, watery eyes.  "Not 
William.  He's okay."

Mulder held her gaze for a moment, then nodded and looked 
back toward the table.  "What about the magnetite?  Can 
that somehow reverse the effects of the genetic 
engineering?"

Susanne sighed.  "I don't know how, but it sounds like it's 
possible.  I just wish we knew more."  Byers reached across 
the table to take her hand, and she smiled weakly at him.

Mulder replied, "Well, then maybe that's where we need to 
focus our attention.  Learn more about the magnetite and if 
it can help us gain an advantage."

Scully spoke up, although her attention was still 
concentrated on her son.  "Susanne was right to trace the 
chloramine.  We need to put a stop to this if we can.  No 
child deserves to be born as part of an agenda."

"That's a big project," Mulder responded.

Her eyes shot up to meet his.  "But an important one."

He nodded, then turned toward the rest of the room.  "Well, 
gang, it sounds like we have our work cut out for us."

* * *

"You coming, Byers?"

Mulder paused in front of the couple, twirling the Frisbee 
in his hands.  Frohike and Langly had already passed them 
by, headed for the clearing designated as their field of 
play.  Only Mulder had stopped to ask casually if Byers was 
interested in joining their game.  

John's response was to look immediately toward Susanne.  
She knew without words that he was asking her permission.  
Apparently it was obvious to Langly too, because she caught 
his eye roll, although John couldn't see it from where he 
sat.

Trying to remain unobtrusive in front of their audience, 
Susanne simply squeezed his hand and released it as her 
reply.  John smiled warmly at her, then practically bounded 
from his chair to go join his buddies.  She knew how 
important it was to him to feel included.  

Susanne's hand felt bereft, resting alone on the arm of the 
chair, and she quickly withdrew it to entwine with the 
other hand in her lap.  Her eyes wandered over the empty 
seats and the scene of their meal.  Mulder had been true to 
his offer of regaling them with his chili, and the evidence 
of it lay in empty Styrofoam bowls scattered around their 
makeshift campsite.  The meal had been cooked in the 
trailer, but with so little space inside, the random 
assembly of chairs out front had become their dining and 
living room.

Away from the fire pit, Gibson sat stretched out on a 
blanket watching William play with a plastic truck.  Scully 
knelt by her son, straightening his ball cap.  The shadows 
had lengthened and the heat of the day was dissipating, but 
the attentive mother was still sure to protect the boy's 
fair skin from the sun.

Scully stood then and approached the circle of chairs, 
beginning to pick up the bowls and utensils left behind 
from dinner.  Susanne looked down at the chili she had 
hardly touched, which sent her stomach roiling again.  She 
pushed aside the half-full bowl and stood to approach the 
other woman.

"Agent Scully?"

At the sound of her name, she turned abruptly.  "Just 
'Dana' is fine.  Besides, I'm not an agent anymore."

Susanne recognized that rueful smile.  Too often she had 
worn a similar one herself.

"Dana, I want to apologize for my comments this morning.  I 
didn't mean to imply--" 

"Don't worry about it.  I understood what you meant.  I 
just overreacted, I guess.  Mothers tend to be rather 
sensitive where their children are concerned."

Susanne realized she had unconsciously moved her hand to 
her belly and drew it back.  "I was wondering if you have 
anything to treat nausea."  

"I take it Mulder's chili didn't sit too well with you?  By 
the way, don't worry about his 'secret ingredient': it's 
Hormel."

Susanne returned her smile.  "Actually, my stomach's been a 
little unsettled since this morning."

"I think I have something in the bathroom cabinet.  Let's 
go take a look."  Scully dropped a stack of bowls and 
plastic spoons into the black garbage bag next to the 
stairs and headed into the trailer, with Susanne following 
a step behind.  "Have you had any other symptoms?  Any 
diarrhea or vomiting?"

Susanne was taken aback by the clinical question but 
quickly remembered that Dana was trained as a medical 
doctor.  "No, just the nausea."

"Did you get a piece of meat last night that wasn't fully 
cooked?"

"The meat was fine.  I don't think it was anything I ate."

Scully entered the bathroom and rifled through the cabinet  
over the sink.  "It looks like all we have is Pepto.  But 
I'm not sure how old this is."  She scanned the label.  
"Are you taking any other medications?"

"No."

"Is there any chance you could be pregnant?"

At the pause, Scully looked up, her eyebrows raised.  
"Susanne?"

"I'm almost two weeks late."  She found that she had let 
her hand meander to her abdomen again.

Scully set down the pink bottle and pivoted to face her 
squarely.  "Does John know about this?"

"No, and I'm not sure whether I should tell him.  I don't 
know how he'll react."

"I'd think he'd be overjoyed," Scully said.

"I don't doubt that he wants this for us, someday, but the 
timing...things are so complicated right now."

Scully smiled slightly.  "Children have a way of coming 
along at the least convenient times."  Her smile faded.  "I 
won't argue that having a baby doesn't make things more 
challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding.  I can't 
imagine my life without William."  Her eyes became more 
distant, focused on some unseen time and place.

The shift made Susanne uncomfortable.  She knew only the 
most cursory details about the recent events with Mulder 
and Scully's child.  She hastened to steer the conversation 
down another path.  "It only makes it more difficult that 
we can't get married.  I know how much that would mean to 
John."

"Well, not legally, anyway."  Scully's gaze came back into 
focus, and she turned to Susanne with a pensive look.  
Behind those eyes, an idea was clearly brewing.

* * *

All attention was fixed on Susanne as she entered the 
doorway to the hogan, her hands filled not with flowers but 
a basket of corn mush.  Mulder had referred to the ceremony 
as a non-traditional traditional wedding.  Aside from the 
rings tucked away in his pocket, there was nothing to 
identify this with typical American matrimony.  

But from the bliss pasted on Byers' face, it was clear that 
he felt nothing was lacking from the ceremony.  He sat 
cross-legged on a blanket opposite the entrance and raptly 
watched his bride approach to set the basket in front of 
him.  

Once Susanne had moved far enough inside the door to allow 
a clear view of the next person in the entourage, Mulder's 
eyes became glued to his own prize: Scully entered close 
behind carrying an identical basket.  Her gaze met his upon 
her entry and remained there until the basket was deposited 
at his feet.  She moved to sit at his right side, 
hesitating to watch how Susanne gracefully seated herself 
next to Byers, smoothing her long skirt and keeping her 
knees together and her legs bent to one side.  Scully 
imitated her, attempting to be just as graceful, and 
pointedly ignored Mulder's amused smirk.

The last member of the party to enter was the elder 
presiding over the ceremony, Albert Hosteen's son Michael.  
In his hands was a jug of water, a clay jar with twin 
spouts, which he set on the ground before seating himself 
to the right of Scully.  

The words he chanted were unintelligible to the non-Navajo 
attendees, but the meaning rang through clearly in his 
expression and tones.  Lifting the jug, he proceeded to 
pour small amounts of water over the hands of first each 
groom, then each bride, symbolically cleansing them.  

After setting the jug aside, he pulled out a small pouch.  
Over the baskets, he methodically shed a pinch of corn 
pollen toward each of the four points of the compass.  He 
gestured toward Byers and Susanne, who followed the 
instructions they had been given before the ceremony.  From 
each of the four sides just blessed, they took turns using 
their fingers to scoop a portion of mush from their basket 
and consume it. 

Mulder leaned over to whisper to Scully, "Since we don't 
have a wedding cake, it only seems fair that we should feed 
each other.  It's my conjugal right to smear food on your 
face as part of the ritual."

"Mulder," she warned just loud enough for him to hear.

It was then their turn to follow suit, partaking of the 
corn mush that represented their table and hearth, although 
Mulder behaved and kept his fingers to himself.  Next, both 
baskets were passed around the circle to the left, to be 
shared by each of the guests in turn.

Byers handed his basket to Frohike, who took his portion 
and passed it to Langly.  Gibson followed, with William on 
his lap.  As Gibson took the basket, William helped 
himself, thrusting his fist into the mush, then shoving the 
whole handful into his mouth.  He was totally oblivious to 
the scene he had just made until a round of laughter broke 
out at his actions; he froze, fist in mouth, and looked 
around wide-eyed at his audience.

Scully said to Mulder, "He obviously gets his manners from 
his father."  He gave her a mock glare, but it was too 
tempered by amusement to hold much force.

The baskets continued the circuit to each of the guests, 
including a few of the Hosteens and other community members 
who had helped make the small enclave of renegades feel at 
home.  Although the wooden hogan seemed small from the 
outside, the inside was spacious, dwarfing the modest 
gathering.  

Once the baskets had returned to the couples, the ceremony 
continued with a Western flare.  Byers and Susanne went 
first, exchanging the rings they had been wearing since 
that solemn separation in Las Vegas.  Only a few quiet 
words were spoken between them, softly uttered and intended 
exclusively for each other.  

Rather than the traditional gold and diamonds, the rings 
Mulder and Scully exchanged were silver and turquoise, 
crafted by local artisans.  As he slipped the ring onto her 
finger, Mulder said simply, "My touchstone."  Scully opened 
her mouth to respond but no words followed.  She instead 
communicated her vows through the depth of her glistening 
eyes.

Mulder looked over to Michael Hosteen.  "May I now kiss the 
bride?"

Gentle laughter rippled through the assembly.  "Yes, you 
may," said Michael.  Mulder wasted no time complying.  
Byers was more hesitant but didn't squander the 
opportunity.

After the ceremony, the small crowd spilled out into the 
bright afternoon sunlight.  Michael had held Byers back to 
speak with him, so the other three newlyweds waited outside 
the entrance.  Before long, Michael exited, smiling to each 
of them in departure.  When Byers emerged behind him, he 
looked a little shell-shocked.

"John, what is it?" Susanne asked.

He watched the tall Navajo walk away before answering his 
wife.  "Mr. Hosteen just offered to let us stay in this 
hogan for as long as we're living here."

Mulder explained, "Traditionally, the hogan where the 
wedding took place had been built as the couple's new home.  
I suppose they're just carrying on the custom."

"They've already done so much for us," Susanne said.  "I 
don't know what to say."

"You should probably say you'll take it," said Scully.  
"You can't live in the back of your truck indefinitely.  
And you saw the amenities built into that hogan--the 
appliances are a lot newer than what we have in the 
trailer."

A touch on Mulder's shoulder brought his attention to an 
elderly woman standing outside their small circle, and he 
stepped aside to accommodate her.  She made her way 
directly toward Susanne as the curious wedding party 
watched on.  

The old woman extended her wrinkled hand, holding out a 
chain of tiny white beads with a turquoise pendant hanging 
from it.  Susanne looked around shyly at her companions, 
then reached out to take the gift.  

The woman motioned for Susanne to put on the necklace. "For 
babies," she said in a heavy accent.

Susanne blushed but obeyed, pulling the chain over her 
head.  The old woman smiled a satisfied grin, showing her 
fragmented teeth.  Then, as quietly as she had come, she 
tottered away.

Susanne smoothed a hand over her abdomen.  She didn't meet 
the others' eyes as she said self-consciously, "I'm not 
showing yet, am I?"

Scully leaned close and said quietly, "It's probably just 
for fertility.  I imagine they give that to all new 
brides."

No one voiced the obvious, that Scully herself had not 
received such a token.

Mulder watched the elderly woman cross the street and enter 
the Hosteen home with Michael.  "I think that's Albert's 
mother.  I've heard mention of her, but I've never actually 
seen her.  She's highly venerated by the community."  He 
turned back to the group.  "She must be well over 90 years 
old.  I don't imagine she gets out much.  A visit from the 
matriarch is an honor indeed."  He tilted his head back and 
looked toward the heavens.  "I wonder if it's a message."

The other three turned to the sky, watching silently in 
contemplation, while Susanne fingered the pendant suspended 
from her neck.  A cool breeze swept through their circle, 
ruffling hair and sending a chill down Scully's spine.  And 
then the air went still again.

**********
End Part 5
**********

Notes: For more information on the Navajo traditions 
mentioned here, including pictures and links, see: 
http://www.geocities.com/bellefleur1013/shadows_navajo.html

I tried to portray the Navajo customs as accurately as 
possible, but my research was based entirely on the 
internet, not personal experience, so I apologize for any 
significant details that I may have gotten wrong and defer 
the blame entirely to my sources.  :)


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