From: cshuy@netcom.com Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 16:11:12 GMT Subject: Victoria's Secret 1.Shuh.atxc Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation. They are used without permission and no copyright infringement is meant. Any elements not recognized as being taken from the show copyright Christina Shuy. Comments and other things sent to cshuy@netcom.com are much appreciated. Victoria Jensen belongs to no one but herself... I am only her author, not her owner. Rating: PG-13 (language, violence, disturbing images), Angst. X-File, UST, bonding, etc. (Hey, CC *himself* said they love each other, so who am I to argue with the Creator?) Summary: When a friend is in trouble, Mulder and Scully are called to England to help. Spoilers: Fire, and various bits of most of the rest of the episodes, though no big ones. This takes place after Redux II... though I'm not sure how long after. Note: For those of you who have yet to read Victoria Jensen's introduction, that story, "Old Friends", can be located on Gossamer, as can all of the other stories which involve her as well.. Please Note! I do NOT advocate or condone violence to children or to others. The mere thought of one person hurting another, especially a child, sickens me. Unfortunately, it does happen, and this is one result. Also, despite what the title may also stand for, this is not smut. Sorry to disappoint you. However, I do hope you'll read it anyway and let me know what you think. Victoria's Secret (Part 1) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com A small group gathered in the woods, most of them children. A shadowy group was behind them, hidden in the trees after the edge of the clearing. "The gods have chosen you and given you the power. *USE* it... Burn the trees. Burn earth. Burn to the sky." stated a grey-robed figure. The flames began to burn higher and higher, a firestorm in the form of a twister rose at the centre of the circle, the eyes of the children glued to it. "Very good, Cecil... Victoria... you as well. I can sense the power in you." the figure laughed, a sinister, cruel sound. The fire burned higher and hotter. It got closer and closer to the children before catching one of them, starting to burn him alive. Cecil fell, screaming and still burning, into the circle. Others soon followed. The fire continued even as adults attempted to put the fire out. One figure still stood, looking at, and apparently controlling, the flame. A little girl, eyes wide, body almost entranced by the flame in the centre of the circle. "Victoria, come..." the figure beckoned. "It is your time." ----- The woman awoke, hair disheveled, and clothing in disarray. The bedclothes twisted around her. Her breathing was shallow and quick. Her thoughts were only of the feeling of a mindnumbing terror. A feeling she had tried not to feel for many years now, only now it was unavoidable. It washed over her in great waves. 'Victoria... come....' a voice echoed through her mind. It is your time...' "I have to get out of here... I hae to ge out'v here." she murmured, her accent becoming less English and more Scots Irish with every word. Her accent tended to move towards Scots-Irish when she was under enormous stress anyway, but rarely to the severity it was at present. Absently, she pulled on clothing, not really caring what she looked like, just so she could get out of where she was. Moments later, the door clicked shut behind her, leaving an empty dwelling. ----- "I'll tell you one thing, Mulder, I'm really glad we've got that case finished." Scully grinned. They'd just finished the paperwork on their last case, and Mulder had decided Scully could choose where they went to lunch that day. Their most recent case had been a strange one. It had involved a paranormal occurance, but they'd been unable to keep the mood serious, especially after they found out that the reason why the entire town was hysterical was because a child with special abilities had decided to spread laughter to whomever she saw. This caused problems, however, when people started getting the wrong ideas about why others were laughing and people got hurt. "Yeah, me too..." Mulder grinned at his partner. "Thanks for-" Scully started, but was interrupted by ringing. "Mulder." He answered his celphone, and Scully watched, though she'd started nibbling on her chili fries. Mulder snitched one from her and she retaliated by grabbing one of his onion rings. Both of them grinned. It was the usual lunchtime silliness between them. "Special Agent Mulder, I am Detective Superintendent Keith Miller, a friend of DCI Victoria Jensen's as well as her superior. She's mentioned you on several occasions..." the man's voice said through the phone. "And right now I'm afraid I need your assistance." "Superintendent Miller, what can I do for you?" Mulder's voice suddenly became worried. Scully looked over at her partner, an expression of concern on her features. She figured he was speaking to an investigator at Scotland Yard in Britain by the title he used, but was at a loss as to why that would be. The person's name was unfamiliar and he didn't sound as though he were talking to someone about Victoria... or even Phoebe. "Your Assistant Director has asked me to contact you and your partner directly to inform you that you both are needed here in London. Victoria's gone missing." Keith Miller said, now sounding less like a superior and more like a concerned friend. "Oh? Scotland Yard can't find her?" Mulder sounded a touch incredulous. "We would, except that you know her as well as any of us, and that there is something here which you might be able to help us with. Besides, she will occasionally disappear and be unable to be located until a later time, though she always calls in and says she will be away for a few days. This time, however, I have reason to be suspicious..." "Can you give me any specifics so that I know what we are going to be dealing with?" "Earlier today, DCI Jensen didn't show up for work, and didn't report in as she usually does if she's going to be out of the office. I called her but there was no answer. After waiting for about two hours, I became concerned. There are lesser folks who would go after Detectives from Scotland Yard, and several of the people she had worked to put in prison had sworn vengence, so I was worried about possible foul play. "I drove over to her flat and let myself in using the key I found lying on the doormat. When I got to the flat, the place was neat as usual, and she was not there, but there was an added element. On the floor, in large letters, written in a substance I have yet to identify, was one word. Fire." Mulder shuddered. "Thank you for informing us, sir. We will be there as soon as possible." Quickly, he hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket, gesturing for a server to bring them to-go boxes, even though they had just gotten their lunches a few minutes prior to the call. "Mulder, what is the problem?" Scully was alarmed. Whatever Mulder had just heard had caused the blood to drain from his face. "We have to go, Scully... I'll explain on the way back to Skinner's office." ----- "My God, Mulder... are you sure?" Scully asked after Mulder had filled her in on what little he'd gotten from Superintendent Miller. They'd been in Skinner's office just long enough to get the tickets and the itinerary before heading out to pack a small bag each and meeting at the airport. "Yeah... Victoria's vanished, and left the word 'fire' in the apartment on the floor. The problem is, it seems to be in her own blood. At least that is what Superintendent Miller says, and he said he had the information with him but didn't have enough time to send it over." "He got the analysis back, then?" "Yeah... and that is part of what has me very worried." "I don't blame you for being worried. In fact, I am too. This doesn't sound like Victoria at all, especially what I know and what you've told me." "It isn't... and that is what has me worried." They turned back to the casefile they were studying which had been sent by facsimilie from London immediately prior to their departure from Washington to New York, enroute to London. The flight had left New York only 15 minutes ago, and they were due in London in a few hours. Superintendent Miller had set arrangements for them on the Concorde, which only belied the urgency of the situation. ----- "Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, I'm glad you were able to get here so quickly." Keith Miller greeted them as they arrived off the Concorde's jetway. "Superintendent Miller, once we got the information you'd passed on to Assistant Director Skinner, we came as soon as possible." Dana Scully answered. "Have you been able to find any more clues as to where Victoria might have disappeared to?" "None. In fact, it appears she has just vanished without a trace." Keith Miller answered. "And that is most worrysome." "I was once told by a good friend that nothing vanishes without a trace..." Mulder murmured, though loudly enough for the three of them to hear. Scully nodded, remembering their case in New Mexico. "Nothing does, meaning she's out there, somewhere, in trouble, and we've got to find her." Mulder said, giving Scully the distinct impression that, yet again, he knew more than he was saying. ----- She was running, though she wasn't sure where she was going. After leaving her apartment, she'd boarded a train bound for Bath. It had been a short trip, and she'd managed to make the trip faster than she remembered ever being able to make the trip previously, even though she'd only made the trip out to where she was going once before. 'That time you were a child. Things that happened were out of your own control.' she thought to herself. Her last experiences had been frightening and she'd somehow managed to block them out. However, as she was seeing, doing that was coming back to haunt her. I don't want to be here... I should be at the office...' she thought, trying to break free of whatever control she had been put under. Last time she'd been in the area, she'd been brought by people she hadn't known. This time... well... this time around she felt as though she wasn't entirely in control of her own body. She looked down at her wrists, bound in medical gauze, and only vaguely recalled why she had to protect them and wrap them in gauze to start with. A ghostly voice beckoned, burning in her ears as though flame. In her mind's eye, she caught sight of the flames, burning higher, brighter, and faster than she ever tried in the past the few times she had been forced to do it. Whenever she'd seen fires and flames she wouldn't try to control it, instead letting things burn, though occasionally she'd helped rescue people. She made her way closer to the clearing in the woods, woods that had only gotten denser and darker since the last time she had been out in the area. A grey robed figure stood in the clearing, reminding her of the same one she had seen in her visions and dreams of late. There was a sickening familiarity about what was happening, and she struggled to stop what was happening, though she already knew it was hopeless. "Come, child. It is time..." the grey robed figure raised arms outstretched towards her. "It is time for you to do what you were created for. To send those who oppose us a clear message that we will *not* be denied." The voice was grainy, indistinct, and faint, almost as though it had not been spoken aloud "NOOOOOOOOOO!" A cry broke the stillness of the woods. -To Be Continued- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who's already naked."-Mulder "Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky." Scully(tXF-"Detour") Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210) "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area. [Disclaimers in Part 1] Victoria's Secret (Part 2) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com Superintendent Miller dropped them off at the hotel for them to get settled in for the evening. It was already late and Mulder was in Scully's room, filling her in on the details. "Mulder, are you sure you can handle this?" Scully asked, watching her partner closely. He seemed more than a touch uneasy. She well remembered what his greatest fear was, and this case was difficult enough as it was because of the people involved. "Maybe we're too personally involved..." "If that's the case, Superintendent Miller is too. You heard him, Scully. He's not only Victoria's superior, he's also a friend... I hope he doesn't bring too many more people in on this investigation and the search." "You just don't want to run into Phoebe right now, do you." Scully smiled, only somewhat teasing. "Ah... no." Mulder flinched. "Scully, have you been taking lessons from Victoria?" "No... I just remember the one time she showed up in Washington. Almost against your will, you were following her every move." "Well, there's another reason I don't want to have Phoebe involved. Victoria hates Phoebe and with the state of mind she is likely to be in, she could be a danger to herself and to others..." "This includes us, you know. And what state of mind is she likely to be in, Mulder? What do you know that you haven't shared with anyone else about Victoria?" Dana was curious. "Well... I promised her I wouldn't tell. However, since I know you can keep your mouth shut about this, I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone, or include this in your official report." "I promise, Mulder. And I do realise that this has more to do with Victoria, which is why I won't say anything." "Victoria was kidnapped when she was a child... right about the time she was about two or three. She doesn't talk about it much, but I do know that she was deeply affected by that experience. There were times I spent the night at her apartment with her for one reason or another, and she'd start talking about what happened in those woods. She was almost three in 1963. She told me that she'd been kidnapped and taken to the Tottingham woods outside Bath England, and I think she may have even known Cecil L'Ively personally... but I can't be sure of that either. She doesn't have a clear recall of it, but she remembers the details from the police and newspaper reports she dug up on herself since she was a teenager." "She has a lot of secrets, doesn't she, Mulder." "That she does... and I think she's kept most of them from even herself, which might explain the problem..." Mulder said, flipping to the photograph of the contents of Victoria's apartment, including the word 'FIRE' on the floor. "Repressed memory can do more harm than good. And *this* has me worried." "And they're sure it's blood, then." Scully asked, scanning the photo. "Yeah. They ran a chemical analysis on the substance, and then ran a DNA profile when they realised what it was. It's her blood. And with the key to the front door left on the doormat, it looks like she was leaving and didn't care about things like keeping her apartment safe... she just needed to get out." "Mulder, did she ever tell you what happened in those woods? I remember the information I found on the case with Cecil L'Ively when Phoebe turned up in Washington saying it was part of a satanic cult. I remember finding the death certificates for a group of children." Scully said."Are you sure she was taken to the same group?" "I am, and the police and newspaper reports corroborate that. As do her parents. Victoria was the only survivor, and she only barely survived then. She's two years older than I am, but whatever it was that happened to her out in those woods set her back two years mentally. From what she told me and what her parents had mentioned when I asked them with her permission, they had to reteach her how to do almost everything after she'd been found. They had to start over from the beginning, even though she was two years old at the time." "You mean she may physically be two years older, but her mental state is about the same as yours?" "Possibly more, since there are times I get the feeling she is mentally more your age than mine." Mulder admitted with a heavy sigh. "We'll find her, Mulder. I know we will." Dana wrapped her arms around him and he leaned in, putting his head on her shoulder, sighing heavily again. They'd done things like that before, and it made both of them feel better. "Now is not the time to give up. After all, I was gone three months, and you never gave up on me." "I know, Scully... it's just... I always knew this type of thing would happen to her eventually, since she told me about it, but I didn't expect it to happen like *this*. I thought I'd be able to be there for her just as she was there for me when you..." Mulder's voice trailed off abruptly. "When I was abducted?" Scully asked, finishing his statement. "Scully, I thought you didn't believe it was the work of aliens..." "I'm still not sure, but abducted also means taken... and I was." "True..." Mulder looked at the floor. Immediately, Scully noticed the guilt written all over his body language. "Mulder, despite what Bill might have told you, that wasn't your fault, and this most certainly isn't your fault." "How can you say that?" "Mulder, for a man who goes in search of the Truth, when it is revealed to you, you can be awfully dense." Scully smiled gently at her partner. "My abduction was not your fault. I chose to help you, just as I have chosen to continue working with you. My brother does not know everything, regardless of what he might think. As for Victoria's situation, what is happening with her is not your fault either. This is something she has to deal with herself, and it's been a long time building up from what you've told me. However, we still have to find her as she is now officially a missing person, and the circumstances in which she has gone is decidely worrying." "I guess you're right. We have to find Victoria. I think I might be the only person who would be able to help her... but I'm not sure. Leaving the word 'fire' on the floor in her own blood... what if it's a warning from her?" "There's more to this than you're saying, isn't there, Mulder." "There is... The information you dug up on the satanic cult and the deaths of those children... you remember the result of what happened with one of them... Cecil L'ively." "Right, Mulder. Are you saying Victoria has those same abilities?" "I believe so. In fact, I think she may have mentioned such a thing once, but I wasn't in any state of mind to listen to her." "Then we need to tell Superientendent Miller about this as soon as possible." ----- The fire was beginning and instead of the wildly out of control nature, the flames themselves were actually smooth and flowing and flickering into shapes and forms which would have looked remotely familiar to anyone who was watching. "Very good, Victoria. You have learned your craft well." The grey robed figure rubbed hands together eagerly. "Very soon we shall begin your training. Leaving you alive was all part of the plan. After all, you were the most powerful then, and it has only improved now." She stood there, unwavering, almost motionless, her eyes directed at the fire, occasionally blinking. ----- "Oh bugger, are you certain of this?" Keith Miller asked. Mulder and Scully had notified him and then been told that to get the various teams together would take until the morning so they were instructed to catch a few hours of sleep and then report to his office early. The three of them were drinking coffee and focused on the case. "About as sure of this as I can be." Mulder shrugged. "She didn't talk about it much. Do you have the casefile on the kidnapping case in 1960 matching the guidelines I gave you?" "Yes. Apparently you're right, Agent Mulder. She wanted this kept a secret so as not to alarm anyone." Miller handed over the file folder which was bound in a small expandable file folder. "Most of the information compiled here she already knows about and has been dealing with for a while. She was taken in September of 1963 and found and returned to her family in early November. Physically, she was only suffering minor injuries, including second degree burns over about five percent of her body. Mainly on her palms and the soles of her feet. She had been buried in ashes, and that had been what saved her." Mulder took the folder from Miller and studied it carefully. A few of the pages looked familiar as he remembered Victoria having handed him copies of the information she had found in her search. The two years of blank memory, as well as her feeling younger than her physical age had always bothered her and she'd started the search for information about that in her teens. By the time she'd met Mulder at Oxford, her search had already yielded a great deal of information, and she'd shared it with him. "Part of the reason, I think, that she decided to go into detective work instead of relying on her degree as an Electrical Engineer is because of this incident." Mulder said, half sighing. It pained him to see one of his oldest and best friends in the midst of the situation she now found herself in, but there was nothing he could do about it, no matter how hard he tried. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Scully smiling at him. "She's a good friend, Mulder. I'm sure we'll find her." she said. "Probably... I just feel so helpless." "Nothing wrong with that. Where do you suppose she'd be headed?" Mulder scanned the file again until he hit on the date, a sick feeling hitting him as he realised what date it was and what time of year it was currently. "I think I know where she's going. The same place she was taken thirty five years ago." he spoke softly. "The Tottingham woods outside Bath? Where she and the bodies were found?" "Right." "In that case, we should get a search party started looking for her. Those woods are a dangerous place. I'll let the local divisions know what we are looking for." Superientendent Keith Miller stood up and started for the door. Mulder stood up as well. "One more thing. I think we should consider her armed and dangerous." The Superientendent's eyebrows rose and disappeared under his hair. "Please explain." "We think she might have pyrokinetic abilities." Mulder explained. "What?" Miller's look of disbelief was clearly written on his face. "Pyrokinetic abilities. Meaning she can probably set fires just by thinking about it. And with her likely to be in an uncooperative state of mind, she might injure someone inadvertently." Mulder was well aware of how he sounded. Scully knew what he was saying sounded very unbelievable, but she also knew it to be the truth. "Agent Scully, do you believe what your partner is saying?" "Sir, if you will recall the case several years ago when several British lords were incincerated without any visible signs of causation?" Scully asked. "Oh! Yes. I remember Victoria told me about her trying to track down the person who eventually turned out to be someone named Cecil L'Ively. And she was right about him. It was at about that time she told me about what happened to her when she was younger, and the fact that she knew Mr. L'Ively and what he was capable of. Of course, Phoebe Green did not make things any easier on her there." "You know about her relationship with Phoebe?" Mulder asked, looking somewhat worried. "As well as yours, Agent Mulder. Of course, that knowledge comes directly from Phoebe herself. She tried the same situation on me, but I refused to follow her. "I know what Victoria thought about Phoebe, as well as what she believed Phoebe's motives for having her taken off the case and Phoebe put on it are. And from what I know of the man who put Phoebe on the case, those apparent motives are more than likely accurate." Scully noted the flinch Mulder was attempting to hide and put a supporting hand on his knee. Mulder, in turn, put a hand over hers, and turned his attention back to Miller. "What else did she tell you?" "That you were a very good friend, and that you and she had trusted each other a great deal. The main reason, in fact, that I contacted you was that she'd mentioned that if she were ever in trouble to get in touch with you both and aprise you of the situation. Present circumstances apply to that criteria, I believe, and that is why I called you a few days ago." "It's good that you did." Before Mulder could say more, Miller's phone rang and he reached over to pick it up. "Most likely it's the search parties and investigators. I will let them know what we've determined." he said. "Superientendent Miller speaking." "So, Scully, does this qualify as an X-File, you think?" "It does, though I suspect we should ask Victoria when we finally find her if it is okay for us to write up a file and report on her. She might actually be able to help us finally close the case on Cecil L'Ively, though." "Yeah. I always warned her to be careful because I was gathering evidence to put her into one of my files. I had been joking, though with the way things are now... I might just have to..." "We'll find her, Mulder." "I know. But what condition will she be in?" "We'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it." Mulder grinned and Scully grinned back. "Cliche, I know, but it's either that or possibly give up on her, and I don't think we want to do that." "Right. We'll be headed up there shortly. In fact, I think we might just make the morning express train." Miller was saying. "See you then." He hung up the phone and looked at the two American agents. "Well?" Mulder asked, eager to get moving. "Search parties are beginning to gather. If we hurry, we can make the train and possibly find her before the day is out." They got moving. -To Be Continued- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who's already naked."-Mulder "Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky." Scully(tXF-"Detour") Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210) "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area. [Disclaimers in Part 1] Victoria's Secret (Part 3) by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com "Alright, we don't have as much manpower as we would like on this search, so it will have to be done by heloing in pairs to search. We have the woods mapped out and are going to drop the teams in by helicopter. It's the fastest way. Special Agents Mulder and Scully from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation will be assisting us in the search as they know the party in question as well as most of the rest of us. We are all going to keep in radio contact and call for assistance when she is found." The group gathered around Superientendent Andrews nodded. Superientendent Patricia Andrews was another friend of Victoria's, as well as her first Superientendent after she'd made it through training. "We've got to remember, though," Mulder spoke up. "She may be in a violent state of mind. We don't know what's happened to her in the last few days, and we should approach with caution." "That's the reason why this search party is consisting of all friends of hers, Agent Mulder." "Guv, the helo's ready." A constable ran over to inform them. "Let's go, everyone." ----- Dana Scully and Fox Mulder were dropped off nearer the centre of the woods and immediately began their search. It was midmorning, but the woods were dark and grey due to the severe overcast conditions. Rain was threatening. Both were dressed as per standard FBI, though, including their all-weather trench coats. The only added element was their radio, which Scully carried. "So, should we get started?" "Might as well, Mulder. Let's just hope we find her. The Tottingham Woods are a big place." "So, it'll be a nice trip to the forest." Mulder grinned, and Scully mock glared at him. "I've heard *that* one before." "Yeah... no green buggy things this time, though." "Don't speak too soon, Mulder. We still have to find Victoria." ----- Mulder's eyes caught movement in the trees. He lifted the binoculars to his eyes and was glad to see an old friend. However, just as quickly, she turned and ran. "Victoria! Wait!" Mulder caught sight of his old friend from Oxford deep in the woods. "Victoria! Victoria! It's Mulder!" As Mulder ran after her, Scully followed closely behind, getting in touch with the search parties combing the other parts of the woods through the two-way radio she had in her hand. "This is Special Agent Scully. We have her in sight, headed east." she said. "We're going to need backup." "Confirmed, Agent Scully." Constable Andrew Parker answered. "We are headed in your direction. Parker out." "Mulder, I've let all the search parties know." Scully said, catching up to her partner who was standing in the midst of a clearing. "Damnit! I lost her. Scully, do you see her anywhere?" "Not yet, Mulder. How about we split up and try to find her that way." "Good idea." Suddenly, the trees in the grove began to burst into flames, one by one, throwing out flames. Fortunately, it was also not very dry and was threatening to rain again or else the fires would have burned far more out of control. ----- She stood, watching them burning, expression blank.. The voice of the grey robed figure was once again indistinct and fading. The taller of the two was facing directly away from his shorter, red-haired, female companion. There was a soft crackling noise that went unnoticed. The trees were all burning now, though only enough to give away exactly where they all were. The voice commanded, but was drowned out by the loud crackling noise. ----- The tree branch, burning brightly in the evening sky, fell down towards Dana. Mulder was looking in the opposite direction, but Victoria was still near by. She watched the branch fall. "NOOOOOO!" The first words she'd spoken since arriving in the woods. She wrenched control back from whatever force had been controlling her, and ran towards where Scully stood, right under the falling, burning branch. "Dana! Watch out!" she screamed. Having also heard her, Mulder turned, looked, and ran towards the falling branch and pushed them both out of the way, though Victoria had just about reached where Scully stood. They were all knocked to the ground. Victoria looked up and watched the branch fall. "*BURN!*" Victoria called out, pointing at the falling branch, and instantly incinerated the branch from where everyone was on the ground. By the time it was close to landing on Mulder and the rest of them, it was a shower of ash. She fell back and sighed heavily. "That was close." Mulder murmured from where he was on top of both Victoria and Scully. "Too close, Mulder..." Victoria sighed, sitting up slightly. It was only then she noticed her clothing. "Oh lord... I've been out dressed in *this*!?!" The bright yellow lettering on her dark blue FBI issue sweatsuit blinked out at her. Her standard grey wool overcoat had been thrown over everything, though it was somewhat mudspattered now. "What's wrong with what you're wearing?" Mulder asked, and Scully was forced to stifle a laugh, though she still smiled. "Considering I haven't said a word in the last..." Victoria glanced at her watch. "...three days, I think people might have thought I was a tourist, or psychotic, or something." "And you're saying you're not?" Mulder's voice held a grin though his face didn't yet. "Mulder, considering I just spent the last three days in an FBI issue sweatsuit, I'm not sure what to think." "Oh, I don't know... I think it looks nice on you." Mulder answered with a grin. "That's because you're the one who gave it to me, Mulder!" Victoria mock glared at him and Scully giggled. There was the sound of leaves being crunched and then several people burst through the bushes. Victoria smiled and sat up. "Victoria! Oh, good. They found you." Superintendent Miller said, breathless from the run through the woods he had just finished. "Keith, it's good to see you again, and I'm terribly sorry I didn't call to say I would be out for a few days." "Nice to see you back to normal, VC." Mulder snickered. "Quiet, Fox, or else I will do something to you I'm sure you'll regret later." Victoria raised an eyebrow the way Scully would have. "Like what?" Mulder sounded mock offended. Victoria smiled. "I'm not going there right now, Mulder. Now get the bloody hell off of my leg before you cut off the circulation. And I'm sure Dana would prefer you not trying to look down her shirt." Mulder and Scully traded looks and then Mulder scrambled to his feet. "Victoria, as far as I'm concerned, you're spookier than I could ever be." he said, offering both Victoria and Scully his hands to help themselves up. "Well, Mulder, I'm flattered." Victoria grinned, taking hold of his hand and pulling herself to her feet. She winced as Mulder grasped hard at her wrists. "You okay, Victoria?" Mulder asked. "Mostly... but I don't quite remember why I have my hands bandaged. And they still hurt." "Well... you left the word FIRE' on the floor of your apartment in your own blood... so I think I know where the blood came from." Mulder explained, and Victoria blanched. The helicopter drifted in from overhead, and, at the same time, the rain began to fall heavily. "Victoria, I suggest we get you to hospital, just to see how badly you may be hurt." Superientendent Miller suggested. Victoria looked like she was about to open her mouth to protest when Mulder gave her a look which changed her mind. "Alright, Fox, but I don't want to hear any complaining from *you* the next time you end up in hospital over a minor injury." "Aww, VC..." Mulder mock-whined. "You're taking all the fun out of it." Victoria looked at Scully, winked, and then the four of them all burst out into laughter. "Alright, Keith. To hospital we go." ----- "The doctors tell me you're going to be just fine." Mulder smiled as Victoria walked out of the examination room with her hands bandaged a little better than they had been previously. "Mulder, didn't the president tell his wife that in ID4?" "Yeah, so?" "Mulder, as I recall, the man had been lying." Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm not. Aside from the deep cuts on your wrists, you're going to live. As for your mental state..." "I know, I know... as for my mental state, that will be entirely up to me." Victoria half grumbled. "Not quite. Since I know you better than most people, I'm going to help you through the initial recovery phase. AD Skinner's okayed a little vacation time for me and Scully, though for me it won't really be much of a vacation, and he knows that. However, I did say I was going to help you through this, so I am. I always keep my word. I'll put you through hell getting you back to how you were. *Then* we can talk about me writing you up." "Oh, gods, Mulder, you mean you're finally going to be able to make me into one of your X-Files?" Victoria asked and Scully grinned. "How long has he been wanting to do that?" Dana Scully asked, walking up to the two of them with the sign out forms for Victoria to sign and the doctor who had treated Victoria's minor injuries. "Since he found the X-Files, shortly before you were assigned to him." Victoria answered, signing the papers and handing them over to the doctor. "Actually, I think it was earlier than that, but I'm not certain. He *has* been telling me that I'm spookier than he ever has been since he earned the nickname at Quantico." Victoria grinned as Mulder had the sense to look more than a little embarassed. Scully grinned at her partner. It was just like him. "Come on... I don't like hospitals and the sooner we're out of this one, the better I'll feel." Mulder groused. "All right. You both are staying at my apartment, though. No hotels for either of you. After all, you're on vacation. Besides, I have room enough for two guests... or more depending on how comfortable they are sharing a bed." Victoria's lips held a hint of a smile. "And just what are you implying, Inspector Jensen?" Mulder asked. "That's DCI Jensen to you. And I'm not implying a thing, Agent Mulder. Just stating a fact." Victoria smirked. Mulder's thought patterns ran, and Victoria lightly cuffed him on the arm. She sent the thought into his mind and he raised eyebrows at her. She smiled, just a hint of innocence showing through. -End- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who's already naked."-Mulder "Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky." Scully(tXF-"Detour") Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210) "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.