Disclaimed in 1, 5 and 13. Warning! This part is also NC-17. This is for
Both Nancy and Rob, who insisted.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(part 15/21)

Lem could feel Karen stroking his face, soft little touches that indicated a
pleasant prospect for an early morning diversion. His wife brushed along his
jaw then licked at his ear. He smiled. "Karen..."

He opened his eyes to face the amused dark eyes of a Golden Retriever. 

"Geez Scrapps, give me a heart attack why don't you? " He sat up slowly. His
joints ached from sleeping cramped up in a car last night.

"They leaving?" He asked the dog, who had taken the second watch shift. 

Scrappy barked. That meant no. So why did he... Oh.

"You need to answer natures call?" A tail wag. Yes.

Lem opened the door for the dog and moved to the side of a commercial van
parked next to him, away from the line of sight of the hotel room he was
watching. He checked his watch. 8 am. They should be up and about soon. He
heard his cell phone's chirrup and answered quickly. "Yes."

The voice on the other end was familiar.  "Lem if we set up a meet with you
and the two who have Buster do you think you can get him to California?
Keene can set up false papers so it will appear he's been owned by a family
out there for a couple of years."

"Sure, sure. I can do that. You know where our fugitives are?" Johnson ran a
hand over his face. Dealing with the guy on the phone and his associates
always made him nervous. They were so... weird. Yet they had managed to help
keep the Dogs a secret for the past eight years, ever since one of them had
traced Einstien, and been convinced that mass media exposure of the miracle
Einstien and his progeny would be disastrous.

"Not technically. but we know how to contact them. This is Hyatt's plan..."

"Wait a minute... why didn't you guys just take Buster in, if you can
contact the people who have him?" Lem was feeling the past few days of
frustration boiling up.

"We didn't want to expose ourselves unless absolutely necessary. We've been
covering his tracks so to speak, though. And at no little risk to ourselves
I might add. Besides, we are watched too. He wouldn't really have been any
safer with us. The people he is with are better able to handle this situation."

Lem was surprised. "Doddard's house... you broke in and removed all the
photographic evidence of Buster."

There was a laugh on the line. "And all medical records, Doddards personal
journals cataloging IQ tests and growth charts. We left no stone unturned."

Lem shook his head in amazement. "Ok, set up the meet. Call me back and tell
me where and when." 
                                   X
Cook poured over his list. Hoping it would be futile at the same time as he
actually matched the expense reports of agents Mulder and Scully to the
list. Highlighting places they had stayed in the past. Marking with a check
places they might choose to stay now based on rates, availability to pets
and names. Any hotel or motel that has a name that could be associated with
space. The Starlight, The Full Moon, Skyview, and so on... something that
might appeal to the man who's dossier and career history he'd checked out.
He was also checking anything with a Nautical theme or name. Scully was from
a Navy Family.

Webb had taken his cell phone into the bathroom. No doubt getting his next
crooked orders. Cook felt like he was falling deeper and deeper into a pit.
A pit with sides made of soft sand, so the more he tried to crawl out, the
more he pulled it in on himself. 
                                    X
The sunlight brightened the room considerably. This illumination began to
stir Mulder's sleep fogged brain. No nightmares - at least that he could
remember. He felt the soft, fragrant warmth against his side and opened his
eyes to see a bright red mass of hair pillowed on his chest. Various
portions of the previous, and very long, night came back in perfect detail.
He caught himself grinning a foolish cat that ate the canary grin he was
sure she would shoot him for if she saw it.

Scully stirred in her sleep. He reached down to trace light circles on her
back with his fingertips. She moaned softly, and the sound played havoc on
his libido.

He felt her stir more and looked down to see a pair of penetrating blue eyes
peering back at him.

"Morning." He smiled lazily.

"Yeah, I guess so." Scully sat up and stretched, sinuously, like a cat. He
watched the graceful arch of her back, the play of smooth muscle there, the
way she raised her arms, how it lifted her breasts delightfully.  He felt
himself begin to stir again. He let his fingers play over her neck, her
shoulder. 

"You are so beautiful." She looked down at him and blushed. The pink tinge
coloring not only her face but her throat and breasts.

"You ain't so bad yourself Mulder." She swept out of bed, making the sheets
seem cold without her. 

"What, no morning kiss?" He gave her the whipped puppy look he had perfected
over the years. 

"Morning BREATH. I'm going to brush my teeth, then shower. If you drag your
lazy ass outta bed you just might be allowed to join me."

Mulder cleared the bed in record time, bruised hip or no.

The water was already running when he got there. He could see Scully's
silhouette on the other side of the frosted glass shower doors. The sound
however, was making his bladder uncomfortable. 

Scully could no doubt hear what he was doing out here, but was polite enough
to refrain from laughing outright. 

Dana did in fact hear him outside the shower doors. But laughing would have
been hard anyway as she had a toothbrush and a mouthful of minty foam in her
mouth. She shelved the toothbrush and rinsed her mouth before reaching for
the shampoo, only to have her wrist caught. She looked at Mulder as he slid
the shower door shut and took the bottle from her fingers. He stood in the
stream of hot water, the spray hitting his back as streams of wetness flowed
down his body, following the contours of his muscles, flowing over planes
and angles like a caress. Scully bit her bottom lip. It just was NOT fair
what he could do to her. Not fair at all. All he was doing was standing
there, bruised and wet, squeezing shampoo into his hand, and she wanted him.
Wanted to be the water sliding over his flesh.

When one hand touched her shoulder it send a jolt of desire through her,
centering in her breasts and belly. He turned her gently, so she faced away
from him. Then she felt his fingers moving through her hair. Strong
fingertips massaging her scalp sending opposing sensations of relaxation and
anticpation through her as he worked up a lather. His fingers working in
circles, working the bubbles through all of her hair. A slow heat and
lethargy spread through her limbs so that she almost jumped when she felt
his lips place an open kiss at the junction of her neck and collarbone. The
little circles his tongue made on her flesh as he kissed her there causing
her knees to feel a tad unsteady, and it took her a moment to realize the
soft whimper she heard was coming from her. It was incredably intimate,
having him wash her hair. It was a simple thing she had always done for
herself. It spoke volumes as well. This wasn't about sex, although it was
highly erotic. It was about closeness, sharing. Not the act of a casual sex
partner, but the reverent act of a lover. Then his mouth was gone and he
pulled her back a bit, so that the hot water hit her head and ran in a flood
down her back. His fingers still working magic on her scalp as he rinsed the
suds away.

When she felt his fingers fall away from her head and begin to caress the
back of her neck she moved away - turning to take his hands in her own she
pulled him forward then circled so she stood behind him.

"Your turn," she smiled softly and reached for the shampoo. His eyes were
dark with desire. He had enjoyed that as much as she did. She poured a cool
dollop of the thick stuff into her palm and realized with a fleeting sense
of dismay that he was too tall, and her arms would grow tired very quickly
if she tried to reach the top of his head. But her practical side asserted
itself at once. "This would be easier if you... kneel down." 

"You've got me on my knees all the time." There was the sharp gleam of
amusement in his eyes as he knelt before her, and her stomach did a little
flip flop as she realized just where his face was when he knelt upright. The
crooked grin on his face told her he knew damn well before he got down.
There was no reluctance however, when she took a small step forward to begin
spreading the shampoo through his hair. The short wet stands sliding slickly
through her fingers, tickling her palm. She felt his arms encircle her and
cold slickness move across her back causing her to shiver. His hand were
making firm circles against her back, her spine. 

"What are you doing?" She asked with an arched brow as she felt his
fingertips slide between her buttocks.

"Your investigative skills are getting rusty. I'm washing your back Agent
Scully. You know, I wash yours, you wash mine." The heat building in her
threatened to turn into an inferno at the implication of his words.

She pretended to ignore him as she ran her fingers through his hair,
scraping her nails lightly against his scalp as she felt his mouth against
the underside of her breast. 

"That's not fair." She gasped.

"All's fair in love and war." He moved to the other breast, his hand
continuing to soap her back.

His mouth closed over her nipple and she moaned, pushing forward a bit as
her fingers tightened in his sudsy hair. She could feel the movement of his
jaw along his temples with each long pull of suction setting fire to her
blood. He moved to the other breast as his hands soaped her sides. 

Clinging desprately to her thoughts she snatched the soap away from him and
moved back. She almost laughed to see him kneeling there, pouting at her -
his hair all full of bubbles. 

"Rinse your hair." She ordered. 

He obeyed, looking somewhat defeated and very aroused as her eyes drank him
in. She ran her fingers through his short hair, rinsing it clean. "Ok, stand
up."

"I think you enjoy giving orders too much." He grumbled as he stood. 

"Yeah, well you seem to be enjoying taking them. Turn around, and place your
hands on the wall." 

"You're lucky I trust you with my back turned." He did as she told him, and
she stood a moment, admiring the play of lithe muscle along his back, his
broad shoulders, narrow hips, and the tightest, most beautiful ass she had
ever had the pleasure of observing. Working the soap into a lather in her
hands she started at his shoulders, leaning forward to lightly press herself
against him. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, feeling the shiver running
through him as she ran the soap up and down his sides. The slick, slithery
glide of soap over warm, satiny skin was electric.  She moved her hands down
to glide over the firm curve of his behind. She felt the tremor in him again. 

She smiled to herself as she reached a soapy hand between his legs to cup
and stroke him. He threw his head back and groaned as her small hand worked
him, his fingers pressing into the wall till the tips were bloodless. She
kissed his spine as she released him.

As soon as she did he turned and took her shoulders, pulling her up for a
long deep kiss. He tasted of mint and himself. His tongue twining with hers
she felt him pressing hard and urgent against her stomach. He twisted them,
so he was once more under the spray then managed to thrust her away and turn
her so she faced the wall at the same time. She felt his large, soapy hands
move over her stomach, over her breasts over her throat. His hands moved
down, between her thighs. She felt his fingers circle her center, flicking
it, once - twice, making her buck into him as tiny sounds of pleasure
escaped her. Too soon his hands were gone, leaving her aching for more, for
the completion he had brought so close. 

Then his hands were on her hips, pulling them back and she felt him at her
entrence. With a sigh of satisfaction she felt him thrust forward. One of
his arms circled round her waist, holding her in place as he thrust into
her, again and again. His other hand moved to slip between her folds, just
above where they joined. His strokes were long and deep. She felt each one
touch home as she ground against him. Their bodies were slick from the water
and soap.  His fingers continued to work her until she cried out, the world
exploding into a burst of shimmering light, control of her body lost as she
imploded around him. Losing the use of her knees, she clung to him for
support. She felt him spilling hotly into her, twitching inside her as she
kept convulsing. His teeth grazed her neck as he called her name. 

They both sunk slowly to the floor of the shower. Completely sated they
allowed the warm water to flow over them. 
                                      X
Buster watched Mulder come down the stairs and check the electricity in the
house again. He took in the man's damp hair and soapy smell which almost
overrode the musky scent of sex. Buster grinned to himself. He was a very
happy Dog. 

As he moved to the kitchen Mulder saw the message spelled out in Scrabble
tiles on the floor.

YOU GET SMART

"You know fur face, we have really got to get you a life of your own so you
stop butting into other people's." He pulled some eggs from the fridge,
which was warming despite their best efforts. "I'm gonna go check the fuses,
just to be sure you didn't miss something. If we don't get power back soon
the fridge will be useless." The Dog watched the man disappear into the
cellar with a flashlight.

Buster lay down by the fireplace. The dying embers of the previous night's
fire provided little heat. He barely looked up when Dana came down. Her hair
was pulled back into a damp pony tail and she had a scent similar to
Mulder's. Buster wagged his tail in happiness. At that moment the lights
decided to come on. Buster woofed softly then jumped up and began pawing at
the back door.

Dana smiled. "Everyone needs a morning break I suppose." 

Yes, yes -  Buster thought - let me out, quick before he comes back. Open
the door... open the door. 

Dana was reaching for the door knob when he heard the basement door slam.
"And just where the hell do YOU think your running off too?" Buster looked
sheepishly at the man. He looked livid. Buster tried hard to look
conciliatory, and to keep the smug grin off his face.
                                #####
Mulder moved to lay his hand on the door, holding it closed. "Would you know
anything about the main breaker switch being thrown?"  He was pissed. That
damn DOG had manipulated the situation last night to play out some twisted
delusion. He'd had it planned all along. Mulder felt used and betrayed.
After all they'd done for the miserable excuse for a mutt he'd been just as
manipulative as anyone he and Scully had gone up against. 

How long had they been manipulated? Was this all part of some plan? The Dog
using them from the first moment? 

Buster had his head down, but the tail tucked between his legs was wagging
at the tip. 

"What are you talking about Mulder?" Scully frowned as she looked at him.

"Our buddy Buster here threw the main breaker. He cut the power." Mulder
crossed his arms. His initial burst of anger fading quickly in light of the
way he had spent the morning so far.

"But.... why?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet Scully, he's been playing matchmaker all
along. He did it to try to get us together." Mulder shot the Dog his most
intimidating glare, determined not to let him get off too easy.

Scully looked down at Buster wide-eyed. "Did you?"

Buster's dark head bent further, but the tip of his tail kept beating a
rhythm on the floor. One soft woof. A yes.

The shocked look on her face slowly faded into a smile. God she'd been doing
that a lot lately. More than usual. 

"Well it worked didn't it? You're just mad because we didn't catch on.
Unless you are going to say you are sorry all this happened..." Her face
became closed, her eyes guarded. Dana felt her heart pounding in her chest.
What was she going to do if he did say that?

"Of course not. Do you have any idea how long I've wanted this, dreamed of
it?" He reached out to caress the side of her face.

"Then if Buster hadn't arranged for last night to be so romantic, we'd both
still be sitting on our hands doing nothing. Actually..." Dana did the
unexpected, she crouched and wrapped her arms around the Dog, hugging him
tight, "we owe YOU a thank you. Thanks Buster." She kissed the top of his
furry black head.

Mulder crouched in front of them. "Just don't make a habit of it." The
corner of his mouth twitched up into a half smile. He wasn't about to admit
to the already smug twit that he'd taken his advice after all. Not in this
life time.
       
Disclaimed in parts 1, 5 and 13. For Nancy.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 16/21)

With the power back on Scully plugged in her Powerbook and immediately began
to check for any e-mail. With luck Hyatt will have someplace for them to
take Buster soon.

"You want anything with your omelette?" He asked her as he cracked two eggs
into the frying pan.

"A Free angioplasty?" She went to the account Mulder had insisted they set
up a while back. It was an anonymous e-mail account supposedly run by
someone in Michigan. Langly had set it for them, and only he knew the address.

"Cheese, bacon and mushrooms it is." He started to grate some cheese and
nuke a few strips of bacon.

Mail... they had mail. "We may have something." Her tone was distracted as
she highlighted the e-mail and opened it. "Mulder, Someone wants to set up a
meeting. Hyatt has someone looking for Buster and they want to meet with us.
It says here he'll meet wherever you want and prove his identity. He'll
smuggle Buster into another state where a new life will be set up for him.
It closes with Scrappy says Hi."

Buster jumped onto the chair next to her to look at the screen.

"Set up?" Mulder met her eyes from across the kitchen. If the people looking
for Scrappy got a hold of this e-mail address they could be setting a trap.

"Possible."

Buster took the pen that had been left on the table and hit the 'reply' key.

SCRAPPY IS LEMUEL JOHNSON'S FRIEND. SCRAPPY IS DOG LIKE ME. LEM WILL
MEET YOU.

"Ok, Buster seems to know what's going on more then we do." Mulder muttered
as he slid an omelette onto a plate. "Set up a meet,  tell him Cool Springs
Outdoor diner. He names the time. But I meet him alone. You and Buster stay
here. That way if it's a setup you can keep Buster safe." He set the plate
and a fork in front of Scully.

"Why do YOU go, why can't I?" There was a hint of anger in her voice. "I
don't need you wrapping me in cotton.  I will not be protected Mulder." 

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He knew this would come
eventually. He was naturally overprotective of her. He knew that after last
night she would be doubly sensitive to any hint of shielding on his part. He
knew she could take care of her self.

He crossed back to the stove before he answered. "Scully, I know the town
better. And if I have to bug out in a hurry I might be able to lose a tail
in the roads and side streets either in town or through these mountains. I
have familiarity with the land on my side. Besides if it's a trap and they
traced that e-mail they might trace us HERE. Being in the chalet isn't
necessarily any safer, and since I'll have the van that leaves you and
Buster with the woods as a refuge." And he hated the fact. Too many ifs to
the whole situation.

"You have a point." Scully poked at the eggs on her plate with her fork.
"I'd better not get sick from this Mulder." 

He tried to look relaxed as she put a forkful in her mouth. Tried not to
think of the dangers of leaving her here without a vehicle.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "This is actually good. Unhealthy, but
good."

He bowed mockingly from the waist. "I'd almost swear you thought I couldn't
cook." He flipped his own omelette. "I don't do it often, but I CAN do it."
He grinned as he brought his plate over to sit opposite her.

She began typing a reply message when Mulder saw Buster staring at him. The
Dog licked his chops, looked at the eggs and whined.

Mulder sighed, cut up his omelette and shoved the plate across the table.
Buster dug in happily. Scully tried not to laugh, and not to give in to the
urge to complain about a dog eating at the table. Buster would just love
hearing that complaint she was sure.
                                      X
Scrappy turned the laptop with his nose, so Lem could see the e-mail they
just received. Forwarded from weirdo central.

"Vermont? What the hell are they doing in Vermont?" Lem pulled a map out of
the glove compartment and tried doing some quick calculating. A six or seven
hour road trip. Might as well start now. Lem pulled away from the hotel
parking lot and headed  for the highway. "Scrappy, see if you can type
coherently enough to tell them I'll meet them at that diner at noon for
lunch. I have to get there first." Lem cursed under his breath. Five hours
at least on the road. He was definitely getting too old for this shit. His
back was sure to pay him back for all the time driving.
                                       X
    
Cook had narrowed down the list of hotels from thousands to hundreds. Not
good enough, and Webb was already shooting him dirty looks. The tall, dark
man had spent half the morning on the phone, and he wasn't giving away who
he was speaking with, or specifically what about. It was making him jumpy.
As if his nerves weren't frayed already. Knowing he was sharing a room with
that murdering son of a bitch.

Webb looked at his 'partner' with disgust. He knew research took time, but
something felt wrong about the way Cook was approaching things. He didn't
know why. There was no evidence that the older man was doing anything but
his best. Maybe it was because he had stopped getting his diggs in, had
become withdrawn and sullen all of a sudden. Webb chewed on his mustache
thoughtfully.

His attention was drawn back to the phone, and Director Simm's voice. "So
their immediate families seem to check out. I can't keep teams on them at
all times, but it looks like they aren't hiding them. As for immediate
friends, they don't have many. Those we tracked down are not hiding them.
There are a few more names we want to check out. I'll get back to you then.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Webb hung up. There wasn't much he could do
while Cook worked, so he turned on the tv  and flipped channels till he
found  a really bad horror movie with Marc Singer.  He was to the point
where the guy in a bad monster suit appeared to have killed the lead
character's pet dog before he gave up. He'd read the book, and the movie was
a slap in the face to the author's talents.

Cook had managed to ignore the whole thing, as he bent over his lists and
kept an eye out for any more credit card or bank activity.
                                       X
Scully relayed the return e-mail before picking up the dishes.

"So we have a few hours to kill. Got any plans?" He gave her an amused half
smile. Mulder had finally gotten to sit down and eat a breakfast of his own.

"Actually, yes. We can take a walk into the woods. Help me get to know the
place."

He actually pouted, and she stifled a smile as she finished the dishes up.
"Hey, it was YOUR idea I stay here. Knowing which way to go out there might
not be a bad thing."

He nodded, admitting temporary defeat. " Wouldn't want you falling into the
river. Sure. Why not? I'll take you to the old saw mill. It's about three
miles north of here along the river. It's been out of operation for fifty
years and I wouldn't recommend going into the place but it's interesting.
Besides we can make it there and back  and still have an hour or so to kill
before I have to leave."

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have a one track mind?" Scully wiped her
hands on a dishtowel and tossed it at his head.

"Yeah, but they usually say it's derailed."
                                    ####
The walk was a pleasant one. Mulder was sure to keep them off the major
trails and stuck to deer paths. They'd be lost for sure if his memory wasn't
what it was. It was actually nice, walking through the early morning woods,
feeling Mulder's hand, dry and warm enveloping hers. She savored that,
because when this was all over such simple contact would be denied them.
They hadn't discussed it. They didn't need to. It was understood that the
new dimension to their relationship would have to stay hidden. And if they
kept their apartments bug free (She still cursed herself for laughing off
Mulder's paranoia) and were very cautious they could make this work. They
had to make this work. There was no going back.

Buster appeared once more on the trail ahead of them. He was acting like any
dog left free in the woods. Sometimes he fell behind, sometimes he moved
ahead. They didn't keep track. No need to worry he'd get lost.

After an hour and a half leisurely stroll and Mulder pointing out landmarks
for her to memorize they came upon the mill. Up until now the sound of the
River had been faint, growing as they neared it. Now it was a lovely soft
rush of sound. It was almost picturesque. The Mill was half fallen in, and
the log chute that had once gone to the river had fallen down in a mass of
wood and metal. It looked like part of it may have washed away.

Scully let go of Mulder's hand and moved off over the rocky riverbank. She
bent to dip her hand into the cold water. And it was cold.

"I guess a swim is out of the question." She shook her hand off.

"I forgot to pack my speedos." He grinned. "The current's too strong anyway.
It used to carry the logs down from the mountain."

Scully made her way to the mill, looking at the wreckage of the logging
chute. "Isn't this a safety hazard? I mean kids might think it's fun to play
around here."

"It's not bothered much. I don't think many people know it's back here.
Lenny and I discovered it cross country skiing a couple of years ago. Look,
no beer bottles or campfire marks.. so no kids have been partying here."

Scully moved around the outside of the old Mill. The back wall was leaning
in. But a rusted metal awning was still supported by three beams. They most
likely stored the equipment there. She looked around the smooth dirt, devoid
of rocks and at the semi roof overhead. "Now this would be the place to
party. But you're right. No empties."

Mulder stuck his hands in his jeans pockets. "Gee Scully, you know how to
find teenage party spots? Don't tell me you were a wild child?"

Scully laughed. "Sometimes I wish I had been. No, but I used to have to hunt
them down because Missy WAS. When dad went into a full rage because she was
gone way too long I usually ran off to find her and drag her back before he
really blew a gasket."

"So basically she prepared you for working with me." His face was carefully
neutral. 

"Yeah, basically."

Scully looked at Buster, who was sniffing around the area. "Hey Buster, go
play somewhere for a bit will you?"

The Dog looked up at her and his tail started to wag fast enough to break
the sound barrier. He barked once then trotted off. There was little sign of
a limp in his gait now. 

"Wanna show me what I was missing Mulder?" Scully held out her hand. "Even
walking back we still have about an hour to kill..."

"Are you proposing we make out like a couple of teenagers under a
dilapidated awning?" He took her hand.

"You catch on fast." He didn't fight her tug on his arm at all.


         

     




Disclaimed in 1, 5 and 13.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 17/?)

Dana had changed when they got back, and planned on doing some laundry while
Mulder was gone. They had managed to get their clothes quite messy. Next
time we decide to make love in unusual places we have to bring a blanket,
she chided herself. She really hadn't planned on taking it that far. But the
whole experience of just being with Mulder was too new, their mutual
attraction too great to stop once they got started. Mulder had gone upstairs
to wash up and change as well, but they had decided to do so separately or
he might never get out of here and meet this Johnson character.

Buster kept looking out the large open window. He looked slightly anxious.
Dana called him away and motioned to her Powerbook.

"What's wrong? Ever since we got back you've been jumpy."

Buster used the now familiar pen.  DON'T KNOW. FEEL TIGHT INSIDE. WRONGNESS.

"Do you think this meeting of Mulder's is a set up?" She folded her hands on
the table in front of her.

NO. MEETING GOOD. LEM AND SCRAPPY GOOD. JUST FEEL... SOMETHING BAD
COMING.

"By the prickling of my thumbs..." Dana muttered softly under her breath.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.

"Do you... do you think that the thing that supposedly escaped with your
ancestor is still alive?" Scully felt a chill go up her spine.

NO. OUTSIDER DEAD. GONE. IF THEY MAKE ANOTHER, WE'D KNOW. 

"How would you know? If they kept as tight a lid on it as they had before..."

The keys clicking stopped her as she read. WE'D KNOW. WE'D FEEL IT. INSIDE.
NOT ALL MONSTERS ARE MADE IN LABS. SOME ARE HUMAN.

Scully wasn't quite sure why she switched off the computer as Mulder came
down the stairs. He wore Levis and an open, light denim shirt over a plain
white t-shirt. 

"So do I look inconspicuous?" He held up his arms, and turned. The denim
shirt hid the gun tucked into back of his jeans waistband.

"It'll do. Though you still look  like you were in a bar fight." She cocked
her head to the side. The bruise on his cheek was fading to a paler blue
with yellowed edges. Colorful to say the least.

"So I'll sit alone drinking a beer and looking surly till this guy shows up.
I don't know how I'm supposed to know him when he shows though."

"Yeah, you sitting alone drinking a beer and acting unsociable will be a
stretch for your acting abilities. And he said you'd be able to pick him
out." Dana walked with him to the front door. "Have fun, and try not to get
shot."

He bent to press a fleeting kiss on her forehead before heading out the door
and to the van.
                                        X

Cook looked up at the sound of the phone. Webb grabbed the receiver almost
violently.

"Whatcha got?"

Webb recognized Simm's voice. "We have a possible lead. It seems an old
school friend of Mulder's, the photographer - Leonard Kravitz is away on
assignment in Greece. However some of the people I sent to check his
residence and his winter place reported smoke coming from the winter place.
It's a ski chalet in Vermont. Pretty isolated."

Webb cursed. Cook was worse than useless after all. "I'll get on it."

"I want you, Cook and Hernandez out there right away. There will be a
chopper waiting for you at the Scranton Airport. You will meet a team of
five there. They will arrive by road. I need this handled quickly and
efficiently. Kravitz works for National Geographic, and I don't need to tell
you what kind of publicity having you going in there guns blazing will get.
Your orders are still to try and get them all alive if possible. A team will
be waiting at Barre Hospital to preform the procedure. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal sir. You can count on me." Webb smiled looking at the dossiers on
the hotel bed. Alive... IF possible. Lots of things can go wrong. And he did
hate loose ends.

"I hope so. Now get moving."

"Sir... are you sure Cook wouldn't be more useful here? In case this is a
false lead?" Or a solid one for that matter.

"If they manage to escape this time having him there will cut down response
time. That will be all." The click signaled the end of the conversation.

"Pack up Cook, you were off base. We think we found them in Vermont." Webb
tossed the older man's suit jacket at him.

"Vermont?" Cook's brow furrowed. Shit, shitshitshit.

"Yeah, the list of friends and family you discarded. I had it checked out
anyway. Bad call buddy." Webb sneered and went to rouse Hernandez.
                                      X

The blind black man sat in a corner. Dark sunglasses concealing his eyes
from view. Every once in a while he would run a hand lightly over his plate
and pick up a french fry or take a bite from his burger. He was noticed only
in passing, and then only because he was not a regular here. 

He sat facing the street, his retriever wearing a signature harness with a
grip sat beside him. Utterly well behaved as he watched the people that
shared the terrace dining area as well as those who passed on the street.

The dog whined softly once, and shifted it's weight to brush against it's
master just as the tall, dark haired man in denim stepped onto the terrace
and took a seat near the building, with his back against the wall and a
clear view of the patrons and street as well. 

The blind man fished out some money from his wallet and dropped it on the
table, confident it would cover his meal. Then, taking hold of his guide
dog's harness he allowed the animal to lead him to the table where Fox
Mulder waited.

Mulder looked up, momentarily surprised to see the blind man approach. When
the man grabbed the seat next to him without hesitation or missing it Mulder
reached behind him to feel the reassuring press of his gun.

"You won't need that Mr. Mulder." The man smiled, his white teeth a stark
contrast to his dark face. "I'm Lemuel Johnson. And this..." he stroked the
head of the retriever at his side, "is Scrappy. Scrappy Doo to be precise."

The dog... no, the Dog, actually lifted it's paw to shake, and Mulder didn't
know quite why, but he took it. Shook the paw once and let it drop. There
were more. It was one thing to have an abstract concept in the back of your
head, quite another to be faced with the solid proof. Johnson seemed to be
enjoying the dumbfounded expression on Mulder's face.

"They are something aren't they? I was there, when Benodyne made the
breakthrough. I always liked Einstien. Even when I was sent to hunt him
down, I felt for him. Felt a sense of kinship and wonder. That's why I
reported him dead and handed in my badge. Scrappy here is the same
generation as your friend. He's been helping me try to find your friend
since we heard of his misfortune."

Mulder tore his eyes away from the Dog at Lem's words. "You hunted him?"

"Hunted the other was more like it. I used to be NSA. But I knew if I found
the Dog I'd find the Outsider. I was right. But I was too late. You didn't
bring him. Good. I might not have respected you if you had." The waitress
brought a beer over and set it before Mulder, who handed her a couple of
dollars and waved her off.

"So how did you get..." He indicated Scrappy.

"Hyatt learned to trust me. They have to be adopted out you see. The world
is too human based. They need families to care for them and keep their
secrets. As a pup Scrappy took a liking to me. He did the choosing really. I
was honored. And it is an honor Mr. Mulder. They are clever, but not mean.
There has yet to be a bad or mean one born. They are somehow... purer than
us. They retain the canine abilities for unwavering loyalty, as well as
gaining human compassion. They see into people, and tell if people are good
or not. I know I can trust you, Mr. Mulder, because Buster trusts you. I
know you aren't holding him against his will, because Scrappy would have
warned me if he smelled his fear on you."

Mulder looked close to embarrassed. "He's a tricky devil you know. And a
smartass."

Johnson laughed. the sound startling compared to the thus far hushed
conversation. "Mr. Mulder they ALL seem to have a bit of smart ass in them.
Must be... genetic."

Mulder smiled. Seeing Scrappy had been all the convincing he needed right
now. "Come on, I'll take you to him."

Lem fell back into his role of blind man as he followed Mulder. 

"So, Lem... why the hell did you name him Scrappy Doo?" 

Lem chuckled. "I didn't. His mother did. They all love cartoons. So they
name their pups after them. You know Buster's brothers and sisters are named
Babs, Plucky, Shirly, Sneezer and Minerva. Their mom has a Tiny Toons fixation."
                               X

Scully pulled their clothes out of the dryer and suddenly felt WAY too
domestic. "If you think I'm gonna do all your laundry Fox Mulder you are out
of you mind... more than generally thought." She muttered. Of course she
felt herself smiling a bit smugly as she pulled out the sheets from the bed.
The bed they'd shared last night. 

Bringing the basket into the living room she sat on the couch to fold them.
Buster was back at the window. Whining softly. 

"What is it now?" She dropped the sheets and moved to crouch beside the dog. 
Looking out the window, she froze. A dark van was coming up the road, and
she looked up at the soft whirr of a chopper on silent running.

Bother she and Buster quickly backed away from the window. She grabbed her
gun from the kitchen table as they both dashed out the back door.

Buster was holding back, waiting for her.

"The Mill. Go. GO! I'll meet you there." She was too anxious to feel any
relief when she saw him bound into the woods, to relitive safety. She took
off down the deer path she'd been on only hours before, trying to not leave
much of a trail.

    

Disclaimed in parts 1, 5 and 13.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 18/21)

Mulder unlocked the van and looked back to see Lem looking at him strangely.
His expression might have been more readable if he weren't wearing the
sunglasses.

"You borrowed Frohike's van?"

At Lem's words Mulder almost dropped his keys. What the hell was going on here?

"How do you know..."

"The Princes of Paranoid? The tracked down the original Dog within two years
of his reported 'death'. They do like digging into things that are none of
their business. I had a little talk with them. Between Hyatt, myself and the
Dogs we convinced them that making the truth known in this case would only
hurt innocent beings, and possibly even AID the forces behind creating the
Dog and the Outsider."

"They didn't tell me. Why didn't they tell me? They hid what they knew is
hearsay and bullshit." Mulder wrenched the door open.

He felt Johnson's hand on his shoulder. "It wasn't their secret to share.
They gave you what they could. Don't be hard on them. They helped you get
away. They arranged for us to meet, and they will be helping me get Buster
to where he will be safe. I'd say they've gone above and beyond the call of
duty, wouldn't you? Especially for a group of guys who think  Elvis is
waiting to reappear so he can run for the Democratic office next election."
Johnson tossed in his briefcase and let Scrappy climb in first.

Mulder managed a wry smile as he moved around and got in the driver's side
door. Scrappy had found the mattress and lay down in back.

"You have a point. After all everyone knows Elvis will have a better chance
running Independent than expect either party to back him."

Lem looked at the man who had started the van's engine with a hint of shock,
mostly because by the look on his face this guy was SERIOUS.
                                X

The chopper landed on the street. Webb jumped out, landing lightly on his
feet as Cook followed behind.  Hernandez was last out as five men poured out
the the van, each with assault rifles.

"Lock and load boys." Webb ordered and released the safety on his own gun,
chambering the first round.

Hernandez followed suit, stone faced. Cook checked his own weapon, and hoped
to God he wouldn't have to use it.

The chopper took off again, hovering over the house to try to keep watch
from above.

The five man clean up crew spread out. Three moving to circle the house.
Webb's group moved with the other two to smash open the front door. They
entered, guns at the ready. Webb took one look at the unfinished laundry on
the couch and cursed.  "You and you sweep the house." He pointed to the two
men from the van. "Cook, go through things here, try to figure out where
they could have headed. Hernandez you're with me. We've got to comb these
woods."

Webb and Hernandez went out the back door. Cook watched the two men inside
split, one going through a door that looked like it led to a basement, and
the other heading up the stairs. Taking a chance he slipped out the back
door then, just in time to see Webb's group disappear into the woods. Two
men taking an obvious path the others spreading out.

He had to follow Webb. He saw that clearly now. If he sat back in that house
and followed orders he'd be less than a man, he'd be just as guilty of
murder as Webb was.  Falling back on his military training Cook moved
carefully into the woods. Staking the stalkers.
                                   X

Dana's lungs burned for air, and her side was cramping painfully. Running on
flat ground was one thing, but she was heading up a slight, but steady
incline, moving over little hills and dips, trying not to trip over plant
life and rocks.

If she was lucky she had a full two minute lead while they searched the house. 

Her palm was sweating against the gun in her hand. She could no longer see
Buster ahead of her. That was good. If she were caught she didn't know where
he was. 

As she ran the pain in her side was only a dull ache compared to the terror
in her heart. She wasn't afraid for herself. Ok, admit it Dana, you are
afraid for yourself, but you know you haven't been caught yet. She chanced a
quick look behind her. Nothing.

Her real fear was for Mulder. They had been found and traced. Which most
likely meant he had walked into a trap. Had he gotten away? Had he been
caught? Was he hurt? 

Stupid. She chided herself while scanning the almost indistinct path for a
sign of the fallen tree Mulder had used as a landmark. There was nothing she
could do one way or the other for Mulder right now. She had to concentrate
on keeping herself and Buster alive. 

A tree branch, coming out of nowhere, smacked her chin, leaving a stinging
mark to add to her list of complaints.

She held up her arm before her as she ran. She knew she'd have to stop soon,
to catch her breath or risk just collapsing. She just hoped Buster was clear.
                           X
Buster felt the wind in his fur, smelled the rich scent of earth and plants
around him, the hint of decay and mustiness only adding to the whole. He was
scared, but there was a part of him that recognized this. This running
through the forest. Hunt or be hunted. Something primal that shocked him for
only a moment. He could reason, knew that he had to stay free, but also had
to make sure Dana stayed free as well. He knew they had to stay hidden until
the Fox came to help, IF he could come to help. He knew all the logical and
rational reasons for his flight, for the jumble of emotions settling right
behind his breastbone. 

But he was also DOG. Even separated from the wolf by several thousand
generations there was still a touch of primitive there. Something man and
his science couldn't take away. The instinct that made him want to throw his
head back and howl at the moon kicked in. Guided his flight. He slowed and
the rational part of his mind recognized his fur, now black, would be an
advantage. Slowing more Buster began to move in a more graceful way, as he
slipped between the trees, blending with the shadows...
                                    X
In the van Lem turned off the classic rock station Mulder had been playing
and looked at the younger man. "So... you had suspicions about Buster before
our mutual acquaintances filled in the blanks. What gave him away?"

"A bunch of little things. Like digging out my badge and opening it like he
was checking me out. The sudden playing of my partner's stereo. But mostly
it was his eyes. They were..."

"Too damn intelligent." Lem finished for him, nodding his head. "It's their
biggest pitfall. They can act like any dog, even enjoy what all dogs do...
but anyone looking into their eyes for too long knows there is something
different about them. So why did you decide to help him and not turn him in?"

Mulder shrugged and looked uncomfortable. "He was... amazing. Once
confronted he proved his intelligence and used a computer and picked out the
letters. I don't know. It was about awe. It was about finally having proof
of the impossable in front of me. Mostly it was that he asked for help."

Johnson smiled. "They give absolute loyalty, but they tend to inspire it as
well don't they? " Lem looked into the back of the van where Scrappy yawned
as if bored by the entire conversation.

"Shit!" Mulder veered the van off the road suddenly, driving it part way
into a ditch.

Lem let out a muffled curse as Mulder got out as if the van were on fire.
Lem opened his door and stepped out as well.

"Son of a BITCH. I can't believe I fell for your BULLSHIT." Lem was startled
to see a gun shoved in his face. 

"What the..." Scrappy's hackles were up and he had his teeth bared at Mulder.

"Move and I blow his fucking head off, I know you can understand me." The
Dog took a step back. 

Just then Lem notices the soft, almost distant whap, whap, whap, whap of a
helicopter. A helicopter on silent running. Mulder pointed up, where a black
helicopter could just be seen hovering over the trees about two miles ahead.

"If either one of them is hurt you die first." Lem looked back at Mulder and
saw with chilling certainty his own demise in the younger man's eyes.

"Listen to me Mulder... I didn't bring them here. I didn't know where you
were staying. They had Cook on your tail, and he's good, the best the NSA
has on tracking. I KNOW that because I was originally following them, hoping
to intervene if they did catch you. You know Buster. You trust him. Look at
Scrappy... he's pissed yeah, but only because he wants to protect me right
now." Lem saw Mulder's wary eyes flicker to the Dog standing by the van. He
had stopped snarling, but his hackles were still up. And the animal's dark
eyes were both angry and disappointed.

"I knew Frohike's van... I knew his name. And Langly and Byers... do you
really think they'd let someone who was a security risk that close to them?
They have surveillance cameras in their freaking BATHROOM. And while you are
here holding ME at gunpoint they are either dragging off your partner and
Buster or hunting them down."

Mulder's gun wavered. "They need our help Mr. Mulder. Do you really think
you can take on a helicopter and as many men as they most likely have at
that house by your self?"

The gun went down. "First we have to approach the place from the woods, see
if they've been caught." Mulder stepped into the trees, moving swiftly, not
caring if Lem caught up or not.

"And if they haven't?" Lem asked no one in particular as he stooped to
unbuckle Scrappy's harness. "Keep up with him if you can boy. I'll follow as
fast as I can."

Scrappy wagged his tail once and ran after Mulder. 

Lem took a few lungfuls of air, thanked God silently that Mulder hadn't shot
him, then started a loping run. "I'm getting WAY to old for this shit." He
muttered under his breath as he tried to judge the direction Mulder and
Scrappy had gone by the road and the position of the chopper.

           


Disclaimed in Parts 1, 5 and 13. R for realistic language and violence.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 19/21)

Lem looked up to see the forest's leafy canopy hiding him and his companions
from the helicopter, even though the wind whipped by it's blades stirred the
leaves. Ahead Mulder was crouched behind a tree. Scrappy was laying low to
the ground, the low brush effectively hiding him from the beautiful wooden
A-frame chalet just ahead. Two men with assault rifles were combing the yard.

Lem  moved quietly through the underbrush, hoping the soft whirr of the
aircraft would mask any sounds of his approach. He got within two feet of
Mulder.

Mulder turned quickly, his gun up and aiming at Lem, who held up his hands,
including the one holding his own weapon.

"Damnit, if I was gonna kill your honkey ass you'd have been dead fore you
turned." Lem hissed softly.

Mulder didn't relax, but he lowered his gun. In a voice just as hushed he
announced,  "I only see two, and maybe the pilot of the chopper. No sign of
Buster or Dana."

One of the two dark uniformed men turned from the edge of the woods and
called out across the yard. "Where the hell did Cook run off to? You sure he
aint in the house?"

"You tryin to say I can't pull a proper search? The fuckin place is empty
man. Maybe Cook found something and went to chase down Webb. OUR job is to
stay here and secure the place." The other shouted back as he eyed the
forest warily.

Mulder seemed to be chewing on the inside of his bottom lip, then his eyes
brightened. He looked at Scrappy. 

"You think you can get close enough for Larry and Moe to spot you and chase
you in here?"

The Dog tilted his head and peered through the brush with narrowed eyes. He
shook his tail.

"Well?" Mulder looked impatient.

"Tail wag means yes." Lem whispered into Mulder's ear. "Ambush right? Outta
sight of the air support. Ok, but that flyboy is gonna know something's up
when they don't come back."

"Good, maybe he'll radio whoever is in the woods. I know where Scully and
Buster are headed. We might bluff them back here and give them a better
chance of escape. Either way we have to go after them."

Lem nodded, unable to fault the boy's logic. "Scrappy, wait till we get in
position then run close enough to be seen, bark for their attention and head
back this way."

Mulder retreated and put his back to an aged oak tree. Lem stayed where he
was and hid behind a maple. He would let the target pass so that he'd be
covered front and back.

Scrappy moved, three loud barks cut through the air.

"Shit! It's the dog." Lem could hear the rifleman fairly well. "Webb this is
Base two, we have a visual on the dog. SHIT, he's running. I'm in pursuit.
Repeat I'm in pursuit."

Scrappy sped past Lem's position as did the gunman. He must have caught
sight of Lem out of the corner of his eye because he spun, bringing up his gun.

"Drop it." Mulder's voice was soft, but deadly. Lem grinned as he brought up
his own weapon, already in hand,and took aim. "One move - twitch so much as
a muscle I don't tell you to - and you turn into tree fertilizer. I SAID
drop the gun."

The rifle hit the forest loam. 

"Now call your friend and tell him you have the dog but need some help
dragging him back. I'm warning you, any tricks, and you won't have time to
blink before I blow your head off. Cooperate and you just might live through
this." Their hostage glared daggers at Lem as he was facing him.

The man moved one hand slowly for the radio strapped to his shoulder. "Base
one, this is base two. I have the dog, but he's putting up a fight. I'm
gonna need some help if we're gonna bring him in alive."
                                          ####
A quick rap to the head with a rock had both men unconscious. Mulder watched
Lem pick up one of the rifles and checked it. "I think I'm gonna trade in,
you?" He looked at Mulder who was tying both unconscious men to a tree with
nylon cord they had had on them. 

"Nope. I prefer my own, thanks. If I drop that one it would trip me." He
smiled tensely, but Lem missed the joke. "Nice of them to come prepared." He
finished the last knot with a savage jerk. He really didn't much care if
they couldn't feel their hands when they woke up.

Lem nodded his approval then did something totally unexpected. He drew his
Sig Sauer and shot each man, once in the outer thigh. Their legs jumped with
the shot but both men remained unconscious.

Shocked, Mulder shoved the older man hard, sending him to the ground. "What
the hell did you do that for?"

"They'll live, even walk again, but when their buddy upstairs figures out
where they are and unties them this is two less we have to worry about
following US into the woods. Which reminds me we better get outta here
before he lands or calls for backup."

Mulder still didn't know what to make of Lem. He made sense, and dammit the
gunshots WOULDN'T do permanent damage, but shooting men who were out...

He shook his head and decided to keep an eye on his supposed ally. Without
further discussion he moved off into the woods, heading for the Mill.
                                  X
Dana had stopped, taking in great, gulping lungfuls of air that seared her
throat and lungs. She had to rest. She had to have gained enough of a lead
to take a few seconds to breathe normally again before continuing. She'd
completely lost sight of Buster, and was glad. She was certain he was ahead
of her. He was safe.

She looked around her and got her bearings. Not too much further. She was
almost to the mill.
                                        X
"Base one, Base two, report." Webb held his radio on one hand, his gun in
the other. "Base one, Base two report." Two minutes of radio silence after a
presumed sighting of the dog.

The radio crackled to life. "Sir they haven't come out of the woods yet."
The chopper pilot reported.

"Can you see anything?" Webb asked. 

The line opened again. "Negative. Just leaves. I told you summer was the
worst time for air visibility."

Webb looked at the three men with him. "Sommers, keep an eye to our rear, we
might have trouble coming from behind. Any sign of our quary yet?"

Thompson looked up from where he squatted in this miserable excuse for a
trail. "Sneaker print, looks like someone running. They stuck to leaves and
rocks most likely, but hit bare dirt here and over there. Small. Probably
the woman."

"Any sign of the dog?"

"No sir." 
                                    X
Clear! Dana Scully would have laughed if she could. The second most welcome
sight in the world was just a hundred yards ahead. The crumbling Mill. She
leaned forward, hands on her thighs and just rested. Waited until sounds
other than her heartbeat filtered through her ears. Till her side was only a
dull ache instead of a sharp pain.  Looking along the rocky riverbank she
saw no sign of Buster. But then he was most likely hiding.

"Buster?" Her call sounded weak in her own ears. "BUSTER!" That was better.

No sound. No movement. Shit, where could he be? Please, she prayed, don't
let him have gotten lost in the woods.
                                    X
Buster moved back, finding a good hollow  in the earth. By the smell it had
once been a burrow for a fox family. He felt his lips curl up, not in a
snarl, but a grin. Talk about good omens. Joe had believed in Omens. It had
rubbed off a little.  He had seen Dana move past him, and made no move to
alert her to his presence. Wait for them to pass, then come from behind...

He didn't have long to wait. He was surprised at how quickly they had
tracked her. They must have an expert with them. Damn, she had no more than
a fifteen minute lead at best.

Seeing the four dark men with guns stalk past, nervous, almost as if they
EXPECTED him to jump them from behind. Damn, damn, damn... this might be
harder then he thought. He waited a five more minutes, till they were
certainly well out of sight before getting ready to move. Before he did
however he saw something else. Another man, keeping low, eyes focused
forward. He looked like he was hunting the men who were hunting Dana and
himself. He certainly didn't act like he was part of the previous group.

Once that man passed, Buster slunk out of the burrow... following silently.
                                  X

"Buster?" Scully peered under a section of Mill wall that had fallen away.
The inside stand of mold, rot, and the excrements of animals who'd made
their homes inside at various times. She pulled back from the smell a bit.
She'd gone over the surrounding woods and the outside of the mill so far,
and still there was no sign of Buster. 

She stepped cautiously over the debris of the log chute, climbing up onto
one of the metal braces, gaining enough elevation to get a better look
around. To see a bit further both up and down river. 

"Hands in the air Ms. Scully." The rough voice startled her and she spun,
almost losing her balance. Four men stood at the treeline, all carrying
rifles. SHIT!

Scully raised her hands. 

"Now toss the gun in our direction... carefully." The man who spoke seemed
to be in charge, his rifle was trained on her.

She looked around for any option. The remains of this chute made lousy
cover. Another round of curses went through her mind - an impressive string
only the offspring of a sailor could formulate on such short notice.
Nevertheless she threw down her gun.

Then another voice cut in. "Drop it Webb!"
                                X
Cook had him in his sights. He didn't care about the three assault team
members. They wouldn't move without Webb's command. He smiled as he
commanded Webb to drop his gun. "I know you killed those people in
Annapolis. Right now I have a my gun aimed right at your head. Drop your
guns, all of you, or Jackie boy gets another hole in his head."

Buster took in the scene before him. The man he'd been behind was NOT with
the bad guys. It made his job a bit easier. 

The balding short human had his gun on the tall, dark man, and the tall dark
man had his gun on Dana, as did the other three men. 
                             
"I said DROP IT." The rifleman to the side began to swing around. Cook's gun
automatically swung to face this threat. That was when the man on the other
side turned to enter the fray. 
     
Buster was only peripherally aware of Dana diving for her gun. He was going
for the second rifleman.  Just as the second man brought his gun on the
short man the short man fired twice at the man who first moved, sending him
flying backwards. The second man only caught sight of a black mass of fur
and sharp teeth. He didn't have a chance to scream before his was knocked
off his feet by Buster's weight even as canine teeth sank into his throat.

Webb, checking what was going on behind him in a second's glance saw his
target dive off the metal support she'd been on, going for her gun. He fired
once, twice, and was rewarded by the sight of her body jerking back once,
then again. He saw the tell tale spray of blood before before she spun and
landed in the river. She was quickly pulled under by the swift current.      

Disclaimed in parts 1, 5, and 13. Rated R for realistic language and violence.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 20/21)

Dana felt as if she'd been punched not once, but twice. One blow catching
her shoulder, the other grazing her side. The force spun her body and she
was helpless against it. Her mind barely registered - Oh my God, I've been
shot- before icy water engulfed her. 
                                    X
The gunshots echoed weakly throughout the woods. Mulder paused for a second,
hearing them. Then all precepts of stealth disappeared as he headed out at a
full run. Lem saw the way the younger man was moving. By the way he moved
Lem could tell he was made to run. Lem knew he'd never be able to catch him. 

"Scrappy, go... keep him out of trouble."

The Dog wagged it's tail then tore off after Mulder.
                                    X
The third gunman drew a bead on the dog that had just ripped the throat out
of his cohort, only to go down as Cook shot him as well.

Webb swung around and landed a punch against Cook's temple, sending the
smaller man to the ground, his glasses flying off into the woods.  He aimed
to shoot his former partner but Cook's legs tangled with Webb's and he
pulled them out from under him. Each man locked their free hand around the
wrist of their opponent's gun hand. The struggle began.
                                     X
Buster was running for the water. No. No. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Not to Dana. Not to sweet, kind, good hearted Dana. The Dog dove into the
water as he saw her surface briefly, sputtering before being pulled under
again.  He swam along with the current and fought going under himself until
he was right next to her. He saw her shirt just below the water. 

Buster dove. He felt the pulling in his injured side and ignored it. He
couldn't see very well through the muddy water, but he felt his nose brush
against fabric and he locked his teeth down. Kicking and swimming for all he
was worth he broke the surface. He felt water fill his nose, but refused to
let go, feeling it burn his lungs. He tried not to release the hold he had
on Dana's shirt as he choked, trying to swim with her to the shore. He
tasted her blood on the shirt. What had he done? He might have gotten her
killed.
                                    X
Mulder saw two men up ahead, struggling for their guns. The larger man
smashed his head into the nose of the smaller one, sending him down,
momentarily stunned.

"Freeze! Federal Agent!" Mulder brought his own Smith and Wesson to bear.

The larger man sneered and brought his gun up to aim at Mulder. Mulder
pulled the trigger, watching part of the man's head disappear as he fell
backwards and off his opponent.

The smaller man sat up, gingerly holding his smashed nose. He looked at
Mulder and tossed his own gun into the woods.

"Your Parder. He shod 'er." His words were nasal around his broken nose.
"She fell indo da river. Wend under. The Dog... dink he wend afder..."

Mulder looked to the river and his heart froze. He saw, down river, the
black shape of Buster trying to pull something to shore. Then both the Dog
and it's burden went under. 

"SCULLY!" He ran for the water, tossing his gun aside without thought as he
dove in. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't lose her now. Not now, so
soon after really finding her.

He heard another splash not far from him as he swam with sure, practiced
strokes, bringing him closer to where the two had disappeared. Scrappy was
by his side. The dog propelling itself awkwardly, but swiftly, to the same goal.

There. He saw them bob at the surface briefly before going under once more. 

He dove. His hand caught a fistful of fur and he pulled. His other hand
grasped an arm. Holding both burdens he kicked for the surface, fighting his
own burning lungs and fatigue as well as the current. 

As soon as he broke the surface he felt Buster pulled from his grip. Scrappy
had his 'cousin's' collar and was dragging the limp form to the shore.

Mulder locked his arm under Scully's and followed suit.

As Mulder pulled her limp form over the rocky ground he saw Lem and the man
with the broken nose running at them. Mulder frantically felt for a pulse
along Dana's throat. She was ghastly pale. Blood stained her shirt and was
pooling thinly beneath her on the rocks. He couldn't find a pulse. Jesus! No
Pulse.

"Dana, don't you leave me. Not now... Please, baby, not now." Laying her
down he turned her head and pushed in her diaphragm, making a U motion and
forcing the water out. He saw water spew from her mouth and felt the first
stirring of hope push past the desperation. Then he began CPR. He cleared
her airway and tilted her head back before trying to pass his own breath
into her, a mockery of a kiss. Nothing. Once more, Mulder watched her chest
rise only as he forced the air into her. 

Lem was working on Buster, pushing on the dog's chest, trying to pump the
water out of his lungs.

Then the man with the broken nose was there. He had his hands positioned on
Scully's chest and he began pressing down, counting as he went. Mulder only
barely realized he was working the buddy system. He compressed  "1, 2, 3, 4,
5!" Mulder bent to exhale, watching her chest rise as he breathed for her.
One breath, one desperate attempt to force her lungs to breathe air again.
Then the other man compressed again.  

As he watched this stranger trying to get the blood flowing he had a
horrible flashback, a perfect memory of himself working on another small
body by another riverbank. It hadn't been CPR that had saved that victim.

Then he heard the most welcome sound he ever had. Scully choking. He might
laugh about it later, but hearing her struggle to breath was a relief. He
turned her on her side where she emptied water from her lungs.  She shook
terribly as she sputtered and coughed, then drew in a huge gasp of air
before falling into another coughing fit. He looked up at the man with the
broken nose. He didn't know him, but he had never felt more grateful.

He felt himself crying, weeping for joy. He held her as she filled her lungs
with air again. His eyes finally falling on Lem, still pushing against
Buster's side. Scrappy was sitting at the dog's head, whining softly.
                                X
Dana Scully woke up to find Mulder seated beside her. As he noticed her eyes
open one of the brightest smiles she had ever seen from him lit his face.
She felt him grip her hand. She recognized the sterile environment of a
hospital room. 

"Where am I?" Her voice sounded worn, even to herself.

"Georgetown University Hospital. You were brought here as soon as you were
deemed stable. You scared the hell out of me back there." He reached up and
she felt his fingers trace the curve of her cheek. 

"What happened?" She licked her lips and took stock of the damage. She was
feeling surprisingly little pain, but it was fairly hard to think straight.
Ahhh... drugs could be nice sometimes.

"When I got there Buster was trying to pull you to shore, but he got pulled
under as well. I had met up with Lem Johnson and he and I had arrived to
find you were having a party without me." His eyes were still haunted, and
she could see him blaming himself for leaving her alone. How long had she
been out? How long had he been playing the game of self-blame. "Uh... We
both have some time off. It seems we really did have a murder witness with
us. At least that's what the report says, and what one Harold Cook has sworn
to. He's pressed murder and conspiracy to murder charges on some pretty high
up people in the NSA. He's given sworn testimony, but by the time arrests
were to be made everyone he could finger was conveniently dead, including
the regional director of the NSA. It was supposedly suicide. Um.... Our
murder witness has since disappeared himself."

Scully was completely lost. "What are you talking about?" 

"One of the people tracking us wasn't into murder and coverups Scully. He
tried to stop it as best he could. His specialty was tracking people who
don't want to be found, so my guess is he knew when he pressed charges he'd
be a dead man. Knowing how to find people also lets you learn how not to be
found." Mulder seemed slightly amused by that. 

"Maybe you should tell me all about what officially happened when I can
think straight." She sighed, and sank into the hospital bed, closing her
eyes. "I am so tired."

"You're mom will be here soon. She's been coming every day for the past
three days."

"Three days?" Her eyes shot back open.

"Gunshot to the shoulder, flesh wound along your rib. They just took you off
oxygen yesterday. You just want to compete to see which of us can run the
highest hospital bill. You can't fool me." He winked at her, and she felt
herself smile in response.

"By the way... I think your mother... I think she knows. About us I mean. I
didn't say anything but..."

Scully chuckled softly. "My mom is a very observant woman, and she probably
went home and did a jig. She likes you Mulder." Her smile faded. "I  have to
thank Buster, not only for bringing us together, but for saving my life.
Where is he? Did this Johnson character get him somewhere safe?"

Mulder's eyes looked slightly pained but he pasted a smile on his face for
her. "Later. Rest now. I want you healed up and home as soon as possible.
I've been contenting myself with my video collection but it just isn't the
same."

"I knew you just wanted me for my body." She shook her head. 
 
"Well... I have to admit, it's a very nice body, when it isn't full of
holes. But I kinda like the mind and soul that goes with it. Oh and look, "
he ran his fingers lightly around the gauze bandage on her shoulder, "now we
have matching scars."

"Better then a tatoo." She smiled as her eyes fluttered shut once again, and
sleep overtook her.


Disclaimed in Parts 1, 5 and 13. This part is NC-17 again. <G> I'd like to
thank CC and Dean R. Koontz because I got to play in their world for a
little bit. It's been a fun ride.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 21a/21)

Epilogue:


Mulder held the door to her apartment open for Scully. She walked in for the
first time in weeks and was greeted by the wonderful smell of... lasagna.

"Mulder what's going on? She turned to face him as he closed the door behind
him. 

"Well I called those exterminators we discussed and your apartment is now
free of bugs. Don't worry, I was here while they worked. Frohike didn't get
near your underwear drawer." He grinned.

"And I came by to make sure you didn't have to worry about dinner your first
night back." Margret Scully stepped out of the kitchen. "Your dinner is in
the oven." She finished wiping her hands on a dishrag. "Now I've got to be
going."

Scully's shock at seeing her mother emerge from her kitchen was quickly
overcome. "You didn't have to mom."

"I know that,. But I'm your mother. It's a mothers joy to do little things
for her children." She smiled and Dana noticed her mother looking at Fox as
well when she said this.

"Well... at least stay for dinner."

"Nope. I have plans. So do you. Now the lasagna won't be ready for about an
hour.  I'll leave you two alone to catch up on... work... or whatever. It's
great to see you home and well darling." Margret kissed Dana's cheek. "And
it's always nice to see you too, Fox." She patted Mulder's cheek as she
swept past and collected her purse from by the door. 

"Just don't keep her up TOO late." She winked and closed the door on Dana's
shocked "MOTHER!"

Mulder just shrugged and moved into the kitchen. With a childish curiosity
he opened the oven to see the lasagna.  Then he noticed the bottle of wine
on the kitchen table.

"What's this?" He picked it up. No Label other then a hand written 'W.
Scully 1986'

Dana took the bottle. "It's one of Billy's wines. My brother has made
winemaking his hobby for years now, and he's got a talent for it." She
handed it back. "Corkscrew is in the top drawer. Open it up. Mom obviously
left it here for us."

"Um... with your medication should you..."

Scully raised a delicate eyebrow. "Bill's wines are very light Mulder.
Besides I'll only have one glass. I already HAVE a mother." 

Mulder smirked and fetched the corkscrew while Scully leafed through her
backed up mail. She came across one letter in unfamiliar handwriting. The
postmark was from California. She opened it carefully and smiled at the
picture that fell out. It was a photo of a group of dogs. All Retrievers,
and all, but one, Golden. The one in the center, next to a retriever with
greying fur, was a single black Dog. All the Dogs, from the greying one to
the puppies frolicking to one side seemed to be grinning. Dana counted,
twenty two in this shot. Dana was certain the greying dog in the center was
Einstien. The First Dog, as Buster had called him, capitalizing the words
with revrence. 

Dana smiled at the picture and handed it to Mulder after he removed the wine
cork

"Listen to this Mulder. Dear friends, Our mutual friend has returned to his
family. He is recovering well, and his lungs have cleared up to the point
where he was chasing after some of the puppies. He's met a cousin who had
come in with her family for a minor celebration, and I'm pretty sure it's
love at first sight. If it is, it will only be the third union between
'equals' in their family history.  The privious two have proven to be bonds
as strong as any WE might establish. Lucky Dog. Lucky world. We need more of
them.

His new friend is working out just fine, and was deeply honored to be chosen
as his protector. Mr. Baker has been employed at Hyatt Real Estate as a
computer consultant and Data Processor. He's also proven an adept hand at
poker, he even managed to beat the Johnsons. Which is no small feat. He says
he doesn't much miss his old nose. He hopes all is well with you, and
assures you that Our Friend is in good hands. BTW, he has your e-mail
address Ms. Scully, so don't be surprised if you hear from either of them
soon. They were both quite worried about you.  With respect, Samuel Hyatt."

Mulder smiled at the picture. It had been a close call. Johnson's knowledge
of veterinary medicine was minimal at best. But shortly after Scully had
rejoined the world of the living Buster had begun coughing up water. All of
them somehow made it to the van and got away. Cook explained what he could
as they drove. Much as they were worried about Scully and Buster they didn't
stop at a hospital until they were in New York state. Johnson had taken
Buster to a nearby animal hospital, where Buster's black coat came in handy.
The vet never thought to report a black mixed breed. Mulder and Scully had
not seen Buster again. They had seen Johnson and Cook, and with them Mulder
concocted one of the biggest campaigns of disinformation he's ever taken
part in. Cook was willing to testify, so he became the witness they had
supposedly run off with to protect. Any mention of Buster was kept out of
the report Mulder had handed to Skinner.

Mulder poured the wine and held out Scully's glass,  enjoying the electric
tingle as her hand brushed over his.

"To Buster." He raised his glass slightly.

"To Buster, may he sire many puppies." Scully grinned and sipped at the
fruity red wine.

"How's your shoulder doing?" Mulder's tone was conversational, but his eyes
were almost glowing.

"I haven't put it to the test yet. But... I think I need you to kiss my side
to make it better." She managed to keep a straight face as she sipped her wine.

Mulder took the wine glasses and set them on the table, before sweeping down
to claim Scully's mouth in a kiss. She opened to him instantly, wanting him
as much as he wanted her. They tasted the wine on each other and shared
their breath. Scully shivered as Mulder's tongue filled her mouth, dueling
with hers before exploring her teeth, the roof of her mouth, her lips. She
answered him in kind, wrapping one arm around his neck to hold him close.
His left hand cradled the base of her head as his right stroked slowly down
her side, sending a shiver through her.

He broke the kiss, leaving her both thankful for air and disappointed at the
loss of contact. 

"Are you sure? I mean, you haven't completely healed. This can wait..." His
eyes held the sweet combination of concern and desire.

"I'm sure Mulder. If we do anything that hurts I'll be sure to tell you."
She reached forward to lightly cup his cheek. He turned his head to kiss the
center of her palm, sending a warm tingle through her arm. Her thumb
caressed his cheek, now devoid of the dark bruise. She smiled suddenly. "You
know, this relationship may be hazardous to our health, every time we make
love one of us is wounded."

"I suppose it's better than being wounded BECAUSE we're making love." He
kissed her lips softly, his hands undoing the buttons of her blouse. "I
think your mother said we have an hour."

Scully twisted out of his arms and went to the stove, turning the heat down
a bit. "Now we have a bit more. You better make it count."

He held out his hand. She took it and allowed him to lead her into her
bedroom. Once inside he kissed her again, a possessive, claiming kiss. He
finished unbuttoning her blouse and let it fall to the floor and he undid
the fastening of her bra. His mouth moved over her throat, his soft lips
barely brushing her. His tongue, however, was hot and wet as it danced
across her skin. She began undoing the buttons of his shirt as well. Her
hands were shaking in response to the sensations Mulder was making course
through her body.

She cursed softly as she worked on the last of the buttons, not aided in the
least by Mulder, whose incredibly sensual mouth was too busy exploring her
collarbone. She almost laughed. She was unflinching when facing possible
aliens, mutants and the ire of her superiors and what makes her lose it? A
horny partner whose mouth and hands were capable of the most amazing things.

She released his shirt when he pulled her bra straps off of her arms.
Chuckling softly he pulled his shirt over his head, still half buttoned. She
reached for his pants, allowing her hands to brush against him as she undid
the fastenings. Before she could pull them down he backed her up so that the
back of her knees hit the edge of her bed. He slid his body down hers as he
went to his knees in front of her. The delicious friction of him sliding
down her body sent an aching heat through her to pool in her center. 

He undid her pants and slid them off, followed by her underwear. His arms
wrapped around her, his hands holding her shoulders - avoiding the still
healing gunshot wound - kept her from moving as his mouth began to rain
light kisses on her breasts. Once he had completely covered each pale mound
with the feathery brush of his lips he graced the hardened tips with a
single brush each. Then she felt it. The searing wetness of his tongue
following the outer curve of her right breast, gliding over her hot skin. He
left a cooling trail behind as he spiraled inward, completely bathing that
breast before flicking his tongue over the peak several times, making her
moan. She felt him start the same treatment on her left breast and her knees
shook. His arms tightened around her, holding her up as his mouth seduced
her. Feeling his tongue pass rapidly over her nipple, teasing it further
inflamed that yearning center of her. Her fingers were laced in  his hair,
feeling the short strands tickle her palms as she tried to force his mouth
where she wanted him, needed him to be. When he at last took one nipple into
his mouth. He pinched it lightly between his teeth before suckling. At that
she was melting. Her insides turned to molten fluidity. She felt the wetness
at her core immediately followed by a tightening bringing a small cry from
her. A tiny orgasm took her. She felt his mouth leave her and she mewled a
protest. She looked down to see him looking up at her, a cocky grin on his face.

"Was that what I think it was?" He asked her, his eyes sparkling. 
  
"Shut up and don't stop." She whispered. He moved to the other breast,
working it as he had the first. Dana Scully had heard the term 'putty in
someone's hands' before, but she had never understood precisely what the
expression meant until that moment.

He eased her back on the bed so that she lay down, her knees draped over the
edge. His arms slid out from under her caressing her sides - missing the
line of small stitches along her right bottom rib - sliding over her hips,
along the front of her thighs. Then each hand cupped a knee, fingers teasing
the backs before pulling them further apart. Opening her legs.

She felt him running his mouth over her body, kissing, nipping, licking
along her ribs, only a feather light series of lip brushes over her flesh
wound and the briefist of pauses before his hands caressed her legs. His
naked chest moved against her, she could feel the fabric of his pants
between her thighs as he knelt before her. His tongue dipped into her navel
then swirled a circle around it.  His mouth pressed lower. The weight his
hands were at the top of her thighs, against her abdomen. Felt his thumbs
move to spread her folds just before his tongue traced their outline. She
gasped and arched her back. She felt the fingers of one of his hands gliding
down where her leg joined her body before stroking her. Two long fingers
press into her as his tongue moved over her, lapping at her, teasing her
center as his fingers began to move in and out. His other hand slid up her
body to cup her breast, teasing the peak and caressing the flesh.

The rhythm of his stroking fingers, the workings of his tongue made Scully
helpless. She couldn't do anything but writhe under his ministrations. She
felt the wave wash over her. Drowning her. Her thighs tightened around his
head as her muscles clenched. She bit back the scream that leaped to her
throat as voluptuous pulses of ecstasy swept through her.

      
         





From
math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!nntp-xfer-1.csn.net!imci3!newsfeed.internetm
ci.com!news.ycc.yale.edu!yale!news-mail-gateway!daemon Thu Jul 18 10:16:18 1996
Article: 21522 of alt.tv.x-files.creative
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From: Gil Trevizo <trevizo@utep.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: WATCHED 21b/21 NC-17 MSR/Crossover (fwd)
Date: 17 Jul 1996 23:11:37 -0400
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Status: RO

I DID NOT WRITE THIS - I am the administrator for the x-files-fanfic
mailing list and am posting this story for a subscriber. For
information on subscribing to the x-files-fanfic mailing list, go to
<http://mail.utep.edu/~trevizo/x-files>. Please send all comments
to the author at <rhonilak@icontech.com>.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Disclaimed in Parts 1, 5 and 13. This part is NC-17 again. <G> I'd like to
thank CC and Dean R. Koontz because I got to play in their world for a
little bit. It's been a fun ride.

WATCHED
by Rhondda Lake
(Part 21b/21)

Epilogue continued:


Dana's limbs were heavy. Her body completely relaxed as her breathing slowly
returned to normal. A few seconds ago she wasn't sure if she would ever recover.

She felt Mulder move away and looked down to see him removing his pants.
God he was beautiful. All smooth lines and grace. He had the lean body of a
great hunting cat, and the hungry look in his eyes at this moment would have
rivaled any such animal's. Something within Scully quivered - unsure if she
could survive any more, but more than willing to find out.

Mulder leaned over to scoop her up in his arms as if she were a small child.
He moved her further up on the bed, setting her down gently. He lowered his
body on top of hers. Supporting himself on his elbows she felt the full
length of him pressing against her, his arousal laying between her thighs -
hot and hard. With their size difference he could cover her completely. For
a fleeting moment she realized just how easy it would be for him to hurt
her. The thought was accompanied by the absolute surety that he never would,
not willingly anyway.

He nuzzled her neck and she felt enough strength in her arms to wrap them
around him, to stroke him from buttocks to shoulders, feeling the heat of
his skin, the flow of muscle and sinew, to acknowledge to restrained power
there. 

He groaned against her neck, his lips faltering in their exploration.
Smiling to herself she did it again, then allowed her hands to roam. She
bent her head to kiss his shoulder, tasting the thin sheen of sweat there.
He curled into her, rubbing himself against her curls and gasping against
her skin. He pulled his head up and looked into her eyes.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" His voice was rough over the words.

"I have some inkling, yes." She smiled up at him as she arched her back,
pressing and moving against his length. He closed his eyes and gritted his
teeth. When she stopped he opened them again. She loved his eyes. They were
so expressive. Even when he wore his most indifferent mask, his eyes told
her all she needed to know. The most beautiful combination of colors came
from their hazel depths. From the most vivid green to soft brown to a velvet
black - like they were now. She kissed him, tasting his mouth, herself, the
sunflower seeds he'd eaten earlier, her brother's wine. His tongue slid
sinuously against hers. His lips pressed harder, almost bruising as his
tongue invaded her, explored her, teased her.

He curled against her again and she broke away. "Please..."

He nodded and his knee nudged her legs apart. She bent and parted her legs
as he positioned himself. With one smooth surge forward he filled her. The
friction delicious, the sensation alone unbearable. He kissed the underside
of her chin as she arched up to meet him, throwing her head back.

Her hands flowed over him as he moved. Each slow thrust drawing a whimper
from her and an answering gasp from him. His movements increased and he
rotated his hips with each downward thrust, filling her and rubbing against
her core at the same time. As the pace increased she felt it building again.
His thrusts became shallower but faster. His head was tucked at her shoulder
she felt the soft kiss through the gauze covering her shoulder, his breath
hot against her neck.

"Dana," He said her name like an invocation, a prayer, "Come for me, again."
His words were soft. She was close, so close... She looked at him as he
moved his head to face her. "I love to see you face when you come. To hear
your voice break on my name." His voice was strained, but his eyes were
sincere. Desire and love flowed from him.

"Mulder, Fox..." She gasped and he surged forward again. "Fox I'm almost..."
And she was there. Once more falling into the vortex of sensation, of
complete pleasure. She convulsed around him as she cried his name, his first
name.

He still thrust into her as she came, prolonging it, drawing it out for an
eternity. She cried out with the beauty, the glory of it.

"Dana, "His breath curled around her ear, her name an endearment. "Danaaaa."
He cried out as he came, spilling himself into her. 

Exhausted they lay together. He rolled , still joined to her, so that she
lay draped over him, limp and unmoving. She knew he was afraid of crushing
her, or further injuring her shoulder.

Alone, together - basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking - they could
feel perfect happiness and contentment. If only for a little while. Knowing
with absolute surety that come what may, they were loved.

Somewhere in the world a Dog was wagging his tail.


The End