This was originally a story to stand on it's own, but as I've since made use of Erin and Michael in other tales then I'm forced to rewrite it. It was posted somtime early 1995, rewritten in February 96. It takes place around the end of January 1995. There is another Erin story preceding this one, but until I finish it this is the first in the series.

FIRST ACT

Moonlight streaming over a bed; a man, lying on it, not really covered, twitching nervously. His eyes flew open--

Fox Mulder jolted up, startled. He had woken himself thrashing around; he rubbed his elbow and promised himself he'd pad his nightstand edges later. He reached up to wipe the sweat from his face, and tears along with it.

The phone rang.

Clearing his throat, he picked it up. "Mulder."

"Fox? Are you okay?" an adolescent voice crackled over the line.

"Erin? Yeah, I'm fine. Do you know what time it is?"He tried to remember a reason his cousin might have for calling him at this time of the night.

"Oh...did I wake you?" she sounded uncertain.

"No...why are you calling?"

"Um, I just had a weird dream. I wanted to make sure you were all right." She sounded close to tears.

"No, I'm fine." Mulder pushed the covers off him and stood up. "A dream? You want to talk about it?"

"Yeah, I think...you were there, and Dana, and Da..."

"Your father?"

"No, Uncle Mike."

"What happened?"

"You and Dana were tied together...and you tried to break the ropes, but Da wouldn't help--and then Dana disappeared..."

"Jesus."

"Fox?" her voice was small, frightened.

"I just had the same one."

Erin hummed the theme to the Twilight Zone into the receiver.

"Erin, don't hide on me. I might as well open a permanent X-File on you." He joked into the phone.

After being discovered by Fox while on the road with her father, Erin, who was actually related to him through an estranged aunt, had been adopted legally into the Mulder clan. With both of her real parents dead and no other family ties to her father's side, she tried to lead a normal fifteen-year-old life, with the help of her uncle/adopted father, Michael Mulder. Her odd past, to say the least, had resulted in some difficulty, but with the support she received from him and Mike, she was working through it.

*The Mulder family curse.*

"You think it might be the ghosts again, Fox?" she was frightened, and her voice was pleading. Fox shook his head as he paced the dark room. "That affected you and your father, not your mind. At the risk of sounding like Scully, I think it was a coincidence. Are you going to be all right? Is Uncle Mike up?"

"I didn't want to worry him. I'll be fine. You?"

"I'll manage. Look, get Mike up and tell him to make you some cocoa. If he gets mad, tell him I said to do it. I'll be down for dinner tonight, and we can talk about it some more."

"Okay. I'll get him to keep a burger warm for you. Thanks, Fox."

"No problem. I'll see you tonight."

"Right."

Mulder replaced the phone on its hook. The bedside clock read three am. No use in going back to sleep now. He was glad he could be there for Erin; god knew no one had been there for him when...

He cut that thought off and went to look for some ice for his elbow.

ENTER HERO

"Scully, I need to go down to Mike's place for dinner tonight. Think you could keep the place together if I leave early?"

"Mulder, my problem is keeping the place together when you *are* here. Why do you need to go down there tonight? I don't think you just got a sudden urge to run down and help Mike in his diner."

"Erin had a...strange experience last night. I just want to check up on her."

"What sort of experience?"

"Just a weird dream. I want to make sure that she's handling it okay." He tried to sound nonchalant. He didn't succeed.

"You want me to come? The autopsy reports on the alt.hacker casefile just came in, and I think we've got enough evidence now, once we finish the report, so I can leave anytime."

"Yeah...I think she'd like to see you, too."

Mulder waved to his uncle Mike as they entered the quiet restaraunt.

Part diner, part gourmet, all good food, Mike's Place was subdued, but a nice place to be on a Friday night. Erin jumped up, her face only partially visible behind the counter she was loading with food. She ducked down again, running out the kitchen door to hug him. "Fox! I've been waiting all day. How are you?"

He grinned down at her. "I'm fine. You all right?"

"Mm-hm." She let go of him, turning to Scully. "Dana! I didn't know you were coming!"

"Me either, until about an hour ago." Dana smiled at Erin, who shrugged.

"I'm sure I can find something for you to eat. Go get a booth in the back and I'll get the food!" she bounded off.

"That girl has more energy..."

"Hormones, Mulder. She's glad to see you." Scully smiled and slid into the booth opposite him. "Weren't you ever a teenager?"

"Not like her I wasn't." He got that look, the one that touched off warning flags in Scully's head.

"Well, she's unusual, to say the least." She tried to change the subject. "Now, tell me about this dream she had again?"

"Umm...ah...why don't we wait until she gets here." Mulder stalled.

Erin was instantly at his elbow, food in hand. Mike stood behind her, steadying the tray. "Hey Fox, Dana." He smiled quietly at them. Erin set down the tray. Two hamburgers, one steak, and a tuna club.

Mulder grabbed a burger, Erin taking the other one as she sat in next to him. Mike handed Scully the sandwich and sat also.

"You two know me too well," Scully mumbled through a bite of sandwich. Perfect. As always.

"No, didn't you hear? I'm psychic!" Erin laughed. Fox elbowed her in the ribs. "Oh, you haven't told her yet? Sorry." She bit her lip, then grabbed a french fry. Mike and Scully looked at each other.

"Do you know what they're talking about?"

"I haven't a clue. Fox? What's going on?" Mike sipped his water.

"Well...you know about Erin's dream."

"Yeah..."

"And you know she called me."

"I'm following you, Fox, but you're slowing down."

"I woke up just before she called me. And-"

"We had the same dream," Erin finished.

"So? That happens a lot. Mulder, didn't we just see a study on that somewhere?" Scully eyed him.

"Yeah, but this is different. This was *precise*."

"I say it's coincidence."

Mulder grinned at Erin. "What did I tell you?"

"But you're sure it's not a ghost?" Erin leaned closer to him.

"I'm sure. By the way, I was thinking about that. I wonder if that *is* a genetic condition. I still can't be sure. But your mother-"

"Well, we could kill you and find out." Erin smiled. Mulder cuffed her head.

"When I die, I'm coming back to haunt you, Erin. Count on it. Anyway, that wasn't the real reason I came down here. It's been awhile, and I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"We're doing a case on this hacker who's been on the net asking questions about cloning, and we're really close to blowing the lid off something big. I wanted your input." He looked at Mike, silently including him. "Here's the case so far..."

INTERLUDE

The woman looked up, pushing her brown hair out of her face. A face that wasn't really hers...

She completed the test, standing next to a large tank, full of liquid.

*He is the one--until we can further experiment, he must keep us alive.*

she remembered seeing the real one in the lab, his voice hoarse as he told them he would walk out of there. She wondered for the millionth time why the bounty-hunter hadn't noticed her, as she slipped out the door.

Maybe he had miscounted; she wouldn't put it past him, the idiot that he was.

She bent over the tank again, double checking the tag. *FoMu.Cl#1.

Ver 4.* A man came up behind her, his head barely coming to her nose.

"They've found us out. The program has to be terminated. And they have to be..." he swallowed. "Silenced. Can we use a reject? One of the... unsuccessful ones?"

The woman with the curly brown hair nodded. "Just as long as *this* one remembers he's not truly one of us. He's just human, that's all. I wish we had the equipment to blend. I believe an unsuccessful one would be just fine. And we bring the original here. He's going to provide us with all the material we need."

SECOND ACT

Mulder groaned inwardly. It had been a week since they'd gone down to Mike's for dinner, and asked them what they thought of the case. Erin and Mike's input had been essential...they'd almost nailed the guy...and now their records, their logs and recordings...gone, no chance of retrieveing them.

"But sir..."

"This case is to be considered *closed*. Is that clear, Agent Mulder? Or do I need to spell it out?" Skinner's voice echoed across the room.

Mulder's eyes burned, but he shook his head.

"Glad to hear it. Dismissed, agents."

Scully followed Mulder out of the room, stopping just once to look back at Skinner before leaving.

In the hall she had to run to catch up with him, his long strides covering almost twice what she could. He didn't look back, didn't talk, just moved down the corridor, hands balled into fists.

"Mulder? Are you all right?" he was so pale, the dark smudges under his eyes standing out like charcoal paint.

"Yes. Scully. I'm fine." He muttered through clenched teeth. She kept her silence.

Reaching the end of the corridor, he punched the elevator button.

The door opened, and he hit the basement level key. The door slid closed. Scully counted to herself. *One...two...three...four...*

He swung his arms up and slammed them into the wall. "Dammit! We had him, Scully. We fucking *had him*!" he leaned his forehead on one of his arms, supporting himself. She watched, knowing better than to say anything. *Trapped in an elevator with an insane partner...*

He held himself there until they reached the basement, and the doors slid back with a slight *ping*. He plunged ahead again, ignoring the few people in his path, bent on getting to their office. Opening the door, he blew inside, sitting down atop a pile of papers on his chair.

Scully stood silently, hoping he wouldn't hurt himself. He thumped his head into his arms, settling onto his desk.

"Goddammit, we were so close. Always. Always this close."

He looked up, held up a hand, fingers extended an inch apart. "One bullet, one small town cop, one animal-rights activist, one damned *hacker* and the whole fucking thing goes down the drain. We're always so close...and then bam! Cancerman or one of his thugs steps in and the whole thing falls through. I'm so *sick* of being so *close*. Just once..." he trailed off, putting his head back down on the desk. "So damn frustrating. The hacker must have a contact."

"I'm sorry, Mulder, I-" Scully started to speak, but he cut her off.

"Wasn't your fault, Scully. Should have killed the bastard when I had the chance. Rrgh, five more minutes alone with him, that's all I ask." He growled, deep in his throat. Scully sighed. "Just because it wasn't my fault doesn't mean I can't be sorry. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. What time is it?"

"Like it matters. Skinner won't assign us a new case until Monday. He's giving us some 'time to think it over', remember?"

"Right. I'm going home, Scully. I'm beat."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. I'll call you tonight."

"Don't do anything stupid, Mulder." She picked up a file and flipped through it.

"I haven't already?" he gave her a tired smile as he walked out.

SOLILOQUY

Scully sat by the phone. She felt like a teenager...*do I call him? Will he call me?* it was ten pm and still no call from him. She was caught. On the one hand, he could just have forgotten, or done his usual and not wanted to burden or hurt her. He could be having some sort of trouble...

On the other hand, he could have picked some girl up in a bar or something, in which case the last thing he'd be wanting was a call from his partner. *Choices, choices...*

She picked up the phone and dialed.

<<ring...ring...ring...ring...ring...>>*Great.* His message machine wasn't even on.

Hanging up, she decided she'd go over early next morning. If someone was there, too bad. He should answer his phone.

*Feeling a little jealous? Just a little?* her inner voice said. She shook her head and started going over some old files, sorting into 'Keep' and 'Mulder' piles. Half of them were his cases anyway.

She took the elevator up to his floor the next morning, hoping he was alone in his apartment. The last thing she wanted was to catch him with someone else...

The door opened, and she stepped out, stopping suddenly. A police line extended around the door...catching her breath, she ran down the corridor, stopping there. *Oh my god...* a man in blue grabbed her arm.

"Ma'am? We need you to leave. Ma'am, do you have authorization to be here?"

In a daze, she held out her FBI I.D. and spoke. "I'm a federal agent. Agent Mulder is my partner. Is he all right? What happened?"

"Ma'am, I'm sorry. Suicide."

The words fell, slamming into her soul indelibly. She could barely say it.

THE PLOT THICKENS

Skinner stood in the doorway, surveying the mess. *Dear lord, the man went insane. I'm sorry-*

He could have killed *himself*, too. Blood still stained the wood floor; A lot of blood, coming from a man's wrists, gushing...he pulled himself away from the vivid thought. *Mulder, you stupid bastard.*

A muffled cry from the bedroom brought him back again. He walked across the broken glass towards it. Opening the door, Skinner squinted into the darkness. He saw a shadow on the bed.

"Director Skinner?" hoarse, but he knew it, oh god, I'm sorry...

"Scully?"

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?" he reached over to turn on the light. She was lying on her side, on an unmade bed, Mulder's bed. Her face was streaked with tears.

"No, I'm not. He's dead." She choked on the last word, putting her hands to her face.

"I'm sorry, Scully...I'm sorry...I should have told him why-"

"He knew about the hacker. It wasn't that. I should have known... he was upset, he said he'd call me, he said he was okay..."she trailed off as another wave of grief washed over her. He sat on the bed next to her, trying to find words. "I'm so sorry. If I'd known, if I'd thought... did he say anything to you?"

"That's it...he said he was so tired...so frustrated...I should have seen it..."

He held her shoulder, letting her cry. "There was no way for you to know."

"Why did he do it?" she mumbled into the blanket.

"I don't know." Skinner said to himself. "I don't know."

Someone stood in the doorway, his shoulders hunched.

"Dana?" Skinner could have sworn it was Mulder, for just a minute, before the light shone on his face, illuminating worn features and deep auburn hair.

"Mike, oh god, he's dead..."

"I know." Michael Mulder stared at Skinner. They locked eyes for a second, something unspoken passing between them. They knew each other. Oh yes, Walter Skinner did indeed know Michael, from years ago. And knew Michael's opinion of him. But he still looked him in the eye, daring him to say he didn't have the right to be here. Michael just coughed. "Dana, I'm going to take you home. Erin's here too."

Skinner became aware of quiet sobs coming from the living room.

A girl, sitting on the couch, holding her knees to her chest. She was silently choking, gasping through tears. *Who the hell-oh yeah.* Mulder's little cousin, the one whose picture sat on his desk. He looked back at Dana. She stood, wiping her eyes. "Mike...Please...let me come with you."

"Okay. Come on."

Dana brushed past Skinner, out the door, leaving him alone in Mulder's bedroom.

She cried herself to sleep on Mike's couch, hugging Erin as she, too, spent herself. Mike sat in his bedroom, just sat, too shocked to do anything. *And they need me.* Erin and Dana. They would need help, and support, and...Fox...the knife...

Michael sat in silence, staring at a blank point on the wall. He should have known something like this would happen someday. Fox tucked away so much of what he felt inside, so much of the pain... as they all had, especially after Samantha's disappearance. But to lose him also...Mike knew someone should call his brother and Fox's mother. To lose both of them...

He lay on the bed, silently thinking, long into the night.

ENTER HEROINE, SODA IN HAND

Dana wasn't going to go to the funeral, but Mike had taken her, insisting that she had to work through it. His parents weren't there, his mother in the hospital, his father almost in a catatonic state.

Dana's mother was there, though, and her sister, and Skinner, looking miserable and careworn. Half the bureau showed up as well; she didn't think he'd known that many people. Agent Jameson, his basketball friend, Clarke, a former partner, Miller, the blonde woman who never left him alone...Jack Kelley, the actor, his best friend since high school, looking like he was ready to fall apart. So many faces, all familiar, but the one she really loved was in the casket, his cuffs a little too long to hide the cuts running from wrist to elbow.

"Dana?" Melissa came up behind her, putting a hand on hers as she traced the line of the coffin seams. "Dana, I'm here. Do you need any help?"

She choked on her tears. "No, Melissa...I'll be okay. It's just..."

"I know. I know." Melissa looked down at his face, the care-lines meticulously smoothed away, and gave a small gasp. Dana never heard.

"Dana, I've got to go talk to Erin. Will you be all right?"

"I'll be fine. I just need some time."

Melissa walked quickly off, searching through the clusters of people. Erin was sitting in a corner, sipping a soda and trying valiantly not to cry. "Erin, can I talk to you?"

"Um...do I know you?"

"We met once. I'm Melissa, Dana's sister."

"Oh...right." Erin looked at her.

"Dana mentioned you said something about Fox haunting you. Can you tell me?"

"M-hm." She sniffed. "He said if he died...he'd come back to haunt me, like my mother did. You know about that?"

"Yes. Are you sure? He was serious?"

"Mm-hm, because I said I'd have to kill him..." She trailed off again, looking over at the coffin.

"Erin, this is important. I'm gifted with a talent; I can sense certain things about people. Has anything happened to you? Like someone was haunting you?"

"N-not for a long time...why?"

"Because I can't sense that anything of Fox was ever in that body." Melissa tried to stay calm. "Nothing at all."

"So you're saying...that's not him?"she looked suddenly hopeful.

Melissa didn't want to hurt her.

"I'm not sure of that, but his aura is not like it should be. There *is* something wrong."

"Should we tell someone?"

"No, if I'm wrong, then that would just hurt them more. But you were close to him...I thought you should know."

"Thanks, Melissa. But I don't think I'll get my hopes up. It's too easy to have them shot down."

"I'm sorry, Erin. I wish I could have helped more."

"No, you helped a lot. I think I'd better go be with Dana. She's hurt."

"She loved him."

"I know."

EXUENT HOPE

"Dana, we're back." Mike called, hanging his coat up. She was sitting in his living room chair, staring into space.

"Dana, are you all right?"

"No. But it doesn't matter. I'm sorry, Mike, I just couldn't go. All his things...just parceled out like..."

"He left almost all of it to Mike." Erin said, her blouse tear stained. "But he left something for you..." she held out a small envelope. She opened it, recognizing Mulder's script.

<<To Dana Scully.

If you are reading this, then I am dead, or unconscious and dying. I know how I probably died, gun drawn, running to battle whatever is out there. Maybe I was taken by those aliens you can't believe in. If this is the case, remember: I died doing what I loved, fighting for what I thought was right.

There are some files on my computer. If you open this one you will find a message concerning some things I set aside for you. Find my contact if you can, and instruct him to continue feeding information through you. Let the gunmen know they're to help you whenever you need it. Don't ever stop looking for the truth.

Fox Mulder>>

At the bottom of the page was the file name and password; the ink of the letter blurred slightly as tears fell on it.

Hours later Dana asked Mike if he would take her to the apartment building; Mike just nodded, knowing what she most likely needed. Closure, just like years ago, the closure he'd needed after Nika, and, before that, Samantha.

There was still blood on the floor, but she ignored it; there was still police tape here and there, but she worked around it. This was where he'd died; more importantly, this was where he'd lived.

She could tolerate any memory if it gave her just that much more.

She switched the computer on, and typed in the password that she knew by heart anyway, trustno1; the file was simply called storage.

She hadn't known what to expect. But all she got were three lines.

Dana--

There's a box in the bottom drawer of the dresser. It has what you're looking for.

F.M.

ENTER MOURNING, IN BLACK

It held memories. A few photographs; a faded glossy of Samantha and him in a portrait, when he was young. A newspaper picture of him as a teenager, tossing the winning basket for a ball game. A picture of him and a few other young children, sitting up in a tree somwhere. Some legal documents, and a key to his safety deposite box. A small diary, bound in red cloth. She promised to read it later.

A picture of both of them, standing by the reflecting pool at the Memorial. Some other agent must have sanpped it--she remembered that day, right after her release from the hospital. There was something attached to the back.

She turned it over and ran her hand over the rough wood on the back of the frame. There, attached by a tack to the stand, was a small ring. A band of gold, inlaid at the top with an amethest stone. Her birthstone.

She held it in her lap and cried again.

INTERMISSION; HERO FALLEN

He was tied. Well, his feet were tied. His wrists were cuffed together, using his own handcuffs. *What a fool...*He shifted his shoulders, trying to find a more comfortable position. He was in a cell--a bare room, with a cot and a desk in it. The desk had some paper on it, nothing more. Nothing he could use to escape, even if his hands *weren't* cuffed. And a huge mirror was set in the wall. He didn't have to be a genius to figure out someone was watching him. He looked at his reflection in it; a few days worth of stubble grew on his chin, and his hair fell into his eyes. He glared through the mirror at whatever was on the other side.

"I'm awake, you sonofa-"

"Please. Don't be crude." A voice came over a loudspeaker.

No distortion, just a voice.

"Who are you?"

"A scientist. Please relax, there is no way to escape. You are in no danger here."

"Then why the hell am I handcuffed?"

"Your own protection. The sedative we gave you has some nasty side effects, not the least of which are nightmares. You would have hurt yourself. Besides, you've been nearly comatose for a week. You should be bursting with energy." The slightly smug tone bit into him.

"Yeah right. Where am I?"

"You don't need to know that. Please don't be alarmed, agent. I'm going to come into the room now."

"Damn straight you will! You goddamned--" he broke off as the door in the side clicked. A man stepped in. "There now, you see? I'm no threat to you."

"That's the biggest load of crap I've heard in a long time. I want some answers, now."

"Well, you're hardly in a position to ask for them, are you? But shoot away, I'm listening." The man crossed his arms. Short, with a shock of black hair streaked with grey, and a none too athletic figure, Fox could see he certainly wasn't a threat. At least, if they were on even terms...he pushed his tied legs against the floor, managing to slide up the wall into a semi-standing position.

"Fine. Who are you?"

"A scientist."

"Bullshit. What's your name?"

"Next question, please."

"Where am I?"

"In a room."the man smiled. "Give up, Agent Mulder. You can't win."

"The hell I can't. What building am I in?"

He sighed. "You are in a top secret state of the art laboratory. I can't tell you more."

"Why didn't I see *that*?" he put all the sarcasm he could muster into his voice. "All right, why am I here?"

"You were too close to your hacker case. We needed to silence everyone involved."

"If you've hurt Scully I swear I'll kill you..."

"No, she's not injured...physically. Nor is your cousin, or her father. Stupid to involve them, you know."

"What is that supposed to mean? Not injured physically?"

"Just what it sounds like. She'll get over it."

"Over what? You bastard, I'll--"

"Over your death. Well, not *yours*, per se. Your clone's." The little man smirked.

"Oh my god...you're the hacker..."

"Brilliant, Agent Mulder. And you were too close to your precious Truth, so we simply..." he made a slicing motion across his wrists, "Cut you off."

"And I told her I was so sick of it...your timing..."

"Is impeccable, as usual. Why don't you meet yourself, Agent?"

Another man walked into the room. Tall, dark hair, thin pale face, and a signature smile...he stared into his own face.

"Hello, Agent Mulder," he said. "Pleased to meet you."

KANGAROO COURT

*Clones...suicide...Jesus, I'm dead, I'm a multiple man...they cloned me...how did they get my DNA? A simple scratch, a drop of blood, god knows I've shed a lot of that in the past.* Mulder's thoughts whirled in his head. *Scully and Mike and Erin...* he concentrated on his wrists, steadily pulling at the chains.

"Give it up, agent Mulder. They're very strong, and you're not going anywhere." His double sat on the bed, watching him.

"Gives me something to do." He shrugged. "Just why did they leave you here, anyway?"

"They wanted me to meet you, to see how evil you really are."

"Beg pardon?"

"You're evil. They said so. The doctor, and the lady doctor too."

"What are their names?" *And which side of the looking glass am I on today?*

"I'm not naieve, Agent Mulder. Don't play with me." *The wrong side, apparently.*

"Please, why don't you call me Fox? After all, you're me," Mulder commented snidely.

"I hope not. After all you've done..."

"And just what would that entail?"

"Murder, theft, conspiracy, the list goes on and on."

"Proof?"

"Why would they lie? Besides, I can see it in your face."

"You mean your face."

"Whatever."

"So explain what I've done. I'd like to hear my crimes before I'm put on trial."

"All right. You killed the scientists; you set the fire that they died in. You stole one of them and passed her off as your sister. You then gave her freely to the assassin that came to kill them. You allowed all but one to die. Add to that your theft of a naval submarine to help him get away and..."

"Whoa, back up please. Assassin? Scientists...my sister...Jesus, who told you this?"

"The lady doctor."

"They've lied to you. I didn't kill anyone. I tried to kill the assassin...and I didn't try to help him escape. The lady doctor...one of them must have survived the fire...and they know about Samantha..."

"4.1, please proceed to exit." The voice over the loudspeaker again.

"You see? They're censoring me, because they don't want you to know the truth--"

"Most of my creators died because of your Truth, Fox Mulder. *You* deserve to die." The man slapped him, hard enough to draw blood. Removing a vial, he took a blood sample from him, holding his head against the wall.

THIRD ACT

Scully sat numbly on the bed, cradling the small frame in her hands. It had been hours, but she just sat there, looking at it, remembering. *Fox...*

A knock on the side of the wall, and Melissa stepped in. "Michael said you'd be here. What's that?"

"It's a picture. And a ring."

"Fox's?" Melissa wavered, alternating between wanting to give comfort and keeping her distance.

"Yeah. It was in a box of stuff he'd set aside for me."

"It must have been special."

"Melissa..." Dana choked again. "It was...with a picture..." She held the frame out.

"I'm so sorry, Dana. Do you think...?" Melissa wasn't stupid, but she had no idea how to interpret this.

"He had so little to live for as it was--I should have realized, I should have known."

Silently Melissa cursed him for bringing this down on her.

He could be so cruel, even in death--she cut off that thought, knowing he would never hurt Dana for the world. Knowing...but still hating him, for killing himself, for in effect killing her...

She sat and held Dana until darkness fell.

ENTER VILLAINESS

He almost had it. The strain on the cuff chains, slow but sure...one of the links was coming out. He could feel it loosen...check to make sure no one was watching...

"You bastards, you fucking idiots!" well, if that didn't get them...

"Please, Agent. Your language is upsetting."

*Damn.*

"Live with it. You brought me here. If you don't like it, let me go."

"Believe me, I'd like nothing more. Unfortunately,we need your tissue samples."

*What a day.*

"Do you even know the meaning of the word hypocrite?"

"Hypocrite: noun. A person who practices hypocricy."

"Great. I'm being held captive by Miriam Webster and the pod people."

"You have a knack for angering me, Agent Mulder."

"Glad to be of service."he glared at the mirror. "Care to tell me just why you lied through your teeth to that clone of me?"

"It was...the truth." An uncertain tone startled him.

"You know damn well I tried to save those women."

"Not hard enough." A new voice, feminine, came over the loudspeaker. "We simply interpreted the truth differently for him."

"You." Mulder's voice was accusatory. "You know the truth. I tried to help you."

"And you failed."

"I made a mistake. A very human thing to do. And it's not like you didn't make any. You're race was the one that needed protection from this thing...if we couldn't handle it, maybe that's because you didn't help at all."

"I'm not going to argue ethics with you, Agent."

"Good, because at the present time you're not in a position to win." He stopped as the door opened again, and the woman entered.

"No, but I am in a position to do this." She held up a needle, slipping it into his arm. The world spun and went black.

EXEUNT SORROW, IN A BURST OF SMOKE

Erin bolted up in bed. A dream, so real...Fox in a white room, and someone was stabbing him, taking his flesh--*Fox is dead* her inner voice reminded her. *You can't have dreamed with him this time.*

Could she?

She picked up her address book, looking for Melissa's number. Finding it, she dialed into the phone on the bedstand next to her.

<Ring...ring...click>"Hello?"

"Melissa? It's Erin...uh, I was wondering...did you feel anything unusual just now?"

"Erin...yes, I did. Do you think it had something to do with Fox?"

"I just had a weird dream...when he was...alive...we used to have the same dreams sometimes. And it was so vivid..."

"I felt something, I'm not sure...Fox's aura was never very healthy, but I think it was his."

"Really?"Erin turned on her bedside lamp.

"What was the dream about?"

"Fox was in a white room, and someone poked a needle in him, and they...they took some of his skin. Melissa, I really miss him."

"We all do. Can you meet me tomorrow?"

"Where?"

"Just plan to have lunch at your uncle's restaraunt."

"Thanks, Melissa."

"I understand."

BACKSTAGE

"This isn't right."

"Yes it is, Aiken. You know it is." the brown haired woman crossed her arms.

"No, it's not. He was right, you're twisting the truth."

"How?"

"We both know that he didn't set that fire."

"He might as well have, for all the help he gave us." The woman stared at Aiken, her eyes boring into him.

"You couldn't help yourselves? You had to depend on him? Poor babies, having to rely on one of us puny humans for help. And you know that if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have survived either."

"Aiken, you weary me. If you want to go discuss philosophy with your mindless little fellow human, go right ahead. But don't you dare go near the clone."

"I won't. He's hopeless anyway." Aiken said as he left the room.

She shook her head, clicking her tongue. "Tsk, tsk, Charles, what to do with you?"

DIALOGUE BETWEEN ANTAGONISTS

"Hello, Agent."

"What? Come to gloat? How's my new clone coming?" Mulder spoke bitterly. He didn't like this, at all.

"No...I came to talk to you." Mulder swore he could almost hear a cringe behind the wall.

"I'm flattered. Read any good books lately?"

"Agent, please. I know the truth about the clones-"

"Ah, truth. Don't quote me Truth anymore."

"I know you helped those women."

"Women?" Mulder snorted. "Do you even have gender in your species?"

"I'm as human as you are, Agent. And yes, they do have a gender difference. She's poisoning them, all of them..."

"That's obvious."

"I don't like it."

"Tell me more..." Mulder softened his voice sarcastically.

He smiled grimly. "They aren't going to let me out alive, are they?"

"I doubt it."

"Well if you're so against this, why don't you let me go?"

"I can't. This is for the betterment of the human race." The voice sounded unsure.

"How can anything that needs to be hidden like this, or that hurts people, be for the betterment of anything? That's like...that's like a bombing improves building codes. People die in it, and the bombers brush it off as a political statement."

"You think I don't know that?" the anguish, whether real or faked, was clear in his voice. "But this is different."

"How? How many others will die for the *betterment* of the human race? Or the betterment of one country? Or to express one political outlook? She said it herself--Our stewardship of the planet is being voided. Now can you tell me why she would want to help us, when her species could get all of this? If you can, your logic must be as twisted as her mind is."*I should have become a politician.*

"Agent...I have to go."*Definitely.*

"Oh, don't you want to tell me all about it?" his voice echoed back to him, but no answer was forthcoming.

ENTER HERIONE, STAGE LEFT

"Melissa." Erin hugged her, smiling sadly. "Thanks for coming."

"I was happy to. Is Dana around?"

"She's in Da's apartment."

Melissa took a booth in the quiet diner, seating Erin across from her.

She patted her hand, wondering how anyone that young could look so...old.

"I want to try something." Erin said, shifting into the vinyl of the seat.

"I know. You want to try to dream again." Melissa nodded.

"I don't know how, and I'm scared of what I'll find...If Fox is alive, how do we find him?"

"First, we try to find his mind. Are you familiar with channeling?"

Melissa held her crystal necklace out.

"Not exactly...I've heard about it, though." She took the necklace hesitantly. "I'm not scared to try."

*Good girl.* "Okay. The cyrstals are like mental batteries. They can store or enhance mental powers, if you use them right. I think you and Fox are already connected; if you've dreamed with him before, the link is already strong. Just hold the crystal, and open your mind. Relax. No-"

She stopped as Erin clutched the crystal, squeezing her eyes shut.

"You're concentrating too hard. Much better." Erin's face smoothed over, covered with a peaceful look. If only the tear-streaks hadn't been there...

Erin opened her mind, the only way she knew how. Feeling the cold crystal in her hand, she reached out, into the darkenss...

<Cold, and fear...love strong and binding him with determination, I'm not going to give up--it wasn't me...a flash of white again, and a reflection staring back at her. Only it wasn't her, it was>

"Fox!" she breathed, opening her eyes.

Melissa stared at her, calmly searching her face. "You made it. Where is he?"

"I don't know. I saw a mirror, and his reflection...he looked horrible."

"Are you tired? Do you want to stop?" She shouldn't overextend herself. She was the tenuous link to Fox, wherever he was.

"I think he knew I was there. Maybe this time he'll find me as well." Erin looked down at her hand, staring in surprise at the scratch from where the crystal had cut her when she held it too tight. "I have to try again, Melissa."

"I'm here, don't worry. Just don't hurt yourself."

"It's too late for that." Erin slipped back into the trance, clutching the crystal to her chest. And it happened again...

<Erin?>

<Fox! I'm here, I'm here!>

<Where? Erin...> the fear she felt was overpowering, filling the darkness with oranges and reds, but she held fast, keeping contact to his mind.

<Don't worry.>

<Erin, what's going on?>

<Melissa's helping me. I can talk to you! Where are you?>

<They won't tell me. Erin, please-->

<It's fine, I'm here.>

<Is Mike okay? Are you okay? Scully?> the last word was spoken in a mental whisper, a spot of blue on the black.

<We're fine. Dana's not so well. She misses you>

<They told you I killed myself, didn't they?>

<Fox, there isn't time. I need to know everything you can tell me. Open your eyes.> and suddenly she could see, she could see a bed, and a mirror, too much input at once, and...

<No, don't leave me-->

Erin gasped, eliciting a concerned cry from Melissa. She was still in trance; She was reluctant to wake her, but if it kept up much longer she'd have to.

<Close, close your eyes!> blissful darkness, and a regretful voice.

<I'm sorry.>

<No, it wasn't your fault. Can you find anything, anything at all?>

<I'm handcuffed, but I think one of the links is weak. They're watching me. One of them almost...I'll see what I can do.>

<I have to go, Fox, I'm tired.>

<Okay...tell Melissa I said hi> his dry humor filled the darkness with greens and blues, making her smile.

<I'm coming back later.>

<Love you.>bright green...

Erin gasped again, bursting back into her body, and the pain of the deep cuts on her hand. "I made it."

"And...?" Melissa leaned forward.

"He says hi." She grinned. Suddenly, she ran out, trying to go anywhere, to do *something*, because he wasn't dead, and now Dana wouldn't cry anymore, and he would come home.

Melissa followed her, grasping at her sleeve. "Slow down! You need rest." Erin caught a glimpse of her reflection in a shop window. Her hand was covered in blood, her eyes holes in her face. She slumped suddenly, joy still coursing through her. "Melissa...he's alive...I'm tired."

Too many emotions passed through her young body, and she collapsed.

ANTAGONISTS BECOME ALLIES

*She knows.* Fox leaned against the wall. *She found me* he had no idea how she'd done it; with Melissa around, all things were possible, he supposed. Or maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him; confinement in this room had finally driven him over the edge. He didn't care, he had something to hold on to. So now what to do...

"Anyone out there?" he called, hoping the man would be there.

"Hello, Agent Mulder." His own voice came back to him.

"Oh, it's me," Mulder said sarcastically. "So, how am I?"

"You're rather snide, but otherwise completely annoying." He was going to take a long vacation when this was over; maybe he'd go to Florida, no, too many weird cases there...anyway, somewhere *very* quiet. Maybe California...

"It's nice to know I have such a high opinion of myself."

"Your sematics are flawed, but interesting." The voice rang at him. There was a slight crackle, and a shuffling noise. "I'll be talking to you later, Mulder."

"Or talking to yourself!" he yelled. Silence settled on the room.

"So, you're back to gape at the freak?"

"I apologize, Agent Mulder. I really am sorry. You're clone is... not as ethical as one would like."

"Yeah, since when has ethics been an issue with you?"

"Look, don't make this harder than it has to be. I wish I could help."

"You can. Where am I?"

"Why do you care? Oh hell, you're gonna die anyway. You're in a warehouse in Germantown."

"You came back to the old stomping grounds. Damn it all..."

*okay, Erin, anytime now.*

"Yes...always hide out in the open. I believe I should introduce myself."

"Gee, thanks for your consideration."

"Listen, I'm putting it all on the line coming here. Think you could knock off the sarcasm for a minute? My name's Aiken."

"First or last?"Mulder asked, stalling for time.

"Who cares?"

"All right, Aiken. So why are you here?"

"I just thought you should know...what she's doing is wrong."

"Lots of reassurance. I hadn't realized." Mulder rolled his eyes.

"What you said before made sense."Aiken dragged the words out.

"Glad you think so, I always like to be coherent when I'm abducted. Listen, I've got to talk to her. She knows where my sister is."

"Your sister?"

"She was abducted by them when I was twelve."

"Condolences."

"Thanks, Aiken. If you want to help me, find out where she is. There must be documents...no, they'd have been destroyed in the fire...just ask her. Please."

"That...I can do. Yes...I could do that."Aiken traced the glass idly, drawing an x across Mulder's face.

"Please, Aiken. Her name is Samantha."

*Oh, please, it's worth dying for...*

EXEUNT SANITY, STAGE CENTER

"Okay, remember what I told you." Melissa looked into Erin's eyes. "Remember, Erin."

"Okay." Erin clutched the crystal in her scarred hand. She wanted to bandage it, but contact with the skin seemed to be essential. "It's harder now."

"Just relax. Remember, I'm here." She was seated in the easy chair next to Mike's couch; Erin sat forward, her knees brushing the coffee table. She took a deep breath, squeezing the crystal so hard it hurt.

<Fox?>

<Erin...>

<Did you find out where you are?>

<Yeah.>a twinge of purple in the corner, and a disappointed tone.<They went back to an old laboratory. It's in a storage bay in Germantown.>

<Where?>

<Germantown...Scully knows where it is.>blue overwhelmed the purple. <Did you tell her?>

<Not yet>Erin felt a stab of pain, whether it was his or hers, she couldn't tell. <Fox, we're coming. We'll get Dana.>

<She won't believe you. Please, she has to come> his voice was slightly hysterical, filling the black with shades of yellow.

<We'll make her. Fox, I've got to go...>

<Please hurry, Erin, they're not getting any more hospitable.>

<I'll try. Melissa says to hang in there.>

<I will.> the bright green filled her mind again, and she opened her eyes. "Oh, god, Melissa, We've got to get Dana. He's in a warehouse in Germantown." She felt something wet in her hands, time for that later. "Melissa, we've got to go."

Melissa got up, running to Erin's room, where Dana lay on her bed. "Dana, We're leaving."

"Where?" she looked up, lost.

"Germantown, Erin says there's some warehouse you know about."

"It's empty. They all left."

"No, someone important is there." Melissa shook her. "I'll drive, but you need to show me where it is."

"Okay." Her will was gone. Melissa hoped that they'd make it in time...she couldn't lose him twice.

In the car she gave directions in an emotionless monotone, sitting in the passenger's seat. It took the better part of an hour to get there.

Erin sat in the backseat, tense and drawn, clutching at the crystal.

*Very bad auras* Melissa thought to herself as they drove in silence.

"Here." Dana said, pointing to a large building. Melissa pulled the car up behind a large van. "Dana, stay here."

"Give me your gun," Erin said.

"What?"

"You can't come. We need defense. Give me your gun." She reapeated. Numbly Dana complied, pushing the clip in. Melissa raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. Erin closed her eyes briefly. <Fox, we're here. If you're going to get out, now's the time.>

<Scully's there?>

<She's not coming. I've got her gun. Do you know where you are in the building?>

<No. I'll try to find you. You've got her *gun*?>

<I'm okay. Get out to the car if you can.>

<Don't hurt yourself.> and he was gone in a flash of worried yellow.

She crept up to the door, checking around her for surveillance cameras. She couldn't see any, but she wasn't exactly used to looking. Melissa crouched beside her, absently taking the crystal from her as she gripped the gun in both hands. *Well, I've always wanted to see what my cousin did for a living.*

She checked the door; it was locked. A gunshot would break it...she couldn't risk the noise. *Jeez, I'm starting to sound like I'm on Miami Vice.*

"Here," Melissa whispered. "There's a tear in the metal. Cheap stuff. Can you fit?"

"Yeah, but I don't think you can."

"I'll stay here. Go," Melissa muttered. Erin squeezed through the bent section, finding herself in a crawlspace. *Wonderful. There's got to be some way in...*she wished she'd packed a flashlight, anything to illuminate the darkness. She crawled forward, towards a noise at the far end.

CLIMAX; ENTER HEROINE FROM ABOVE

Mulder fought the urge to yell out in joy; he had a job to do.

"Aiken? Are you there?"

Silence.

Yes.

He pulled his cuffed hands to the limit, stretching shoulder muscles stiff from disuse. A slight <Snik> and they were free. He reached down and picked at the cords on his ankles, tied tight enough to restrict movement, but loose enough to give him some circulation. *Quickly, there isn't much time...*

"Hurry." A voice.

"Aiken?"

"Get your ass out. I'm covering for you. Get out now, before she comes back."

"What about-"

"She's alive. More than that..."Aikens voice trailed off.

"Fine." The cords tore off...he jumped up, wincing lightly at the pinpricks on his legs. He strode to the door, pulling at the knob.

Surprisingly, it opened. "Thank you Aiken."

"No, thank you. She's not going to get anymore people like you. I'm making sure of it."

"Base of the neck?"

"Yeah." The voice over the speaker crackled with determination.

"You're on your own from here, Mulder."

"I'll make it. Just cover your back, Aiken, and do it soon." He looked out into the hallway, trying to figure out which way to go.

He turned right, blindly searching. A room, filled with files...

*wrong way.* but the files...maybe...no time, *Aiken will get them if they're important*...tanks of green fluid, more clones...*Aiken, you better not screw up.* and he whirled, running the opposite way, and twisting corridors. *C'mon, Erin, give me a sign...* a clank above him and someone looked down. *That was quick.* "Erin!" he called, in a hoarse whisper. "Erin, I'm here. Get the hell out, I'll meet you at the car."

"You'll never make it, this place is a maze. Help me." She forced the screen down at one edge, sliding through. She hit the ground and smiled. "So this is what you do forty hours a week?"

"More or less. We don't have enough time!" he led her down a hall. She turned. "I think it's this way." She gestured, gun in hand.

"Erin, give me that."

"Your cuffs'll get in the way. Just follow me." She ran down the hall, seeing a shape at one end...she skidded, slipping...right into... Fox? she turned, tearing out of a weak grip, and he was behind her and in front of her at the same time.

"What the hell?" she backed against the wall, holding the gun out, and eyed both of them. "They cloned you?" she asked the cuffed Fox. "Or...maybe you *are* the clone. Get over there."

"Okay, I'm going." He winced.

"Erin, it's me," the other said. "He's trying to trick you."

"Or you are." She sighted down the barrel. "And if you think I'm not scared to shoot one of you, think again."

"Don't trust him," the uncuffed one said.

"Trust no-one," the cuffed Fox said, glaring. "If you're going to quote me, get it right."

*Oh, god, now what do I do?* she wavered, but her eyes never left them. "Erin, the dream..." the cuffed one said. Realization dawning in her eyes, she leveled at the uncuffed one. He moved too quickly, ramming his elbow into the real Fox. She closed her eyes, rage pouring through her to her finger...the kickback shook her fist, and she'd shot him, oh god, she'd shot Fox...

"Erin, it's okay. I'm here." Fox straightened, holding his ribs where he'd been elbowed. "It's okay. It's me." She dropped the gun, looking into his eyes. They stared back at her serenely. "It's me."

The other Fox lay next to him, seeping real blood...

"We've got to leave."

"Here." He craned his head around the hall corner. "There it is."

She picked the gun off the floor and turned the corner, expertly shooting the lock open. He looked at her, raising his eyebrow. "Never thought you'd kill a man before you graduated high-school, did you?"

"No...but it wasn't you, was it?"

"No, it wasn't. Let's go."he shoved the door open. Sunlight blinded him, and he staggered out. Melissa was still crouched to the side.

"Fox...get in the car." She nodded curtly, not bothering that Erin held a gun that was still smoking. She led him around the jeep, shoving him, still half blind, into the back seat. Scully was asleep in the front, her face a mask of pain. He resisted the temptation to wake her as Erin climbed in next to him and Melissa revved the engine, pulling out as fast as possible.

Dana shook her head, clearing the edge of fatigue from it. "Melissa?"

"We've got him, Dana."

"Who?"

"Me." Fox leaned forward as they sped away. He touched her face. "I'm here."

She blinked. Then she turned, pulling the confines of her belt. "Ohmygod, Mulder, it's you, but you're dead..."

"No, I'm here." He smiled. "I'm here."

ANTICLIMAX

They stopped as soon as they were far enough away; Dana could barely climb out of the car. "Oh, god, Mulder..."

He stroked her hair, holding her tight. "Shhh. I'm here."

"How? You killed yourself-"

"No, I would never do that. They cloned me. I'm alive...it's okay." She shuddered, gripping his shirt.

Erin stood back, shyly holding Melissa's crystal. He held out one hand, talking hers. She winced, and he noticed the blood running down her wrist. She shook her head, showing him the caked crystal. "I had to."

"Erin..."

<No, Fox.Take care of her right now.>

Erin would have her own demons to face; one did not shoot a man for the first time and keep completely calm. But for now, running on adrenaline, she was okay. There would be a time for breakdowns, he thought wryly.

She let go of his hand, getting into the front of the car, next to Melissa. Fox gently moved Dana into the car, holding her still as Melissa pulled away.

She held his hand, finally gaining control of herself. "I'm sorry..."

"It's all right," he murmured.

"Hey, you two, save the romance novel stuff for later." Erin leaned over the top of the seat, smiling. "There's kids around."

Fox snorted. "Lemme see your hand."

"It's nothing, it doesn't hurt."

"Yeah, but it will once Mike finds out. And you had a gun-- he's going to kill me."

"I hope not," Dana said. "At least, let's get those cuffs off."

She took her keys out of her pocket, deftly unlocking the one side. Her hands began to tremble again as she saw the chafe marks on his wrists, and where the cuts had been...

"Hey..." he looked down. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Better, now. Just seeing you, and you'd slit your wrists...please..."

"I told you...I'd never do that. It's all right." He pulled her to his chest, wiping her tears absently with the corner of his shirt. She smiled suddenly at him, with a weeks worth of stubble on his chin and his hair flopping in his eyes. He didn't smell the best, either...

He was looking at her questioningly. "Did you find the box...?"

She shook her head. She wasn't ready to accept the implications of what was in that box, or what the implications of the ring were. He looked half-relieved, half-disappointed.

Melissa remarked to Erin, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Very, very good auras."

"Yeah, but your crystal's ruined. It's all crusty now." Erin smiled apologetically.

"I'm more worried about your hand," Melissa said. "Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yeah." Erin looked in the rearview mirror, seeing both of them apparently fast asleep, Dana's head pillowed on Fox's shoulder.

"Aw, isn't that sweet?"

"Shut up, Erin. Just shut up and try to stop bleeding," Fox ordered.

<Right.>

"Don't *do* that!"

"I don't think I could anymore anyways. It hurts too much."

Erin held her wrist, looking at him pathetically in the mirror. Suddenly he wasn't sure what she was talking about. He smiled and stroked Dana's hair.

"Yes. But all the really good parts of life are worth the pain."

EXEUNT EVIDENCE

In a dark warehouse in Germantown, a small flame caught on a single sheet of paper. Slowly it jumped from the match to the pulp, and from there to another sheet, to a whole file. Soon the entire warehouse was filled with fire, strange fire, fed by some odd colored liquid seeping from the tanks. The fire department, in sifting through the rubble, found the bodies of two survivors. They found other bodies, some grotesque, some twisted, some only half there, but those vanished on the way to the morgue. The truck carrying them was hijacked by two men in dark black trenchcoats, the driver reported.

Watching the blaze, Charles Aiken faded into shadow and night, satisfied. A nice conclusion to it all.

END