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Title: The Vacation This is set just after the events in 'Friendship', and before the second season finale. The truth is a pink, fluffy bunny. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. <Grin>)
11:21am. "What is it about women that they always take twice as long to get ready for anything?" Mulder commented idly as he leant against the side of the car. They had been waiting for twenty minutes already, and Dana had said it would only take her two minutes to get everything gathered together. "Must be genetic," Will McCormack ducked out of the way just in time to avoid the light punch that Jeanette threw in his direction. "I'll give you 'genetic'," she snarled at him with mock anger, "c'mere!" She lunged at him, laughing when he scooted out of the way, not stopping until he was on the other side of the car. "Catch me if you can," he grinned at her. The look on his face was so mischievous that she couldn't resist giving chase, launching herself over the hood of the car at him with enough force that when he caught her they ended up on the pavement in each others arms. "You've got me," he whispered, looking up into her sparkling green eyes, losing himself in their depths easily. "I don't hear any complaints," she whispered back, moving her face a little closer to his. "None here," he responded, bringing his hands up to run them through her short blonde hair as they kissed, gently, lovingly at first, and then with more passion as they lost sight of where they were. "Where are they?" They heard Dana's voice from the other side of the car as she walked out to them, presumably carrying her luggage. The footsteps were getting closer, a lot closer. Breaking the kiss they both looked up, and found Dana and Mulder looking down at them, both trying, and failing to hide their smiles, "Uh, are we ready then?" Will managed to get out as he felt his cheeks beginning to warm. "I'll take the first shift," Mulder said, walking past them to get into the car. Dana just stood over them, shaking her head slightly. "Come on, guys," she said, offering them a hand up. Once they were all in the car Will asked the question that had been gnawing at him since Mulder had suggested that Jeanette fly over to join them on a holiday, "So, where are we going?" The two agents glanced at each other, before answering in perfect unison, "Thataway!" "Oh boy." "Anyone know any decent road-songs?" Dana asked after discovering that every single radio station in the D.C. area was playing nothing apart from Country and Western. "Do you know 'A wizard's staff has a knob on the end'?" asked Will deadpan. Scully giggled, and Mulder choked on a sunflower seed he'd just popped into his mouth, "What???" Scully calmed down enough to ask, "That doesn't sound like jazz, Will?" "Nope, it's not," he grinned, "and it's all her fault!" he added, hugging Jeanette. "I should have never have introduced him to Terry Pratchett," she sighed mournfully, glancing at the car's roof.
The end (maybe). |
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Title: Vacation II Notes: A tip of the hat is also due to Stephen King, you'll know what for if you've read a certain book of his ... If you enjoy this tell me.. For that matter, if you don't enjoy it tell me as well ... But, please, tell me what it was you didn't like, eh? This is set just after Sarah's story 'Unicorns and Dragons', and therefore occurs at least a few months after the events in my story 'A Howling Wolfe'. BTW: Rhuraidh is a Gaelic name and is pronounced "Roory" as in Roo from 'Winnie the Pooh'. It belongs to Will's partner Rhuraidh MacGregor who is a ... Uh-ah, I don't want to spoil the surprise. <Evil Grin> BTW (Yet again!!): The Dan mentioned is Daniel Wolfe, Steve Wolfe's grandfather. Now, finally, on with the story. Note From RaEnright: Hi everyone! I'm actually posting this for Alasdair McLean, who wrote it, because his net access is shaky, so any and all comments go to him; his address is on every part, so you should have no trouble finding him, and I'm certain he'd love to hear from you<g>. I enjoyed this thoroughly, and I hope you will too! Later! Ra
Part I. A Unicorn in Scotland. The truth is out there, but so are lies.
4:12pm. The Office of Assistant Director Walter Skinner. "Sir, if you agree to this it would make our jobs a great deal easier," Fox Mulder tried to keep his voice level as he pleaded his case. Will McCormack had made the suggestion earlier and now it was Mulder's turn in the firing line so to speak, "I mean, it's not entirely unprecedented." Skinner said nothing. His eyes were locked on Mulder, and without removing his attention from his subordinate he asked McCormack, "And your superiors agreed to this?" The Scottish agent nodded, "Yes, sir. Actually, it was the Admiral who suggested it in the first place. Something about keeping up with the opposition. They exchange information freely so why shouldn't we?" "Sir, Section 10 has been around far longer than the X-Files, their data could help clear up any number of outstanding cases," Scully added thoughtfully after a moment watching Skinner's inscrutable features. "I'd tend to agree with Agent Scully," Will said. Finally, after what seemed like hours the Assistant Director answered, "Alright, I'll agree to this. It'll have to go up-stairs though," he noticed Mulder wince, and he knew the reasons why: Cancer Man and his associates would certainly try to block the agreement, unless of course they didn't know what it was, "But I see no reason why the Bureau would be prevented from sharing criminal intelligence data with the British government." He paused thoughtfully, "Come to think of it, I think we already do. On suspected terrorists." He nodded with more certainty, "I'll take care of the necessary paperwork. Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, dismissed." He stood, shaking hands with Will McCormack, "S.I. McCormack, it's good to see you again." The second they left the A.D.'s office Mulder and Scully breathed out in unison, Will noticed and wasn't able to stop himself from laughing quietly. When they both mock glared at him he held up his hands in surrender, "Look at it this way," he said easily, "at least your boss isn't telepathic." Scully shook her head in bemusment at his comment. After three years of working the X-files she was only getting used to these sort of things now. She was walking down the hallway with her partner on one side, and on the other an operative of Section 10 who just happened to be a vampire. Sometimes she wondered what it was that made her join the F.B.I.. "Look, I'll see you two at dinner, okay?" Will loosened his tie and then pulled it off, it was a Christmas gift from Mulder, and had a suitably violent colour scheme, "I'm just going to pop over to the Embassy and drop something off." The two agents nodded, Mulder saying, "See you there then," a few seconds later he added, "Will, are you sure it's alright?" "Mulder," he sighed, "I've talked with them already about this. They don't mind. Mira can hardly wait. And Jeanette," at the mention of his love's name Will smiled slightly, "she's been trying to get me to take a holiday for months now." The smile vanished, "After what happened with the M.J. files.." his voice trailed off, and he saw the haunted looks in both his friends' eyes. "M.I. 7 took the opportunity to try to take the Section down. Things got ..messy. They came after all of us." He shook himself, abruptly bringing himself back to the here and now from the moment when he had seen his partner nearly fatally shot, "Anyway, I'll get over to the Embassy, and I'll catch up with you around seven?" "Hiya, Rosie, I hear we just missed each other in Glasgow last Summer?" Will smiled as he entered the front office, "Worse luck, eh?" The woman behind the desk grinned back at him, "Yeah, so what happened there?" He shrugged, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Trust me on that." He indicated the main office behind her, "She in?" "Yeah," Rosie looked at him sympathetically, "You can go in if you want, but be careful .. She's been caught up with paperwork since this morning, and Marty's out of town at the moment." "Oh no," Will knew all too well what that meant, "So she's not a happy camper then?" "You could say that," They both heard the thud that sounded suspiciously like a pile of papers hitting a wall. "I think I might be able to do something about that," he said quietly, almost laughing out loud at the look on Rosie's face, "Wish me luck." And then he opened the door and walked straight into the dragon's lair, so to speak. "Mac!?!" she looked up from what *had* to be the last report when she heard the door open, expecting to see Rosie with another mug of coffee, but instead seeing the familiar form of the Scot she had met years earlier in Toronto at a hostage situation that had turned bad. Making a mental note to apologise to Rosie later she stood up and walked over to him, giving him a quick hug hello, "Whoever invented paperwork should die a horrible and painful death." "Already taken care of," he responded easily, "someone caught up with him, covered him in paper cuts and then dropped him in a vat of vinegar." He looked at her, noting the strain in her eyes, "How are things?" "Okay, I guess," she lied. "Try again, Jackie," the firm tone of voice didn't hide his sympathy, "Mulder and Dana told me what happened. How are you?" he asked again, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's so difficult sometimes," she whispered, "the not knowing. The Temptation." her voice trailed off, "Mulder's helping me with it, but .. But he doesn't know what it's like - the feeling of power, the desire to give in to it, to the dragon." Will nodded sympathetically, "I know what you mean," he said softly, before laughing humourlessly, "Our curses are alike in that: the temptation to give in to the bloodlust..." He reached down and opened the bag that he'd carried in, pulling out a thick folder. "This might help a little," he pushed it across the desk to her, "There haven't been any Dragons working for the Section for years now, but I did a little digging and .." He shrugged, wishing there had been more, wishing that he'd been able to get access to *her* file. Instead all he had for her was a bunch of historical accounts and myths, "It's as much as I could get. It's not much, nowhere near enough... I'm sorry, I ... I hope it helps." Jackie ripped open the folder, swiftly scanning through the documents she'd been given, her eyes widening at what she read there. "Mac," she whispered, "thank you." He smiled gently, but his eyes as they met hers were deadly serious, "You can thank me by making sure I don't have to keep that promise." His eyes glistened slightly, "I don't want to lose another friend like that." His smile widened, although it looked slightly forced, when he added, "Now, I'm going to be having dinner later with a bunch of crazy Yanks. I'll be outnumbered. You wanna help me mess with their minds?" "Mulder and Scully?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be. "Well, more like Mulder, Mulder, Mulder and Scully." Her eyes widened in pretend terror, "You alone against *three* of them?" She chuckled evilly, "I'd love to. Unfortunately I've got to look over the security arrangements for a diplomatic function tomorrow." "Formal?" "What do you think?" "No combat jacket?" he grinned. Jackie just glared at him. "Evening dress?" Her eyes narrowed and he heard the growl beginning low in her throat. "Okay, okay!" Deciding to change the subject quickly, he added, "Jeanette says hello, by the way. ..."
7:12pm. The restaurant wasn't that difficult to find. What was difficult to find was a parking space, and Will walked in muttering under his breath. As the door closed behind him he stopped short, his worse fears realised. Michael Mulder, evidently, could cook. And if the smells that were assaulting his senses were anything to go by, was a very talented chef. Times like that made him wish Cassandra had let him die instead of 'saving' his life by making him a vampire. He missed food. Sometimes it was so tempting to take a mouthful. Unfortunately those very infrequent lapses in control were usually followed by him running headlong for the nearest bathroom. It was one of the reasons he had been slightly nervous about this dinner. He scanned the booths, quickly spotting Mulder in a booth near the back. Waving he dodged past one of the waiters and joined his friends. "Jackie says hi," he paused as if trying to remember something, "oh yeah, she wants to know if Mulder's going to be taking his handcuffs to Scotland with him," he pretended to look mystified, "Something about a special set?" He sat down next to Dana, laughing at the flush that spread across both agents faces. "Ah, no comment," Dana's blue eyes sparkled with annoyance. "I'm with her - Deny everything!" Mulder quipped. "Well, they do say the truth is out there," Will said, before asking, "Uh, Dana, could you pass the menu, please?" Dana shook her head, "No need," she looked at him, the corners of her mouth quirking upwards in a slight smile, "You have a rare illness that prevents you from ingesting solid foods. Your doctor has put you on a specialised, liquids only diet." She paused, "Your soup should be ready at the same time as our meal." "Soup? Thanks, I owe you one," he laughed, specialised diet? That was one way of putting it. He looked around, his eyes searching for the reason they were in the diner. "Mulder, where is ...?" "Call him 'Fox', or we'll all get confused," A young sounding female voice piped up from right behind his ear, "And I'm right here." Mulder winced and then glared at his cousin, Erin, as she slid into the booth next to Mulder. "Will, this is Erin." He made the introductions, watching to see how Erin reacted to the man across the table from her, "Erin, meet Will McCormack, a friend of ours from Scotland." Will extended his hand to the teenager, "Hi." As he looked at her his eyes were thoughtful, measuring her. It was almost like a test of some kind. Erin looked at him, at the ice blue eyes that were studying her. Reaching up to stroke the crystal at her neck she reached out tentatively to him with her mind and found ... nothing. There was a barrier between them, almost like a .... shield? She closed her eyes and then opened them again, this time using her Sight to look at him. Her eyes widened and she snatched her hand back from him, her voice tiny as she said, "He isn't human." Will just smiled. Dana and Mulder looked at him and he nodded. "That's right, Erin," Dana said gently, "he isn't. He is a vampire. And he is a very good friend of ours." She said it so quietly, so simply that Erin nodded once, accepting what she was told as the truth. Abruptly she realised what they were saying, and who was saying it. Dana. The same Dana Scully who always clung so stubbornly to her faith in Science. Recovering quickly Erin said, "I don't think we have any blood in stock," she made a move as if she was going to get up, "If you like I could go and ask Da if he has some. Is O-Neg, okay?" "NO!" Will shouted, and just as the words left his lips he realised that she was joking. His cheeks flushing he sat back down in his seat, "The soup will be fine, thanks." He shot a glare at Mulder, "She's your cousin alright. You could have warned me." "What, and have missed that?" Mulder hugged the girl affectionately, "Not for anything." Shaking his head Will watched as a man, obviously Michael Mulder brought over their meals, expertly balancing the plates on his arms. Erin got up and took them from her father and placed them at the appropriate places on the table. Will stood and offered his hand to the elder Mulder, "Mr. Mulder. I'm Will McCormack." "It's Mike," they shook hands firmly and sat down, "Dana mentioned your, ah, problem. I hope the soup is okay." Erin sniggered a little, she couldn't help herself, and got an exasperated, "*Erin*," for her troubles. "It's alright, Mike." Will sipped at the soup, nodding his head in approval, "Scotch Broth? Not bad either, almost as good as Mira's." "Thank you," Mike said, he took a deep breath before he spoke, going over the words in his head, "Erin, Fox and I have been talking." Erin stopped eating and looked up at her father, and then to Fox, "If this is about the bug in their office, it wasn't me!" "What?" Both agents at the table nearly choked on mouthfuls of food. Dana reaching swiftly for a napkin, Fox managing to swallow before speaking, "What did you say, Erin?" "Oops." "No, it isn't about that," Mike shook his head slowly, "Although I think I'll be having a little talk with the Assistant Director about your access. Anyway, we were talking about your . abilities, and how since Melissa died you've pretty much been self-taught." Erin nodded, unsure as to where this was all leading to. And why was Will there anyway? Why was a Scottish vampire sitting next to Dana quietly enjoying a bowl of soup? For that matter how .. Why .. Where? The questions were forming in her mind so fast that she could barely keep track. Will spoke up, answering at least some of her questions, "Mulder told me what happened recently with Blackstrike coming after you and Jackie. There are a lot of hunters out there looking for people who can't fight them. You could barely resist Hills." "Hey, I did okay," Erin said defensively. "All things considered, you did great," Will agreed, "But there are things a lot worse than Mr Hills out there and you wouldn't be able to defend yourself against them. If Hills hadn't needed you in one piece you wouldn't have lasted as long as you did." Taking another sip at his soup he continued, looking at Erin earnestly, "Anyway, to cut a long story short, if you want I know someone who is willing to teach you." "Really," she looked at Fox, after what had happened she was a little suspicious of people who offered to help her, "What's the catch? I've gotta enlist in some sort of government team? You get a donor?" Will winced at that. "Only one catch," he looked at Mike who nodded for him to continue, "You'd have to spend a few weeks on a farm in Scotland with your cousin, Dana, me, my girlfriend, and the owners. One of whom would be your teacher." Erin said nothing, her eyes widening. "Her name is Mira Wolfe," Will tried not to smile at the look on her face. "Da?" "I agree with Fox: You need to be taught how to use your abilities," he turned on Will, "Nothing that's liable to get her into trouble. Or make her try to look for it." Seeing Erin's 'would I?' expression, he added, "She gets into more than enough trouble as it is." "Nothing like that," Will nodded, "Well, what do you think?" Erin was silent for a moment before she reached over and kissed her Dad on the cheek. When she sat down she grinned, "When do we leave?" "Day after tomorrow." "Now, about that bug?" Fox turned to look at her sternly, "How long, and where?" "I was joking, guys," she slumped low in her seat, "Y'know: hah-hah." The two agents leaned forward in their seats, "*Where* ?"
Three Days later Will brought the car to a halt about a hundred yards from the farm house. Erin started to get out of the car only to be stopped by Jeanette who reached back from the front passenger seat and pulled her back into the car. "What the?" More than a little groggy from the flight over she let herself be pulled into the car again. "You'll see," was Jeanette's only explanation. All the Americans watched as Will pulled out his cellular phone and hit a number on the speed dial, "Hi, Mira, we're here. .. Yeah, traffic was okay. ... Mira, that psychotic furball you call a pet is inside, isn't he?" When he heard her answer he swore under his breath, "Yeah, thanks for the warning. We'll be in shortly." He turned to Jeanette, "Cujo's out." "Oh no," she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes wearily before she continued, "how do you want to do this?" "Cujo?" Mulder asked from the back seat, "Is there something we should know?" "What? Oh right, when you were here last time he was at the vet," Will remembered, "You won't have met Mira's dog.." "Cujo," Scully finished, "Any particular reason for the name?" she was almost afraid to ask. "Oh yes, he's a psychopath. Deranged. Unhinged," he paused, "I'm sure Mulder could come up with the technical terms, but that dog is nuts. And he *hates* me!" He turned to Jeanette, "Spotted him yet?" After a long look around the farmyard Jeanette shook her head, and from the back the others couldn't spot any sign of the animal either. "Oh great," Will muttered, "We're being hunted." He took a deep breath, "Okay, we do this fast. I pop the trunk, and then we get out, grab our bags, and then bolt for the house. If we're lucky we'll make it." He reached down to the trunk release, "On three. One. Two. Three." He yanked up on the boot release as he shouted, "GO!" All five of them bolted from the car and around to the trunk. Erin made it first, pulling the first two bags from the top of the pile and running as fast as she could for the door, which swung open just as she reached it. *SAFE!* She leaned against the hallway trying to get her breathing under control. Through the window she could see Dana and Jeanette running for the door, followed close behind by Will and Fox. Will was slightly in the lead. Standing by the door was a handsome woman with hair the purest shade of silver possible, that along with her dark skin and eyes gave her an exotic Mediterranean look. It had to be Mira Wolfe. Will and Fox had told her that Mira was of the Romany gypsies, and a gifted psychic. "Erin Mulder." She managed to get out from between breaths. Mira nodded and prepared to throw the door open for Dana and Jeanette. Only a few more feet, Will thought to himself, burdened down by his baggage. Maybe he's somewhere else, tormenting cats. *YAPYAPYAPYAPYAP!!* Oh, *shit*!, He heard the sound first, and then he spotted the blur of brown fur heading for him just above the ground, from underneath one of the tractors that was parked by the barn. Cujo leapt, and in a display of agility and speed attainable only by a vampire Will ducked and ran faster, disappearing in through the door like a bullet. And that left Mulder. He heard the barking and ran faster. He saw Will twisting to avoid something, and the next thing he knew there was a bundle of furry fury flying through the air headed straight for him. Unfortunately by the time he realised this it was already too late. The Yorkshire Terrier, Cujo, slammed into his chest with a staggering amount of force, enough to knock the speeding agent to the ground .. And right into a muddy puddle of rainwater. *YAPYAPYAPYAPYAP!!* Cujo stood atop Mulder's chest and barked angrily right into the dazed agent's face. Mulder just lay there, the mud and water soaking into his clothes. His ego not wanting to believe that he had been floored by a terrier. The others couldn't help themselves. They looked at Fox lying on the ground, the pint-sized bundle of fury barking into his face and they did the only thing they could: they burst out laughing. Mulder turned his head and looked at Scully. His eyes said it all: Help! "Cujo! Heel!" Mira Wolfe strode out of the house, and up to the spot where Fox Mulder lay on the ground. The snarling animal on his chest looked from Fox to Mira and back to Fox again, snarling once more before happily trotting off to stand by his mistress. She offered her hand to Mulder to help him up and pulled him to his feet, "It's good to see you again, Fox," she noticed his wince and then corrected herself, "Mulder then." She looked down at the little dog that was now looking at Mulder's ankles thoughtfully, "Cujo likes you." He looked down at the dog, "Rare, medium, or well done?" he asked. Shaking as much of the mud as he could off of himself before he went near the house. "Will," she turned to the vampire who was trying not to laugh at the state of his friend, "Where are your manners? Show Mulder up to his room so he can get changed into something clean and dry. Jeanette and Dana can introduce me to the young lady here." And Mira turned her dark eyes on Erin who shuffled her feet nervously as Will led Mulder up through the house towards one of the spare rooms.
Part II. A Cow named B.J.. I've heard the truth, Mulder. Now what I want are the answers.
9:45pm. The Wolfe's Farm, two miles outside of Crieff, Scotland. Fox Mulder yawned as he began to unpack his clothes into the chest of drawers by the bed. He'd gotten Steve's old room and approved heartily of the decor, especially the old Spider-Man poster that still adorned one wall. Will, who travelled back and forth across the Atlantic fairly often had recommended that they stay up as long as possible to try to beat the effects of the jet lag. For once Fox thought that he would be able to get a full night's sleep. Having finished unpacking he went to the bedroom window and looked out over the farm. It was an icily clear night, and as a result you could see for miles. In the distance he could see the lights from one of the many small villages that dotted the area. It looked so peaceful. And in the sky the stars twinkled. Samantha, his thoughts turned, perhaps predictably to his younger sister who had been abducted when she was only eight. Up until recently he'd believed that she had been taken by aliens, but now, after all he had discovered he wasn't so sure. They, Scully and himself, had been through so much, lost so much, and the amount of progress they had made was negligible. He heard the light knock on the door behind him and smiled, "Come in." He knew who it was even before they spoke. "I'd forgotten how nice it was here. How peaceful," Dana Scully said quietly as she joined him at the window, "Erin's downstairs talking with Mira and Will." "I'm tired, so tired," Mulder sounded exhausted, but Dana knew it wasn't the jet-lag he was referring to, but rather their endless search for the truth. And the terrible cost it exacted from them. "I know, me too," she whispered, and stood by him as they watched the stars. 6:23am. Will McCormack stirred slightly as he slowly became aware of the sounds of the people who were moving about the farm outside, most of them would have already been awake for several hours. The early rises were the only thing that he did not miss about the farm. Without really being aware of it he pulled Jeanette closer to him, loving the way she sighed gently in her sleep and unconsciously pulled him closer. For a moment he just lay there, enjoying the slightly muzzy feeling of semi-consciousness, the feel of the woman he loved being in his arms, and the sensation of peace that always seemed to accompany being held by her. <Thwump> The second he heard the light impact on the pillow behind his head he knew who it was. And what he wanted: As always to make his life hell. Slowly he turned his head around, rolling away from Jeanette just enough to stare into the eyes of the Yorkshire Terrier that was sitting less than an inch away from him. Cujo growled at him very softly, a warning. Will regarded the little dog for a moment, "You do know that you have a really bad case of 'morning breath', don't you?" he whispered to the animal. Cujo just looked at him, the volume of his growling increasing imperceptibly. And then, for no obvious reason the animal jumped down off the pillow and strolled out of the room, leaving Will wondering why he was all of a sudden dreading getting up. With that thought came full wakefulness, and a more complete awareness of his surroundings. He almost laughed when he heard Erin's voice from a couple of doors down, "Aw, how cute!" Followed by footsteps retreating a little further down the hall. Cujo is *not* cute, he thought to himself, Cujo is evil incarnate. After kissing Jeanette once more, lightly so as not to wake her, he swung his feet out of the bed and stood up. "Cujo, you little..," he closed his eyes and swore as he saw that one of his slippers was missing. Okay, furball, you started this ... he thought as he went to the closet, pulling out his sneakers and running clothes. "Morning, Erin," he looked curiously at the teenage cousin of Fox Mulder, noting the camera she was carrying, "What's up?" She looked at him for a moment, obviously debating whether to let him in on whatever she was planning. "Follow me," she whispered, giving him a swift grin as she walked quietly down the hall, obviously trying not to wake anyone up. Will followed her, realising abruptly that she looked very like the pictures he had seen of Samantha. He shook his head, dismissing the image as he wondered what she was up to. They stopped outside the room that Mulder had been allocated, Steve's old room. "What?" he watched as Erin slowly pushed the door open to reveal the couple curled up in each other's arms atop the covers. He couldn't stop the grin that spread over his face. He looked down at Erin, whose grin said it all, "Aw, innit sweet? You realise that they'll try to deny this?" "Why do you think I went to get my camera?" she whispered back. "Good point," he looked at them, their arms wrapped protectively around each other, Dana's head buried into the crook of Fox's neck, their breathing quiet and even. Somehow he knew that the nightmares that normally troubled both of his friends' nights had been kept at bay for that one night at least. "Three copies at least," he whispered to her, "Jackie has to see this!" Erin nodded in agreement and sneaked in closer, looking for the perfect angle for the shot. <*FLASH-clk-whrrrr*> Simultaneously, and faster than Will had thought possible both agents pushed the other away and bolted upright in bed, an aggrieved and embarrassed, "*Erin*!" the first word on both their lips. For her part Erin Mulder burst out laughing, "Gotcha!" Will just stood in the doorway, leaning against the door frame, "You up for a run, Spooky?" He tried unsuccessfully to hide his smile, gave up and then added, "Jackie's gonna love this. Maybe we could get the negative made into a postcard?" "Great idea, Will!" Erin agreed enthusiastically. "Oh no," Mulder groaned, "Et tu, Will?" "You know the saying, Fox," Erin laughed as she snapped another picture, "A picture is worth a thousand words." "Oh, Erin..." ".. So Erin's been trying to get Dana and I together ever since she met Melissa," They were running along the boundary of the farm, Mulder allowing his eyes to sweep the gently rolling countryside, enjoying the crystal clarity of the icy early morning air, "She's even got the rest of the family involved. Scully's too. She just doesn't give up." "And this is a bad thing?" Will chuckled, "Mulder, you're complaining to the wrong guy here. I'm with Jackie and Erin on this, remember?" "How could I forget?" Mulder muttered. "Look: You love her, don't you?" "Yes." He nodded, "And Dana loves you." "Uh-huh." "So, what's the problem?" Will deftly leapt over a fence, Mulder hurdling it gracefully a second later, "And if you say that it's because you're partners, I swear I'll deck you!" "Okay, I won't say it's because we're partners," Mulder responded after a second, "It's because we're friends," he paused and then whispered, almost too low for Will to hear, "and because I'm afraid it'll make her a target, .. and I'll lose her again." Will shook his head, "Mulder, she's already a target. Just like the rest of us. And what makes you think you'll lose her?" Mulder stopped, and gazed out over the countryside, "Everyone I've ever cared about leaves or is taken from me: Sam, Pheobe, Dana once, .. my Dad... Everyone." His head dropped and his eyes snapped shut, "And Melissa died because of me." "That wasn't Dana's or Steve's fault, and it wasn't yours, ... Fox," Will said softly, "What about Erin? Mike? Jackie? The Gunmen? Me?" He reached out and put his hands on the taller man's shoulders, "We are your friends, Mulder. And no matter what we'll be there when you need us." His eyes blinked, hiding the surge of emotion that always came when he thought of Erica, and how he failed her when she needed him, and of the terrible cost of that failure, "And we won't let you down." "I...," and then Mulder broke down, all the guilt, the fear, the self- recriminations, the anger, everything he'd been bottling up burst out of him in one huge torrent of emotion. Will did the only thing he could. He held his friend for as long as was necessary. "Thanks. I, ah, I'm sorry," Mulder said at last when he came back to himself and they resumed their run, "It's just that.." "I know, Mulder," Will said, knowing all too well from personal experience what it was that Mulder was going through, "I've lost people I cared for too: my Dad, Erica, you've been 'dead' a couple of times now, and my partner, Rhuraidh, came close to it when .." He avoided mentioning the MJ files and the events that followed their discovery, just as he had avoided mentioning Dana's abduction. "All you can do is," what was it that Jackie had said? "keep working on love." Mulder looked at Will, his lips quirking up in a slight, lopsided grin, "Yeah, I guess." 7:15am. "Don't you have machines to do this?" Mulder, still in his running clothes, sat on a small wooden stool, there was a bucket in front of him, and he was, in his humble opinion, far too close to the rear end of a cow than he ever wanted to be again in his life. "Aye," Will nodded as he chuckled to himself, trying to get the image of Fox Mulder in his usual F.B.I. get-up of suit and unspeakable tie attempting to milk a cow. He couldn't manage and began to laugh a little louder, "We do indeed, Mulder. But, Dan says that she's ill, some weird cow disease apparently, and the milking machine would tear her udders. She has to be milked to relieve the pressure, Dan asked me to take care of it this morning, and so .." His voice trailed off as he indicated the cow before them, "B.J. is waiting." Mulder said nothing, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the cow's swollen udders, "How difficult can it be?" he muttered to himself, as with his hand he grasped one of the teats firmly and aimed it at the bucket between B.J.'s legs. A sudden thought came to Will and he added hastily, "Mulder, be careful don't ..." It was already too late. Mulder had pulled hard on the cow's teat, which was quite tender from the injections the vet had been administering. B.J., despite being a rather placid animal at most times did not react well to having one of her teats yanked hard, and so she did her best to convey her displeasure to the annoying little human. "..pull on her teats, they'll be tender," Will finished, trying not to laugh as he helped Mulder up off the floor of the stall, "Sorry, I should have warned you. You don't pull. You squeeze. *Gently*. With a sort of rhythmic motion starting at the top of your fist." Will demonstrated, and Mulder watched in fascination as a jet of warm yellowish milk spurted into the bucket. He stood back and motioned once more to the stool, "Your turn." Mulder muttered something about good blackmail material and went to work, praying that Erin was elsewhere on the farm. "What's the program today?" Dana sat in the kitchen with Mira, Jeanette and Erin, all four of the women enjoying the warm atmosphere of the room as they enjoyed the breakfast that Mira had prepared. Mira smiled, "I'm afraid I'll have to borrow Will and Mulder, to help me with Erin's training," she said, laughing at the expression on Erin's face. Part eager to get started, part nervous, and part wanting to do what people on holiday do. "so that leaves you two free to do your own thing." Dana looked at Jeanette, "I don't know. Maybe just go exploring?" The Canadian nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me. We'll take Will's car." Her voice trailed off as the door opened, "Oh my God, Mulder. What happened to you?" She was facing the back door and so she was the first to see when Mulder and Will walked in. Both still in their running gear and the former looking like he'd just been floored by a fast moving Mac truck. "Cujo, decide to finish the job?" "B.J. decked me. She didn't like the way I was handling her teats," he said as he made his way through the kitchen to the stairs that led upstairs to the bathroom. "*B.J.*?" Dana's look said it all: She wanted details, and she wanted them *now*, or someone would be in a lot of pain very shortly. Most probably Mulder. "She's a cow, Dana," Will said, not seeing the look of confusion on her face until he turned around from pouring himself a strong black coffee. "You know: moo." "Moo? Oh. A cow. Right." Part III. Educating Erin. The truth isn't the only thing out there.
Erin sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs in the living room of the Wolfe's farmhouse trying not to feel apprehensive. When Mel had been teaching her things had kind of seemed like a game. Developing her gifts then hadn't been a serious matter then, but Bank Hills had changed all that. Oh, she had known that there were Hunters out there, but they seemed to be few and far between. And what Hunter would be foolish enough to prey on someone who effectively had the protection of two Federal Agents? And if what Will McCormack had told her was true there were far worse out there than Hills. After the dinner at Mike's restaurant she had a long talk with Fox, Dana, and Will, and some of the things they had told her had scared her more than she liked to admit. Hearing Dana describing being thrown clear across a room by what turned out (in Mulder's opinion, Dana was still working on a scientific explanation for that one) to be an angry malevolent spirit was scary enough. Mulder's story about the Manitou was just as bad. And then the vampire had simply smiled and told her, in a very matter-of-fact tone of voice, that not all vampires followed the Traditions that forbade the hunting of humans for their blood. She remembered his voice when he had added, "Some of ..my people have been known to hunt and kill humans for nothing more than sport. ... Just like some people hunt ..foxes." He had smiled then, and they had laughed at the put-upon expression on her cousin's face at the use of his first name, and the way it had been used, but his eyes had been deadly serious. Erin was more than smart enough to know that they had told her those stories to make her realise just how important it was that she learn how to use her gifts. But that realisation came along with the knowledge that this was no game anymore. And so she was sitting alone in the living room watching the dancing patterns of the fire that had been lit in the old stone fireplace in front of her while her mind gently and hesitantly reached out - searching. This was her first exercise. All she had to do was locate which rooms in the house Fox, Mira, and Will were in, and then send a telepathic message to them. It was the kind of thing that wouldn't be a problem normally, but Mira had forbade her from using her crystal to focus her abilities. She gazed at the fire, letting herself relax as she slowly reached outwards. Mira was the easiest to locate. Her gifts were so powerful that the challenge would have been not to notice her, even without her crystal. :Mira?: :Where am I, child?: came back the response. :The other end of the house,: Erin sent back, :The kitchen?: :Are you sure?: the teenager could practically see the expression on Mira's face when she 'heard' the question. :Yeah.: She let her mind wonder for a moment before trying again, this time for someone else. :Fox. Where are you?: She thought to herself as she tried to mentally picture each room in her mind. Seeing herself moving from room to room. Something she 'saw' in Daniel Wolfe's study caught her attention. On the chair in front of his desk was a cat. As her attention passed over it the animal looked up at 'her'. :Will?: It couldn't be, could it? Then again, he was a vampire, and there were stories of vampires being able to shapeshift.. :Will McCormack, that is you, isn't it! In the Study?: If it wasn't, she realised, she would feel more than a little foolish. :Will?: After a few tries, she was beginning to wonder if she hadn't made a mistake, but abruptly she realised one thing, :Will, I know it's you. Unless cats have learned how to Shield themselves?: She felt the light touch on her mind as he replied, :Well done. Yes, it's me.: For a third and final time, she relaxed herself, searching out for her cousin's presence in the house. She couldn't find him. Thinking that she might have missed him she tried again, but with no more luck than she had the first time. Where *is* he? 10:34am. The Quality Cafe, Perth. Jeanette Montaigne was enjoying herself. It wasn't often that she got to play tourist in the country that for the past few years had been her home. She and Dana were sitting in a small family-run Italian restaurant that Will had introduced her to. She sipped her cappuccino enjoying Dana Scully's company, and thanking God that she had 'accidentally' left her beeper at the home she and Will shared in Glasgow. Not that it would take Jess long to figure out where they were if there was something seriously wrong at the Herald that needed her attention. "What happened to Rhuraidh, Jeanette?" Dana asked after a moment, "Will said that he was hurt in the line of duty, but he didn't go any further than that." She remembered Rhuraidh MacGregor from the last time she had been in Scotland. Will's partner was a tall, stunningly handsome man with long blond hair that hung past his shoulders and was usually tied back in a pony-tail. From what Will had told them he had been badly wounded while they were on a case. "It happened several months ago," Jeanette said quietly, "Will got a call from Jackie in the middle of the night and then he was called down to Whitehall for an emergency meeting with the Admiral." She shook her head, "I don't know what happened then, but he came back from London in a foul mood. He was frustrated as hell. I asked him about it, but he said he couldn't tell me. You know, it was classified. A case came along, and he and Rhuraidh took it. It was *supposed* to be routine, but something went wrong and Rhuraidh was nearly disembowelled." She concentrated on the mug of coffee in front of her, "Apparently it was only luck that Will wasn't killed." Jeanette looked up then, "To cap things off our house was broken into and ransacked. Nothing was taken, but still ..." Dana's face went ashen, and her voice was a hoarse whisper when she said, "When did all this happen? Exactly?" "The middle of April, why?" "My God," Dana whispered, "The bastards came after all of us, didn't they?" "It looks like that," Jeanette agreed quietly, at the sharp look Dana gave her she added, "Will talks in his sleep, plus before I made editor I was an investigative reporter. I can put two and two together you know. And most of the time I come up with an even number." She took a deep breath and made an effort to stop herself from dwelling on the events of the previous April. What she had told Dana was the least of it. In an attempt to get to Will M.I. 7 had come after her. She hadn't told Will because she knew that he would worry endlessly about her, and besides she was more than capable of protecting herself, "So tell me, Dana, can you ice skate?" Surprised at the sudden change of topics Scully answered automatically, "It's been a while, but I used to play hockey with my brothers, why?" "Can Erin?" there was a gleam in the Canadian's eyes that could only be described as wicked. "Probably, she roller-blades like a pro," A slow smile began to spread across her features as she realised where Jeanette was going with this, "but, now that you mention it, I don't think that Mulder can." "And I *know* that Will can't skate to save himself.." "Oh Jeanette, this is cruel." "And...?" Jeanette's grin was minxish when she added, "You realise that there's an ice rink in Perth." "I'm going to enjoy this," Dana leaned back as her mind imagined the possibilities, "So, who takes the pictures?" "That wasn't fair!" Erin glared at Mira, "Sending Fox out with Dan to tour the farm. I *thought* you were all going to be in the house!" Mira smiled, "Yes. But you still found him. And just over three miles away *without* a crystal. You did very well, considering that was your first attempt at sending over a distance." "Not exactly," Mulder said, looking at his cousin affectionately. "Tea's ready," Will walked in at that moment carrying a tray of drinks for them one handed like a waiter. Placing the tray on the table next to them he passed cups of tea to Erin and Mulder, and a mug of strong black coffee to Mira. His own mug, Erin noticed, contained a steaming dark crimson liquid that looked uncomfortably like .. "Ah, Will," Erin asked, her voice rising slightly as she spoke, "that isn't...?" Will looked at the contents of the mug he was holding, and then back up to the shocked expressions on Mulder and Erin's faces. "Blood?" At their wordless nods he did the only thing he could, and the one thing they were not expecting: he laughed. Seeing the baffled annoyance on their faces he straightened his face and shook his head, "No. No, it's not blood. It's hot blackcurrant juice." "Oh," Erin couldn't hide the blush that spread furiously over her face, "uh, I'm sorry, Will." The vampire looked puzzled, "What for?" "Um, the blood thing." "Forget it," he said easily, "Some people have reacted a lot worse than horrified curiosity when they find out what I am." "Really," she leaned forward, interested, "How so? How did Jeanette react?" Then she blushed again, realising that she was prying, "I'm sorry, forget I asked." Will shook his head, "Don't worry about it. She already knew before we met. Her half-sister, Diana Knight, was a doctor in Sarajevo when Jess and I were sent there by the Herald to cover the conflict. Diana risked her life to save a little girl - only ten years old - from sniper fire when they opened up on the people waiting to get emergency aid at the clinic. She was shot in the leg, her knee cap shattered, just after she got to the girl. A U.N. soldier ran out into the crossfire, he'd been ordered to save the doctor, but Di made him take the girl." Will lowered his head, shamed that he hadn't acted sooner, "I got the whole thing on film. The sniper-fire intensified, and no one was being allowed out of the hospital. I got out and brought her inside, covering her with my flak jacket. Here he smiled wryly, "And later I had to explain to Dr Knight just how I was able to survive several gunshot wounds in the chest." "What's it like?" Mulder asked, remembering the vampires he had encountered in Los Angeles. Will shook his head, "Damn, now you've got Mulder started, Erin," his relaxed manner made it obvious that he didn't mind, "It's .." His voice trailed off as he tried to think of a way to describe what it was like for him, finally he decided on what to say, "It's daunting, terrifying. The responsibility, and knowing that you are immortal, and more powerful than most of people." "Don't you mean 'humans', 'mortals'?" Erin piped up. "No," he mock glared at her, "I mean people. Humans aren't the only beings on this planet who can be called 'people'." "What else?" Mulder's eyes lit up as he realised the implications of what Will had said. And if Vampires existed.. McCormack turned his eyes skyward, "I've created a monster!" He sobered as he added, "And if I start to think of people as 'mortals' .. That's usually what happens just before vampires succumb to the bloodlust. When we get older it gets harder to maintain a grip on reality, we start to think of humans as 'food', prey." He shuddered, "And eventually, we turn and have to be hunted down and destroyed." There was a moment of awkward silence before he added, "Other than that , and the fact that I miss being able to eat solid food, it's not that bad. If Cassandra hadn't made me into a vampire I never would have met Jeanette, or any of you. I would have died in a back alley in Glasgow. Shot in the chest by a group of Hunters who thought I was another vampire." "What happened?" He shrugged, "I stumbled onto what I thought was a mugging, with the victim being Cassandra. She was a friend of mine and Steve's and I couldn't just stand by and let it happen. So .." He paused and took a sip of his drink, "So, I rushed to help and ended up with a crossbow bolt imbedded in my chest. I would've died, if Cass hadn't broke Tradition and Embraced me without consent. And the next morning, when I woke up ..," he shook his head wryly, "I, uh, I didn't take it calmly." "Calmly?" Mulder could feel the corners of his mouth twisting up in a lopsided grin. "Mulder, I was as sceptical as Dana at that point, more so probably," he grimaced inwardly at the memory, "How do you think she would have reacted? Imagine trying to convince her!" Erin and Fox just looked at each other and then, simultaneously shuddered at the thought. Mira stood up abruptly, with a surprising speed and amount of grace when you considered her age, "Now let's try something else. Erin, I am going to try to reach into your mind. I want you to try to block me by Shielding." "Like Will's?" Erin asked, curious as to why, even under the house shields, she had never seen Will unshielded. "Exactly," Mira smiled, her dark eyes twinkling, "Now, we'll see how you do, shall we, child?" 7:15pm. Somewhere in Scotland. "Okay, look, we'll toss a coin to see who calls," Jeanette suggested hopefully. Neither woman was looking forward to what they needed to do. Dana nodded in agreement with the Canadian, "I call heads." Jeanette nodded, and then flipped the 10p coin into the air and caught it in her hand, "Good luck," she said before uncovering the coin . which had landed with the tail facing upwards. "Ouch," she handed Dana the cel-phone and watched as she hit the auto-dial button for the farm. 7:16pm. The Wolfe's farm. As a thank you to the Wolfe's for letting them stay at the farm, and to Mira especially for agreeing to teach Erin, Mulder and Will had offered to cook dinner for everyone. As a result everyone else had been kicked out of the kitchen and told to wait in the living room until dinner was ready. When Mulder had suggested the idea Erin had rolled her eyes and then wailed piteously, "We're doomed." At which point Mulder had debated the wisdom of taking Erin with them on their morning runs. Mira, the turncoat, had agreed - suggesting that it could help her training. And so Will was in the kitchen, happily singing (off-key) to himself as he juggled three eggs in the air before cracking them open and tossing them in a bowl. He then picked up another three eggs and started juggling again. The 'phone rang shrilly in his ear causing Will to swear as he dropped two of the eggs as, out of reflex, he grabbed for the telephone, "The Wolfe residence, Will McCormack speaking? ... Hi Dana, how did the 'explorations' go? .. Great, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The coffee there's great. ... Yep, dinner's just on. Should be ready in a half hour or so, why? .." He managed to keep the grin that spread across his features from sounding too obvious in his voice, "So where are you then? ... I see. Yeah, don't worry, we'll keep some food for you." Mulder entered the kitchen then, and Will mouthed, "Dana." Mulder nodded and looked questioningly at the eggs that had splattered on the floor in front of Will. McCormack shrugged and then replied to something Dana said, "Look, I make no promises. ... Hm, is that a threat or promise, Dana? Sounds interesting though. ...," Will laughed at something she said and then added, "Sorry, but if he asks I'll tell him. ... Oh *now* I'm scared!" he laughed before putting the 'phone down. "What aren't you to tell me?" Mulder asked as he helped Will clean up the mess that had just been created. "Oh that was just Dana calling to let us know that she and Jeanette are going to be back a little later tonight than they'd planned," he paused for a moment as he threw the wreckage from the eggs into the bin, "apparently they got 'just a tad lost'." "Who was navigating?" Mulder asked idly, as if he wasn't really interested in the answer. "Well, apparently Dana had the map." Mulder smirked, "Well, it seems you're right, Will: the truth isn't the only thing out there tonight!" Part IV. Everybody Hates a Bully. The truth isn't the only thing out there.
8:48pm. The Wolfe's Farm. "Don't say it, Mulder!" Dana glared at her partner when she came in the door, Jeanette behind her, "don't even say it!" "Say what, Scully?" he responded gently, enjoying the way she looked with her face slightly flushed from embarrassment, "You were using a USGS map, right?" "Sorry, Mulder, but I'm borrowing a leaf from your book here," Dana smiled at him, taking the edge off The Look she'd levelled at him earlier, "I'm denying everything." "Oh, sure, *now* you listen to me," he grinned up at her from the chair he was lounging in, "Your dinner's in the oven staying warm." A look of mock horror flashed across her features, "Who cooked?" Enjoying the teasing, although slightly unsure as to who was teasing whom exactly, he responded, "Will and I, remember?" "Mulder cooked?" Jeanette asked as she hung her coat on the coat- stand, "why am I filled with fear and abject terror - and a desire to order take-out pizza?" "You've heard my stories," Dana answered. "Hey, I can cook!" Mulder said in the same manufactured-hurt tone that he usually used to say 'I have a life'. Erin piped in with an exaggerated groaning from her chair where she slouched clutching at her stomach in pretend agony, "Dana, Jeanette," she moaned, "Run, save yourselves. Go, order pizza! Before it's too late." "If Will helped, it *might* be edible," the Canadian added thoughtfully. Will gave Jeanette a quick hug and kiss hello before saying, "Just for that you two are doing the dishes." "One condition," Jeanette looked up into his eyes and stole another swift kiss from his lips before following Dana into the kitchen to get their dinner from the oven, "I get to thrash you at chess later." "Done and done," Will grinned as he went back to his place on the couch, "and you forget just who won the last four games." he shouted back. "You'll pay for that, Will." "Threat or promise?" "Promise." "I can hardly wait, love!" he shouted back, turning his attention back to the TV screen in front of them that now flashed 'Game Over' at them in large flaming letters, "Hey, who un-paused it?" Erin and Mulder looked at each other for a moment and then, as one, pointed at the other: "He did." "She did." Will looked at Mira, "Just remind me again whose idea this was for them to come over here." "Yours, I'm afraid," Mira smiled, her eyes glinting mischievously, "and you're loving every minute of it." 4:05pm. The next day. Crieff High Street. "That, Will McCormack, is barbaric," Dana pointed at a group of school children who were walking down the street, enjoying the escape from school for that day. They were all smartly dressed in their uniforms, and she couldn't believe what she was witnessing. "It's barely above freezing, and most of the boys are wearing shorts." "You're telling me?" McCormack grimaced sympathetically, "I went to Morrison's, remember? Up until second year *I* had to wear shorts like that all year round too." He winced slightly at the memories, "Actually, it's not that bad in this weather. It's when it snows that you've got to watch out." "Snowball fights?" Will nodded in agreement, "Yep, Mulder, and you'll be surprised how much a snowball in the back of the knee stings." Mulder shook his head thoughtfully, "No, I wouldn't. Although there are places where it stings more." he added quietly. Dana looked at him, "I'm not sure that I want to hear this." "I am," Will grinned, "Come on, Mulder, give." "Well," he began slowly, "I was at college in Oxford, and it was the first snowfall of Winter, and ..," his skin slowly began to redden at the memories, hazy as they were, "some of us had a little too much to drink. Someone," he hesitated slightly here, "I think it was Pheobe - I'm not sure - got the idea of having a snowball fight ..ah, sans clothes." Jeanette smirked a little, and then had to bury her head in Will's shoulder to keep from laughing. Dana just gaped at him for a moment before saying, for a second time, "Mulder, you just keep unfolding like a flower." "Spooky, isn't it?" he said deadpan. "You have no idea." When they returned to the farm they found Mira sitting in the living room facing Erin across the low coffee table that stood before the couch. On the centre of the table stood a single azure crystal that appeared to be glowing softly. A tiny frown of concentration creased Erin's features as she used her talent, for what Mulder could only guess. After about a minute Erin gasped and sagged, "I guess it didn't work?" Mira opened her eyes and shook her head slowly, "You forget, child, that I am more experienced and more powerful than you." The way Mira said it, as if she was merely stating fact, made it impossible for Erin to get annoyed at the older woman. "A few times you nearly managed to snatch control from me." "Yeah," the teenager nodded slowly, "How did you block me like that though? It 'looked' as if the crystal vanished for a while there." Mira shrugged, "Your next lesson, I think." Erin groaned, "I had to ask." Standing Mira brushed at the full skirt she was wearing, smoothing out any creases that might have formed after sitting for such a long time. "We'll continue after dinner." She looked at Erin affectionately, "You're doing very well, you know." Erin flushed slightly at the unexpected praise, "Uh, thanks." The rest of the evening passed along similar lines. After dinner, Mira continued her instruction of Erin by teaching her how to use her psi talent to obscure things from Sight. At Mira's request, to keep the four of them out of the way while she taught, Will and the others went out into Crieff for a quiet drink at one of the local bars. 10:34pm The Tower Bar, Crieff. "Well, well, it's been a while since you've been seen in Crieff, Willie." Will McCormack tensed as he heard the voice of a man he hadn't seen once in the eight or so years since he had left school. Eight years that seemed a lifetime ago. Eight years in which his life had changed beyond all recognition from what he had expected might happen. Or what he would be. "Hey, Willie, you too high-and-mighty to say hi to an old friend?" Charles McBride leaned against the bar looking across the room at the table where Will sat with Jeanette quietly enjoying a drink with Mulder and Scully. Will took a deep breath, trying his best not to remember all that McBride had done to make his life, and all his friends lives, hell when he was at school. The teasing, the threats and intimidation, all that he tried to forget. When he spoke his voice was level, "Hi, Charlie. How've you been?" "Oh not too bad," Charlie grinned, "Got a new job. Working on a new extension to the Bennett place." Will's heart clenched painfully, "And how are they?" he asked, stamping down on the guilt he felt. "Okay." McBride's face twisted into an expression of concern that sat uneasily on his face. The only expression McCormack ever remembered him wearing was a contemptuous sneer. "Mrs Bennett is still broken up over Erica's death though." Another stab of pain. This one muted slightly by the concern he could feel from Dana. Apart from Steve and Cassandra she was the only person who knew what happened that night. He had tried to tell Jeanette, but he couldn't .. It hurt too much, and if she knew what he had done .. "Apparently she wasn't murdered by that psycho six years ago." Seeing Will's face blanch suddenly he couldn't resist the opportunity to get at his old victim once more. "Apparently she killed herself." Silence. Will just sat there. His memories of the moment she died, of the first time he had been forced to take a life in order to save others, swirling around in his mind. He couldn't believe what had just been said. "She killed herself," McBride repeated. "I heard you the first time," he tried to ignore the man, forcing himself to relax. "I heard that Erica topped herself because she was pregnant." Unnoticed by its owner Will's fist clenched suddenly, the knuckles turning white with the pressure. "He's just trying to provoke you," Dana said quietly from her seat next to Mulder. Will looked down suddenly as he felt a gentle pressure on his clenched fist. Jeanette's hand rested lightly on his, and with that touch he felt her love for him flow through the bond that had formed at the moment when they had first realised that they loved each other, :Dana's right, love, he's only trying to get you to lose your temper.: "I heard," McBride snarled from his position just behind Will, "That she killed herself because of you!" :It's working.: With that thought Will stood abruptly, his chair scraping across the wooden floor. Whirling around to face his childhood nemesis he said, "Didn't you read the papers? She died because of the 'Slasher'. There was nothing I could do!" "It *was* your fault." McBride taunted as he stepped forwards to stand in front of Will, intending to use his bulk to intimidate the smaller man, "I'm going to enjoy this." Charles McBride was taller than even Mulder, and much bulkier - and something about him suggested that there was very little of him that was not muscle. Towering over the lightly-built Special Investigator it looked like a more than slightly uneven match. "*You* killed her!" He meant it metaphorically, but that did nothing to stop the pain and anger that flared in Will's heart. Forcing himself to relax he unclenched his fists, slowly and deliberately. Despite the appearance of slightly forced calm, his eyes burned with the emotions that raged inside him. His voice was almost a whisper, and everyone could hear the danger in it when he said, "What. Did. You. Say?" "If there's going to be any trouble take it outside, you two," the barman ordered nervously, as if he was unsure of his abilities to enforce the request. "There won't be any trouble," Will said, his voice quiet, and his eyes never once leaving McBride's. Hearing Mulder, Scully, and Jeanette getting to their feet behind him he added, "We're leaving, he isn't worth it." "Still a coward?" McBride spat. Will moved a step closer, "I am not afraid of you, Charlie." "Prove it." "I don't need to prove anything to you," a little of the anger that he was suppressing violently must have leaked into his voice because McBride's eyes widened a little, "I have a job where I make a difference. I have friends who I can trust. And a girlfriend who loves me for myself, despite what I am. I look at you and.." He shook his head as he repeated, "I don't need to prove anything to you, because, you know something, Charlie? You aren't worth it." Will turned to go and at that moment McBride pulled back his huge fist and flung it at Will's head with obvious intentions. What happened next surprised both Americans, because those few times they had seen Will fighting he had seemed to be just as strong as any human. Belatedly they realised that this was because he had been trying to hide his abilities. Will spun around, and simply . stopped McBride's fist when it was an inch away from his face. Charlie gasped in surprise at the sudden realisation that his fist was not moving, and that no matter how hard he tried to free it from his former classmate's gasp, he couldn't. "How?" he managed to gasp out. Slowly, and with no signs of strain, Will increased the pressure. Leaning towards McBride, he whispered, too low for the others in the bar to hear, "I could shatter the bones in your hand, Charlie," he didn't smile as he heard the bulkier man gasp in pain, "I could break you easily." McBride was sweating now, struggling to contain the pain, not wanting to cry out. Squeezing tighter still he went on, his voice cold, "It would be so easy for me to ..." 'Kill you' was what he had been about to say. Will blinked and let go of the fist, Not even aware of Charlie sinking to the floor cradling his hand. If he was to kill in anger .. And the desire had been there. He had *wanted* to kill McBride. And it had been him who had killed Erica, not Heimat. Without saying a word Will McCormack walked out of the bar. After a second of stunned silence Jeanette ran out into the street after him, Mulder and Scully close on her heels. The street, however, was empty. He was nowhere to be seen. 11:21pm. The grave of Erica Bennett. Will McCormack stood alone at the grave, feeling the darkness of the cold winter's night seeping into his soul. She had died because of him. Because he wasn't clever enough, fast enough, strong enough. She had died because he had killed her. In the movies, when the slave of a vampire was killed they were supposed to find peace, and that peace was always reflected in their faces. But that was Hollywood, and when Erica had died the expression on her face was of betrayal. She was his best friend and he killed her. He could feel the bloody tears begin to flow as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut against the torrent of memories that his encounter with Charles McBride had brought boiling painfully to the surface, "I'm sorry, Erica. I'm sorry." He sunk to his knees in front of the headstone, his eyes closed to the inscription on the marble. His senses registered a tingle he hadn't felt in a long while, but he didn't acknowledge the presence behind him. "I owe you an apology, Will McCormack," the soft, feminine voice was tantalisingly familiar, "for quite a few things." He 'felt' her gentle touch on his shoulder and turned around to look at her. "Melissa," as always when he looked at a ghost there was an ethereal, slightly translucent quality to the spirit that stood before him, her long auburn hair shifting in the gentle wind that blew through the graveyard, "What do you have to apologise for?" She shook her head slowly, "For my treatment of you last year. I was hurting from Fox's 'death', we all were - and I took my anger out on you. I should have known that you wouldn't even think of trying to take advantage of Dana." "You don't have to apologise for that." He flinched as she reached down to his face to try to wipe away the bloody tears that had tracked down his face. She stopped, her hand inches away from his cheek as if she suddenly remembered that she was a spirit. Smiling sadly she let her hand fall to her side, as she looked at the gravestone in front of them. "Dana does look like Erica, doesn't she?" "Yes, she does," he answered absently, and then when what she had said penetrated his mind he blinked back more tears, as he whispered harshly, "What did you say?" "She forgives you, Will," Melissa knelt down alongside him and turned him to face her, placing her hands on his shoulders, if she was surprised that she could touch him she didn't show it, "Erica understands the choice you had to make. And why you made it. She didn't want to go on like that .. And if she had killed someone, especially you or Steve..." Will seemed to sag in on himself at her words, "But what if I don't... what if I can't forgive myself? I should have found another way. I....." "Despite what you think about what you are and what you did makes you you're a good man, Will McCormack, that's all that matters," her lips smiled gently, "You do what you can when you can. Nobody can do any more than that." She looked up, as if hearing something that no one else could, "I have to go now," she said, "but before I do I want to thank you for making sure Erin's okay. For finding a Teacher for her. And for being a good friend to Fox and Dana." He looked up at her, "Melissa ..." "Yes?" "Thank you." She nodded once and then was gone, she simply faded from sight leaving him alone with his memories. "Erica," he whispered once more, "I'm sorry." And then he stood and began the long walk back to the farm, thinking on what had just happened. Part V. Matchmaking 101. Be afraid, be very afraid.
7:03am. Jeanette Montaigne sleepily rolled over in bed, coming to full wakefulness when she realised that Will was not next to her. Reaching out through the bond she shared with him she encountered .. Cold. She shuddered, it wasn't physically cold in the bedroom, but Will was cold, lonely, and the guilt that was a near constant presence in his mind was strong, almost painful. Going to the window she saw him perched on an upturned tree stump that was on the bank of the stream that flowed through the middle of one of the fields near the farmhouse. Sighing briefly she went to get dressed and get her coat. Dana opened her curtains, taking in the icily clear morning and smiling, despite the knowledge that at some point in the day, if the approaching clouds were anything to go by, it was going to rain heavily. Letting her eyes scan over the picturesque country-side they came to rest on the solitary figure of Will McCormack who was sitting alone by the stream. Somehow she knew that he had been there all night since he got back from wherever he disappeared to. She smiled gently when she saw Jeanette making her way across the frost covered field to him. "Good morning, Scully," her smile grew by a fraction when she heard the voice from behind her. "Yes, it is," she agreed softly, still watching her two friends. "You can come in, you know." "Thanks," he quietly padded up to stand just behind her at the window, "What's so interesting?" he asked. "Ah," Mulder saw Jeanette embrace Will from behind, gently pulling him into her arms. Dana turned away from the window, pulling Mulder with her, "He needs that," she whispered, not releasing the Mulder's hand, "I don't think he's ever let go of .." Her voice trailed off. "Of.." Mulder prompted gently. "Of Erica," Dana said after a second, as she remembered what he had told her that night in the Washington National Cathedral while they waited for Mulder to be returned to them. "His best friend when he was at school here. She was murdered when they were students in Glasgow. Will ... blames himself for her death." Mulder knew that she wasn't telling him everything, but he also knew that he understood how Will felt. He reached up to gently touch the soft skin of Dana's cheek, "I know how he feels," he whispered, "If you hadn't met me ..." Scully shook her head and reached up to cup his hand with her own smaller one. Her clear blue eyes captured his hazel ones and held them. The tenderness in those eyes saying far more eloquently what was in her heart but, for now at least, remained unspoken, "But I did, Mulder." "You did." He agreed, smiling slightly, "You did." Erin grinned into her cereal as she sat at the breakfast table, and returned her attention to the here-and-now, only to find Mira staring at her thoughtfully. "Eavesdropping, Erin?" there was definite disapproval in the older woman's voice as she made herself a bowl of oatmeal, but there seemed to be a little hint of .... mischief? "'Fraid so," Erin admitted, not certain if she was going to get into trouble, "Sorry. I try not to. It's just difficult sometimes. Especially with .." "Fox and Dana?" The teenager nodded. "You don't need to be psychic to know how they feel about each other." Erin nodded again, "I've been trying to get them together for ages. It's just they're so . stubborn." "Hm, I think we can meddle a little here," Mira grinned, her eyes glinting evilly, "Now, what do you think we should do?" Over the breakfast table the two women schemed until Will and Jeanette returned. When they entered the room they stopped at the sight of Mira and Erin leaning toward each other conspiratorially. "Uh oh." Will smiled weakly, obviously feeling a little better. Erin reached out to him instinctively with her psi senses. He seemed . lighter, less dark than he had been, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders "What are you two up to?" Taking turns, they told them. Once the plan was out-lined fully, Will said, "Ladies, you are without a doubt two of the sneakiest, conniving, and downright devious people I have ever met." "Your point?" Erin quipped. Jeanette and Will looked at each other and shrugged, Jeanette answering, "It's probably why we like you both so much. You think too much like us for *their* own good." "Yep." Mira and Erin just grinned. 6:13pm. "Ah-hah! Vengeance will at last be mine!" Will regarded the small animal that was in fact one of his most evil and tenacious adversaries. For sheer vindictive nastiness Will thought that Cujo could beat the most hardened of serial killers. And, where he lay, sleeping in his little dog-basket he looked so ... peaceful and innocent. Cute almost. Will McCormack however was not fool enough to let the cute facade that Cujo projected to the rest of the world take him in. Because of his enhanced senses, he knew without having to look that he was alone in the room. Smiling slightly he let his body dissolve into a light mist reforming into a black cat. The cat stalked up to Cujo, being very careful not to disturb the psychotic little animal, and stopped when it was less than an inch away from the dog. With a very feline grin the cat that was Will moved its mouth close to Cujo's ears and hissed as loud as he could. <YIPE!> The Yorkie reacted predictably, leaping about three feet straight up into the air in abject terror at the abrupt realisation that there was a very angry cat right behind him. When he landed he realised that the black cat that was looking smugly at him from his basket was no cat. In fact Cujo realised exactly who it was, and with a feral bark launched himself at Will, who, still in his cat form, bolted from the room. Halfway down the hall they encountered Jeanette, Dana, Erin and Fox, and Will, noticing that Cujo was getting closer, decided to take to the high ground. Using all of his feline agility and vampire enhanced strength, he leapt ... To Erin first, then to Jeanette - rubbing his head silkily against her neck as he turned for a better angle to reach Dana; and from Dana's shoulders he launched himself towards Mulder, landing perfectly balanced on Mulder's shoulders. Moving slightly he repositioned himself on his high perch looking down at the frustrated animal that was jumping up and down in front of Mulder in a vain attempt to reach him. It might have been impossible for Will, in his cat form, to grin triumphantly, but the way that the cat was looking at Cujo gave the distinct impression that if he was in human form he would be going 'Yess!!!'. *YAPYAPYAPYAPYAP!!* Mulder looked bemused from the cat on his shoulders down to Cujo, and then back at the cat. He, of course didn't know that the cat was in fact Will, but he did know which side he was on. With one hand he reached up and gently rubbed the back of the cat's neck and was rewarded with a loud purring from the animal. "Cujo!" Mira stalked down the hallway, "Why are you making all this racket?" She spotted the cat instantly and glared at it, "Never mind. Cujo outside!" The small dog looked at her in a way that clearly said 'but it's not my fault, honest'. Mira, however, did not relent. "*Outside*. Now!" The cat grinned a little more. "And as for *you*," she turned on the cat, "I'd have thought you'd have known better. I'll deal with you later, young man!" With that she turned and went back to the kitchen and whatever she was up to there - everyone had been banned from the kitchen and dinning room since just after lunch, and they were all getting pretty curious about it by now. The cat jumped gracefully down from Mulder's shoulders and trotted off into the room that it had earlier vacated at considerable speed. Two seconds later Will emerged, looking a little sheepish, "Oops," he said, "I think I'm in trouble now." Dana and Mulder looked at each other and then said almost simultaneously, "That was *you*?" "Oops," he repeated. "Will! Erin!" Mira's clear voice came from the kitchen, "I want you two in here now!" Will and Erin looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders before they walked down the hall towards the kitchen. "Jeanette!" she continued, her smile audible in her voice, "Maybe you'd like to show Mulder and Dana the reservoir?" "Sure!" Jeanette smiled at the two agents and indicated the front door, "You two up for it?" "You wouldn't be trying to get us out of the house, would you?" Dana asked, using the Look on Jeanette who for her part seemed completely unaffected by it. "Yep," she agreed cheerfully enough. "You're up to something," Dana said, it was not a question. "Yep," she repeated, leading the way out of the house. "You aren't going to tell us what, are you?" Mulder shook his head. He had wondered how long it would take them to get started. Will and Jeanette weren't usually too bad, but with Erin thrown into the mix that changed everything. "Actually, I will tell you two things," Jeanette grinned ear-to-ear, "It's Erin's idea, and resistance is futile...." "She is Erin of Borg. You will be match-made." Mulder quipped, a part of him enjoying himself, while a slightly larger part dreaded what Erin and company had planned. He had a feeling it was going to be big. He was right. Just after they returned from their trip around the reservoir. Both Dana and Mulder had to admit that the view was impressive from the dam, but they hadn't been able to stop thinking about what was going to await them back at the farm. The second they got in through the front door Erin stuck her head out of the kitchen door, "Perfect timing, guys! Uhm, Jeanette, the dining room's ready." "Okay," Jeanette's grin, if anything was even wider than before. "Mulder, Dana, if you'll follow me." When she opened the door to the dining room and ushered them both inside. Mulder's reaction was immediate, and identical to Dana's.. "Oh. My. God." The room was softly lit by the glow of two candles on the table. Soft music played on the CD-player. Absently Dana identified it as Capercaillie, one of the Celtic groups that Steve Wolfe loved so much. Will entered then through the door to the kitchen and brought out two old fashioned serving platters, placing them on the table at the two places that had been set before following Jeanette into the kitchen. "Enjoy, guys," he said as he stopped at the door, "We'll probably be back around ten forty. We're going to have dinner at the Quality Cafe, and then catch a movie. See ya." The two agents just stared at him. "You realise that we're going to have to kill you for this?" Mulder said, but the slight smile made it obvious that he wasn't that angry. "Hey, this wasn't my idea. I was only press-ganged into doing the cooking! See ya! ... Oh, desert's in the kitchen, okay?" And with that he disappeared out of the room leaving them alone. Together. Dana shook her head, laughing softly, "Do you think they'll ever give up?" "Probably not," Mulder sighed, and turned slightly to seat Dana, enjoying the way the firelight flickered over her auburn hair. Slipping into her seat at the table, Dana gasped when she heard the words on the song that was playing. ...But some things run deeper than you ever say On the darkest of blue days You cry for these red skies above you Your eyes watch for someone to love you. What's wrong, why won't you touch me? I've only one heart like your own and no more to hide What's wrong, why won't you trust me? You're walking through shadows alone And I'm chilled to the bone by your side Mulder noticed the look on her face as she listened to the words of the song, Karen Matheson's smooth voice floating over them like silk. Moving to stand by her he whispered, "Dana, I do trust you, you know that." "Yes," she whispered back, "It's just that sometimes it all becomes too much and .." She shook her head, "Mulder, you have to know that now, after all that has happened to us .. I want the truth as much as you do." That simple statement, and the way she looked at him when she said it, all that brought it home to Mulder just how much he had come to care for his partner. For Dana Scully. As if he hadn't known before. The song ended and a new one began, the music becoming softer. Man's illusions fill my mind Like a sacred flower I have to find Changing seasons work their charm Clouding these times of calm But only you (only you) can kiss the pain away And only you (only you) can wish the rains away And only you (only you) know how to make me feel this way. They looked into each others eyes, losing themselves in those limitless depths. Part VI. A Fox on Ice. The truth isn't the only thing out there.
3:31pm. Dewar's Ice Rink, Perth, Scotland. "Uh, Scully? Jeanette? Erin? Can we talk about this?" Mulder looked out, over the people who were moving around in front of them, a look of trepidation on his face that reminded Scully of the time they'd gone down into Tooms' lair. He turned to Will, hoping, praying that the Scot would back him up on this, "Will, didn't we have to meet the Wolfe's or something?" Catching the slight pleading tone in his friend's voice Will grinned, "Nope, we're going to be having a bar supper with them later though." His grin widened a fraction, "Besides, this promises to be entertaining." "Sadist," Mulder muttered under his breath watching the people who, with varying degrees of success, were arcing gracefully around the ice rink in front of them. Resigning himself to his fate he began to lace up his ice skates. "So, you haven't skated before?" Jeanette asked, a slight tone of sympathy audible in her voice. "Oooooh, I've skated alright," Mulder began, wincing slightly at the memory, "But let's just say that my sense of balance is about as effective as ..as .." His voice trailed off. "His map-reading abilities," Dana looked at her partner, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she turned to Jeanette, "What is it about men that they refuse to admit that they are lost?" Both men looked at each other, more than a little sheepish. As they remembered various occasions, both when working and when relaxing. And on the last vacation the four of them went on together. "It's got to be genetic," Jeanette laughed as she pulled Will to his feet and onto the ice. Mulder watched with a trace of envy as Jeanette moved smoothly on the ice, perfectly balanced, and Will following her and doing his best to maintain his balance as they turned to wait on Mulder and Scully. "C'mon in. The water's freezing." Mulder groaned, but still attempted to stand on unsteady legs. Reaching out placing a steadying hand on his arm, she looked at him, "Hey, just be glad that Jackie's not here.." His eyes widened in mock terror, well, maybe not so mock, "No, Scully, you wouldn't?" "I might," she teased, "Think of it .. Dragons on Ice." "Nooo, the horror, the bloodshed," he smiled despite himself, "Okay, let's get this over with. But, Scully, I want you to know that just for this I'm picking the motel on our next case." And then he stepped onto the ice. "Oh, spare us the horror," her hand fluttered theatrically to her brow, before she laughed, "Just don't blame me when your arteries seize up!" Mulder blinked in surprise when he realised that he was in fact standing balanced on the ice, "Maybe this isn't as difficult as I remembered," he mused to himself, still holding onto Scully's hand for the extra feeling of stability she provided, and enjoying the warmth of the contact. Dana said nothing, but gently began to skate forwards, away from the barrier at the edge of the ice, pulling a terrified Mulder along with her. He felt himself begin to fall forward and reacted by jerking backwards - his feet flying out from underneath him less than a second before he landed on the ice with a jarring thump. "Ow," he said slowly as he tried to get up, painfully aware of the effect that the abrupt contact with the ice had on his rear end. In theory getting up shouldn't have posed a problem, but it had been years since he'd last been on ice-skates, and then there was the fact that Will, Jeanette, and Dana ... well, he had to give them credit that they were at least trying not to laugh. Erin on the other hand .. And every time he tried to get his feet underneath him it seemed like they both decided to shoot off in opposite directions. Eventually he gave up. At precisely that moment he realised that he couldn't feel his bottom any more. "It's a conspiracy," he said finally, reaching up to grab the hand that Will offered to pull him up off the ice. Unfortunately, Will was having a hard enough time of keeping upright anyway, and Mulder's weight was more than enough to destroy what little balance he had managed to attain. Within seconds Will was lying face down on the freezing ice, "I think you're right, Mulder, one great big, all consuming conspiracy, and I think I know who is behind it." He pointed to Jeanette, who was leaning against the barrier at the edge of the ice, and holding her sides as she tried to keep from laughing. She shook her head, "Moi, would I do something like that to the man I love?" "Yes," Will answered without hesitation, "you would." Their eyes locked for a moment, and as she took in the good-natured annoyance in his eyes she lost it completely and burst out laughing. "You realise that we're going to have to get revenge for this somehow?" Mulder said as he finally managed to stand and get over to the barrier to support himself, Will joining him a moment later. "Question is, Spooky, how?" 6:46am. The Wolfe's farm. Fox Mulder swung his feet out of the bed and padded over to the chair where his running clothes had been thrown the morning before. Still slightly sleepy he pulled on the comfortably worn sweats and then went to pull on his sneakers, automatically tying the laces before he came to a rather unpleasant realisation: his left foot was uncomfortably damp. It did not take Fox Mulder, a man with one of the brightest minds in the F.B.I., to figure out just what exactly his left foot had just encountered in his running shoe, or how it got there. Cujo. It had to be. A tiny bark caught his attention and he spun around to see the little dog standing just inside his room. The door, he noticed, was open just enough for the Yorkie to fit through. Intellectually, he knew that the dog could not be grinning at him sadistically, that it was only in his mind. But he knew why Cujo had left him that little 'message', and he knew exactly what the dog was thinking as it glared at him, Mess with me, human, and you pay the price. His foot squelched uncomfortably. Mulder looked skywards as he muttered, "Oh, that's it, furball, you are toast!" Kicking off his shoe he headed downstairs, passing the shower on his way. From the hallway he could hear Will's voice emanating from the bathroom over the sound of running water from the shower. For once the Scot was actually falling into tune every so often. "A wizard's staff has a knob on the end, a knob on the end, a knob on the end. When a wizard is young he has a staff that is small. It's puny and weak unaffected with awe. It grows with his power until it stands tall, as his fame and his glory expaaaand . as his fame and his glory expand. ... A wizard's staff has a knob on the end..." Shaking his head as he strolled downstairs he muttered under his breath, "And Erin complains if Mike sings seventies stuff in the shower." He found Scully in the kitchen fixing herself a couple of slices of toast, "You want some?" she asked, spreading one of the slices with Philadelphia. Mulder plucked the newly spread slice of toast from her plate and took a swift bite, "Thanks," he grinned at her, completely unaware that there was a blob on the cream spread on the side of his mouth. Dana couldn't help the giggle that escaped her when she noticed. "What?" Mulder demanded, part wondering what on Earth was so funny, and part afraid of the answer, "What?" "Um, you've got a little .," Dana reached up and gently wiped the corner of his mouth with her fingers. She noticed as his eyes darkened slightly, widening at her touch. A stray memory clicked: when they were eating in that Steakhouse in cattle country, and she had gotten some sauce on her chin, Mulder reaching over the table and with a touch so gentle it was almost a caress, wiping the sauce from her chin. And judging from the look on his face, Mulder remembered that evening too. Suddenly Mulder blinked, breaking the moment. "What, no run this morning?" Scully asked, doing her best to regain her composure. "Nope," Mulder shook his head, allowing a twinge of annoyance to creep into his tone, "Cujo, the little sod, left me a little gift in one of my shoes." "So," Dana tried to make her voice sound disinterested as she said, "you and Will decided on a fitting revenge for the ice-skating yet?" "Oh, we've got a few ideas." "Like?" she leaned forward towards him over the wooden kitchen table. "As if I'm going to tell one of the intended victims." Mulder leaned forwards as well until their noses were almost touching. "Me?" Dana said, "It wasn't my idea!" "No, it wasn't," Mulder agreed, "But you did take the pictures." She could feel his breath warm on her lips, they were that close now, "I suppose I should be grateful that the shower is electric," she whispered. "I suppose." Mulder agreed, her very proximity was driving his senses crazy. The scent of her. Her eyes inches from his own. The way her breath felt as it caressed him so very lightly. <Thwatch> <Ruf!!> Both agents turned their heads slightly to stare at Cujo who had leapt up on the kitchen table and was now staring at them intently, as if he was waiting to see what they were going to do. "Erin sent you, didn't she?" Mulder asked the small animal who just sat there impassively watching them. Cujo sat there, watching, as if to say, "Don't mind me." "Off!" Dana ordered the animal, "Something tells me Mira doesn't let you up on the table. Shoo!" "Please, don't say 'shoo' to him," Mulder said deadpan, "He might think you want a little present." Part VII. Theory Into Practice. The truth isn't the only thing out there.
8:43pm. Perth, Scotland. The twins watched the five people as they emerged from the restaurant, talking happily, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched. That they were being hunted. They watched as their next victims strolled slowly along the street. One of them, a young girl who could not be older then seventeen, turned towards them. She actually looked right at them, causing both to reflexively increase the cloak of magic that hid them from sight. The girl blinked and then shook her head, muttering something about hearing things. Waiting until their victims turned into a quiet alley that led to where the car was parked the twins linked hands and minds and then reached out with their minds .. This was going to be fun. "And then Jess said, 'Would you like some room service, sir?'." The laughter on Will's lips died as something unpleasant brushed against the edges of his mind. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Erin stiffen, "You felt it too?" The teenager nodded, her eyes widening a fraction, "I don't like this, Will. Something's wrong." "What?" Mulder didn't know what it was that set Erin and Will off like that, but he did know that they were both looking around frantically searching for some invisible threat. He glanced at Dana who, although she looked slightly uncomfortable, shook her head. And then he looked at Jeanette. The Canadian was rubbing her temples as if she had a bad headache. Leaning down to her he touched her shoulder as he asked, "Are you okay, Jeanette? Headache." "I ..," when she looked up at him he abruptly realised that her eyes were frightened, terrified. But of what? "Will..," Mulder never finished the statement. Jeanette reached out and pulled him forcibly into her arms and kissed him passionately .. Before bringing her knee into sudden and violent contact with his groin. Will, Dana, and Erin just stood there, stunned, as she threw him violently away from her, sending him sprawling against the alley wall clutching at his crotch. Dana ran to him, helping him up onto unsteady legs as she glared at Jeanette who lurched unsteadily towards Will, falling towards him as he reached out to catch her before she fell. "It wasn't me, Will. It wasn't me," she kept repeating the phrase over and over. When he looked into her eyes they were filled with a mixture of terror and revulsion. "Shhh, it's okay," he soothed as he reached out to her mind, :I know, love. I ... Aaaaargh!: He recoiled in sudden pain at the psi-bolt that exploded in his mind, cursing his stupidity at falling for such an old trick he scrambled frantically to get his shields back up. The icy laughter in his mind shocked him into the realisation that it was already far too late for that. Erin watched in horror as Will clutched at his head and staggered backwards, at the same moment that Jeanette slumped to the floor, moaning quietly. Scully and Mulder just stood there, frozen in place. Shaking his head, as if to clear it, . and then suddenly he was holding her roughly by her collar, fire raging behind his eyes as he lifted her clear of the ground. She could hear him whispering, "No, get out of my mind! Get *out* of my mind. Now! ..." And then harsher, "No! I won't. NO!" Her eyes widened in sudden terror as she saw his fangs lengthening. Ignoring her violent struggles he moved his mouth closer to her neck. Roughly pushing it into a vulnerable position. "Will, don't!" she screamed, part afraid, part angry at him for not being able to fight this. She could feel his breath on her neck, as he whispered roughly, "Cel- Phone. Run. Get help." Biting down on the 'what am I, Lassie?' wisecrack that sprang immediately to mind she somehow managed to palm the 'phone that was in his jacket pocket. "No! I WILL NOT DO THIS!" he shouted as he threw Erin the full ten feet to the mouth of the alley. Scrambling to her feet she felt something batter against the edges of her shields, and despite wanting desperately to stay and help the others she ran into the night. Erin Mulder dialled the Wolfe's 'phone number frantically, praying that she got the right number. She didn't want to think about the alternative. "The Wolfe residence," the richly accented voice on the other end of the line was a man's, and one that she had never heard before. "It's Erin Mulder, can I speak to Mira, please?" although she was doing her best to remain calm she was unable to keep the desperation from her voice. "Erin, it's Rhuraidh MacGregor," he picked up on the emotion in her voice instantly, "I'm Will's partner. They're out in Crieff just now. Can I help?" Will's partner? Erin's mind scrambled, Yes, she could trust him. "Something's happened.." Doing her best to keep her voice level she related what happened, wondering if he would believe her. Praying that he would. "Okay, Erin, what I want you to do is concentrate on my voice. Listen only to my voice," his voice was softly hypnotic and, despite the adrenaline that had so recently flooded her veins, she found herself relaxing, "and then reach out to me with your mind." Not really expecting it to work her free hand reached up to hold her crystal tightly as she closed her eyes and did as he asked, :Rhuraidh?: :T'is good,: his smooth voice sounded satisfied in her mind, :Now, if you'll just hold contact for a few seconds more.:" There was a sound like a gentle gust of wind and her psi senses tingled for the briefest of moments. When she opened her eyes she found a tall man standing before her with features that could only be described as beautiful. His long blonde hair caught at the back of his head in a pony-tail revealing ears that tapered into graceful points. But it was his eyes that she could not fail to notice. They were emerald green and slitted like a cat's. "Erin?" he reached out and gently touched her shoulder with one graceful hand, "I am Rhuraidh MacGregor, Special Investigator with Section 10 and Knight of the Seleighe High Court . We spoke on the 'phone." Erin just stared at him and then to the 'phone that she still held against her ear and then back to him again. She couldn't look away from his eyes, trapped in their emerald depths she managed to squeak out one word, "Elf?" "Aye, so you need have no fears of me not believing you, lass," he spoke softly, his eyes open and friendly, despite their alien appearance, "You did the right thing by running. There wasn't anything more that y'could've done to help them." He straightened, removing his hand from her shoulder as he moved away from her towards the street. "Uhm, Rhuraidh?" Erin's voice was hesitant. "Aye?" he turned to face her, puzzlement sparkling in his emerald eyes. "Shouldn't you, ah, do something about ..," her voice trailed off as she indicated his ears. "Ah, yes," he looked sheepish and gestured with his hand . which was suddenly holding a black baseball cap with the cartoon characters Pinky and The Brain on it. Sliding the cap onto his head, and deftly manoeuvring the tips of his ears under it. "And for the eyes.." From nowhere he produced a pair of silvered sun-glasses which he wore with a grin. "Show off," she muttered under her breath as she pushed past him and out into the street, following her tenuous link with her cousin. She desperately wanted to reach out to him, try to find out how they were. But, if she touched his mind that would leave her open to attack - just as Will had opened himself to the attack when he reached out in concern for Jeanette. When they found them Will had still, somehow, managed to remain in control of himself. Mulder and Scully however were another matter, and the two agents were using all of their skills and abilities to try to destroy their friend. Dana rushed at Will with what looked like part of a wooden packing crate and Erin expected to see Will move out of the way with ease, only to watch as Will barely managed to scramble out of her reach in time to avoid his head being split open. "Here's the plan," Rhuraidh whispered to her, "You take Mulder, I'll take Scully. One psi-bolt each ought to take them down and out for the count. Erin nodded, clutching her crystal in her hand, she focused all her attention on her cousin, abruptly lashing out at him with her mind. He staggered, shaking his head angrily and turning towards them breaking into a run. Her second bolt knocked him to the ground, unconscious. Dana was already on the ground, and Will was standing over her, his fangs gleaming in the flickering light provided by the street-lights. "NO!" Erin shouted, even as Rhuraidh stepped up beside her. "Help him!" he shouted, raising his hands she watched in shock as emerald bael-fire lashed out at Will, crackling around him like living green electricity causing him to cry out in pain. "What?" Erin shook her head, trying to figure out what the elf meant. "He's still fighting them," he snapped, his accent thickening, "Help him, before it's too bloody late!" Then she understood. Will had been forced to let them have control of his body, and now was fighting for his mind. "Okay," taking a deep breath she reached out to him with her mind, trying to ignore her fears. Her hand holding her crystal clenched tighter still. Erin Mulder found herself floating in . nothingness. Looking around in an attempt to get her bearings she spotted Will. The vampire was fighting a losing battle against two opponents who, in this arena appeared to be stronger and more powerful than him. She could see the gaps in his shields, where their psi-bolts had stripped him of his shielding, and before her eyes she saw him reform them, concentrating what was left into two parabolic planes of 'force' which he used to deflect the bolts, relying on his agility to prevent him being hit. Despite all he was doing it was obvious that he didn't stand a chance. But neither of his opponents in their carelessness, had noticed Erin, either that or they thought that she wasn't a threat. She felt her lips twisting into a feral grin, as she concentrated, feeling the power build in her mind. Underestimate me, will you? This is *not* good. Will McCormack was not, by any stretch of the imagination a gifted psi. In fact, apart from a touch of precog that only worked when it wanted to, and *very* limited telepathy his only psychic defences were those techniques that the Section required all of it's S.I.s master, and he had barely passed the course. Shifting his shields and using them to deflect, rather than absorb, the relentless barrage of psi-bolts that was being hurled at him bought the extra few seconds that saved his life. Sensing that he wasn't alone, he allowed his attention to be distracted slightly. And then he saw her, fairly glowing with power both hers and someone else's.... :Erin. Now!: They lashed out at the same moment. Will's weak psi-bolts distracting them just long enough for Erin's to banish the Hunters from Will's mind. 12:45am. The Wolfe's farm. "So, you don't remember anything?" Will asked. "No." Dana shook her head, "Nothing from just after the dinner, until about ten minutes ago. Why?" Jeanette echoed her confusion, "What happened? What aren't you telling us?" Mulder shifted uncomfortably on his seat, groaning quietly. "You okay, Mulder?" Dana asked, touching his shoulder gently as he moved slightly to alleviate the discomfort between his legs. "Yah, I'm okay, Scully," he managed. Will's 'phone chose that moment to ring. Erin answered it and then passed it to Will, "Rhuraidh, for you." "Thanks," he took the 'phone from her and held it to his ear, "Yeah. .. I see. That's great. ... Thanks, pal, I owe you. .. I'll see what I can do then. .. Oh, and, Rhuraidh, thanks." He hung up and slid the 'phone into his pocket and then turned to Erin, "They've been taken into custody by S.10, and the good news is that only you and I have to make statements. We can do that in Glasgow in a few days time." He shrugged, "It's mainly due to the fact that those three don't remember anything." "REMEMBER WHAT?" Mulder, Scully, and Jeanette chorused together. Will and Erin looked at each other, and then shrugged, "Nothing important."
Part VIII Green with Envy. The truth, like fire, can burn the unwary.
11:24am. Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Dana looked left, and then stepped out onto the street. Only to be yanked back onto the sidewalk by her partner, narrowly avoiding being run down by a canary yellow Ford Mondeo. She looked up at him, feeling more than a little sheepish. "Look right, left, and then right again," he chided teasingly. "Yes, mother," she grinned, noticing that when she had turned round to face him, his arm had sort of ended up around her. He was holding her. And more than that she found that she enjoyed the sensation of being held by him. By Fox Mulder, her partner. The man she loved. Where did *that* thought come from. "Thank you," she whispered softly. "You're welcome," he said, smiling down at her, and having to fight the urge to bend down and kiss her. Will, Erin and Jeanette all noticed that when they continued to walk down the street, Fox's arm had slipped down from around her shoulders, and their hands entwined for a brief moment, squeezing gently before letting go. No one said anything. At least not verbally. :Awww.: *Erin!* Mulder thought, trying very hard to project annoyance at his cousin. It was difficult when he was still enjoying the memory of Dana in his arms. "Look! Warner Bros Store!" Erin shouted, making a beeline for the huge shop that had Daffy Duck in the window playing the Bag-Pipes. "Ties!" Mulder grinned evilly. Dana followed, smiling to herself at the image of Skinner's face if Mulder walked in to a meeting with the Assistant Director wearing a Marvin the Martian tie. She didn't know it yet, but Mulder was way ahead of her. "Mulder!" Dana tensed, Mulder winced, Will muttered something under his breath about being cursed to live in interesting times, Jeanette stiffened ever so slightly and Erin just looked at them all, almost as puzzled by their reactions as trying to figure out who in Glasgow would know Mulder. "Agent Scully. Will." Inspector Pheobe Green, the Terror of Scotland Yard, strode purposely through the early afternoon crowds towards them. Erin, perceptive girl that she was instantly realised, just who the tall, dark-haired woman with the crisp English accent was. Pheoble - Pheobe Green. She didn't know the whole story, but she knew that she had hurt her cousin, at least twice. And, in Erin's book that made her fair game. "Mulder, it's good to see you again," she stood very close to him and kissed him, her lips so full of burning promise, and Fox Mulder had no intention of being burned again, "I didn't know that you were in the U.K.. I'm hurt that you didn't call." "Ah, sorry, we didn't have time really," Mulder stammered, "You know Scully and Will." The Scotland Yard Detective nodded, "Yes, it's good to see you both again." Dana, far too cheerfully, said, "Hi, Inspector." "Hello, Pheobe," Will nodded, his eyes widening at the implications of this chance meeting. Or was it. When dealing with Pheobe Green, he knew, nothing was for certain. "Ms Montaigne," the frosty tone took everyone by surprise, except of course Jeanette who caught and held the taller woman's gaze. "Inspector," her voice was quiet. "You know each other?" Mulder blurted out, staring in surprise at the small Canadian woman, her green eyes hard and fixed on Green. "You could say that." Jeanette said softly, "I filed a complaint against her about a year ago. I don't like it when my people end up in hospital in a lot of pain." "He was on private property." "Trying to expose the source of Sir Malcom's strangely unlisted income." "Give me evidence of that .." Green snarled, only to be stopped when she noticed the young girl who moved to stand between Mulder and Scully. It was instantly obviously that the teenager was with them. She turned to the girl, "And you are?" I shouldn't, Erin thought, I mustn't. The looks Fox was sending her were more than enough to let her know, even without telepathy, what he was thinking. Ah hell, I must. She reached out and held Fox and Dana's hands tightly, "I'm Erin Mulder. Their daughter. Adopted." The times when Pheobe Green had been struck dumb could be counted on the fingers of one hand. This was definitely one of those times. Daughter? Mulder and Scully had got together and *adopted*? They had a daughter? A daughter. Will couldn't help himself, he snickered, a sound that he somehow managed to turn into a sneeze. Jeanette was able to handle it better, she only had to look away for a moment, but even then her eyes gave her away. Mulder's mind scrambled frantically trying to process what she had said. And Dana? Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully was on vacation, and that, she decided, meant she was entitled to have a little fun, "Are you about ready for lunch, dear?" She turned to Fox and Erin, her face perfectly composed as she continued what Erin had started, "Fox?" "Ah, yeah, I guess," Fox Mulder's mind just wasn't equipped to deal with the prospect of Erin and Dana, double-teaming against Pheobe in terms of mind games. Erin alone was one thing, but both of them. .. It was just too scary to even think about. "Will, you're the native?" "I know a nice little Italian place over in Sauchiehall Street," he managed after a moment. Jeanette nodded her agreement, "Italian sounds good." "Dana? Erin?" Mulder choked out. "Hmm," she nodded. "Sure, Dad, I could do with some decent pizza," he should have known what was coming when he saw the gleam in those grey eyes, "Can Inspector Green join us? We're doing a project on the British Police at school, you know." "I'd love to," Green had managed to compose herself, "if you don't mind." Mulder glanced quickly around to see if anyone objected. Jeanette said nothing, nodding slightly. And as they made their way through the early afternoon crowds Mulder wondered why, all of a sudden his hands were sweating. The waiter, after greeting Will and Jeanette by name, showed the group of six to a table large enough for them. After getting their drinks order the Italian disappeared behind the bar at the back of the restaurant. "So," Pheobe began hesitantly, "You two are ... ?" Dana smiled sweetly, and linked hands with Mulder above the table. "We are." Erin nearly laughed at the mix of emotions that was swirling through the air around her. Apprehension from Mulder and Will. A restrained anger from Jeanette, who was outwardly retaining her composure. Amusement from Dana. And from Pheobe ... :Will, she's jealous!: :Really? I hadn't noticed,: he sent back, smiling as the waiter brought their drinks over, placing them on the table before retreating to give them more time to look over the menu. "Actually, I suppose I ought to thank you," Dana said, glancing at Mulder, whose eyes widened slightly. "Thank me?" "If it weren't for you I never would have realised how I feel about Fox." "..." "Inspector Green ...," Erin began when she was sure that she could talk without laughing. "You can call me Pheobe, Erin." "Um, what do you do at Scotland Yard?" A flash of muted anger from Jeanette, and ... A dull ache from Mulder. Dana gently squeezed Mulder's hand and the pain he was projecting faded slightly to be replaced by warmth. "I work with the Diplomatic Protection Group," she said, "It's my job to protect diplomats and Members of Parliament from any threats they might face." "Is it dangerous?" "It can be. Terrorists, disgruntled members of the public, reporters, that sort of thing." "The truth can be dangerous," Jeanette observed quietly, "to some." "My men were doing their jobs." "By trying to run Ewan over?" "There had been a breach in security." "Uh-hmm?" A flare of anger from Green, before she calmed enough to say, "I think I'll order the lasagne verdi." Erin caught a shift in her sense of Jeanette that made her think that the Canadian was going to try the matter, but if she strained she thought she could make out an exchange between Will and his love. :Easy, love, this isn't the time.: :She's hiding something. I know it.: :Or maybe she's angry at the Press penetrating her security arrangements around the Marsdens, and maybe what happened to Ewan was an accident.: :*Will*!: :Look, I agree. Malcom Marsden *is* hiding something. When you get back to work sic Jess on it. She'll get to the bottom of it.: :She'll want her old partner back.: :Maybe...,: the entire exchange took place in less than two seconds, "I'll skip and just have the soup." "Garlic bread, and a pizza," Dana glanced at Will who nodded, then she turned to Mulder, "Fancy sharing, love? Pepperoni with extra cheese?" Mulder looked down at her eyes and had to work to avoid falling into them, "Sounds great, Dana." Scully smiled, enjoying the way she felt when he said her name like that. Erin giggled as she felt another wave of jealousy from Green. Mulder looked heavenward as he saw the waiter walking towards them to take their order. He sighed, this was going to be a long day. BTW: This section was written not so much in response to the 'Snowed In' challenge, but rather my own frustration with the weather in Scotland when I did the outline for this. Part IX Snowed In. The truth is out there - It's just buried under six feet of snow.
9:34am. The Wolfe's Farm. Erin yawned and snuggled deeper in the covers for a moment before she opened her eyes and glanced at the alarm clock that was on the bedside table. For a moment she lay there, debating whether or not to lie in bed for a while savouring the cosy warmth afforded by the blankets, or to get up and head down to the kitchen for breakfast. Suddenly she was startled by a loud growling noise. Her stomach. That decided it. She was getting up. Hauling herself out of bed she shuffled over to the window and threw the curtains open wide, and gasped at the sight that greeted her. Gone was the patchwork of greens and browns that covered the countryside around the farm. The whole scene was blanketed in thick white snow. "*Yes*!" she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as she wondered just how difficult it would be to persuade the others to join in a snowball fight. "Oh this is gonna be fun!" she whispered to herself as her eyes caught and locked onto a movement in the clear blue skies above the farm. The small dot in the sky swiftly resolved itself into a large golden eagle that soared gracefully over the whitened fields, seemingly indulging itself in a little aerobatics display as it neared the farmhouse. Suddenly it dove towards the ground, skimming the surface of the snow as it shot towards the house. A few feet from the stone building the bird pulled up and into a loop that brought itself in for a graceful landing atop one of the fence posts that supported the fence that bordered Mira's small garden. The eagle glanced around, as if checking that it wasn't being watched, before .... Erin could not believe what she was seeing as before her eyes the magnificent bird of prey appeared to dissolve into a billowing mist that coalesced into the familiar form of Will McCormack who casually walked around the freshly-cleared path towards the back door. 10:24am. "Hey, c'mon, guys. It'll be fun!" Erin grinned as she pulled on a heavy coat that Mira had that was only a little too big for her, "It's perfect for it. Fox...!" Mulder looked up from the Sherlock Holmes book that he'd borrowed from the Wolfe's ample library. He was glad that Mira had pointed it out to him. They had a tremendous range of books. Everything from James Herriot to Tom Clancy right on through to Terry Pratchett. And that was just the mundane books. There were enough books on the paranormal and the occult to fill ten New Age bookstores, and a lot of those books weren't the usual trashy ones you found in some places telling you how to read auras and such, but serious works, a couple of which looked to be several hundred years old. *Those* were locked up in a glass case in Dan's study. "Sure, why not?" he looked over at Will who was perched on the end of the sofa, his nose buried in the latest Terry Pratchett. "I'm game," he put down his book and stood, stretching lazily like a cat, "Erin, I think Jeanette and Dana are upstairs with Mira, why don't you ask them if they'd like to join us?" "Great idea!" Erin agreed enthusiastically, as she ran from the room and bounded up the stairs. She didn't see Will and Mulder exchange a look. "Now?" Mulder asked. "Now," Will agreed. Ten minutes later Erin, Jeanette, and Dana all stood at the door to the back garden. They were all decked out in full cold weather gear. Dana joked that she hadn't worn this many clothes since the last time she was in Alaska. When they opened the door they found Will and Mulder waiting for them. The two men were already armed with a pair of snowballs each. "Hey, no fair!" Will and Mulder looked at each other, and then at the women, grinned, and shouted, "Revenge!" and then threw two of the snowballs at a point a fair bit above the women's heads. Nothing happened. "Uh, Mulder, I hate to be the one to tell you this," Dana said sweetly, "but I think your aim is a little off." McCormack shrugged and then looked at Mulder who nodded and said, "Oh no. That was to lull you into a false sense of security." "Ooooh, I'm sooo scared," Jeanette grinned, sure that their plot had failed. "We're lulled already," Erin said, reaching down to scoop up a handful of snow and begin to pack it into something that would be very shortly winging it's way straight towards her cousin. Cujo chose that moment to investigate what all the silly humans were doing outside in the cold and the snow, and pushed through the dog-flap that was set into the back door. And then Will and Mulder let fly, aiming for the same point above the heads of Dana, Jeanette, and Erin. They watched as the snowballs hit an already dangerously overbalanced slab of snow on the edge of the roof. Tipping the balance just enough to bring the whole lot crashing down on their companions' heads. Covering them with more than enough snow to do the job. The three women ended up standing in a pile of snow that was alarmingly high, reaching almost to their knees. Cujo was nowhere to be found. Then a small, soaked, brown-furred head poked up from the sudden snowfall. and sneezed. "Aaargh, that went down my *neck*." "That's cheating." "No Fair!" And then, as one, all three women reached down into the ample ammunition so thoughtfully provided by Mulder and Will, and then said, together, "You. Are. Dead. Men!!!!!" And then the battle was joined, with no quarter asked, and none given. 12:04pm. They all sat huddled around the living room fire, blankets draped over their shoulders as Mira brought in the bowls of hot broth, assisted by Will, who was demonstrating yet another advantage to being undead. Complete immunity to colds. And the most pathetic figure of all sat in his dog basket, which had been moved closer to the fire, to enable him to dry off quicker. <Ah-chioo> Cujo sniffled pathetically, and tried his best to look cute. Part X. Postcard To A Dragon. Deny Everything - They will.
7:34am. The Apartment of Jackie St. George. It took Jackie a full ten minutes before she was able to stop laughing, and another ten before she could look at the postcard from Mulder's cousin, Erin, without bursting out laughing. Even now she looked at the card and chuckled. "Nice one, Erin," she chuckled as she reread the postcard from Scotland, "Oh, they're gonna hate this." It was not, as one might expect, a picturesque scene of the Scottish countryside, but rather a photograph that had been printed out as a postcard. A photo that showed her two friends lying sleeping (fully clothed) on top of a bed, in each other's arms, and completely oblivious to the world. Jackie, Scotland's great, but the weather's horrible. Will says it's always like that, I'm not sure if I believe him though. The Wolfes are nice people, and Mira's a brilliant teacher - I think Mel would have liked her. We went skating today, and neither Fox or Will can skate to save themselves! You should have been there! We have pictures!!!! ;-) Oh yeah, Fox milked a cow named B.J. a couple of days ago! With love, Erin. PS: I've sent postcards (same picture) to my Dad, Alex, Margaret, Rosie, & the Gunmen (Frohike'll be devastated. Come to think of it, so'll Rosie). D'you think I ought to send one to Skinner? Heh-heh! St. George couldn't help herself: she started laughing again. Part XI. Vacation's End The truth is out there, but so are lies.
10:23pm. Glasgow International Airport. Just before Passport Control. "Thanks for having us," Erin said to Mira, meaning very word, "it was great staying with you. And thanks for teaching me," she grinned, "can't've been easy." Somehow the words seemed inadequate, the holiday was over all too quickly, and they would have all liked nothing more than to stay another three weeks. Mira regarded her young student affectionately, "I always liked a challenge," she said, the corners of her mouth quirking upwards slightly, "I'll be calling Michael regularly to make sure you keep up your training .". Then, as if on impulse she hugged the teenager warmly, "and maybe for a little chat with you." "Maybe?" "Maybe," Mira teased, the smile that spread across her face lighting it up, "besides, you still have a lot to learn."
10:28pm. The two men stood side by side, the silence a heavy weight between them. They had been friends once, but the choices of the younger had taken them down separate paths. And the place they were at now effectively made their friendship an unaffordable luxury. "You are sure the tape was destroyed?" said the younger man, his carefully groomed hair being ruffled slightly by the wind as they gazed out over the water, "You are sure that they don't have it?" The older man smiled slightly, "If the tape still exists it is beyond the reach of your colleagues in the Consortium, for the moment." "So, you have it then?" Another careful smile, "I did not say that." "If they, or anyone close to them, has it we will find it, and we will neutralise them before they can compromise our operations. You know that." "Your American allies could not manage that before." "I did not say I was going to leave it to the Americans, Admiral." "Ah." "Steps have been taken to eliminate their effectiveness as a team. My American counterpart's brute force approach has failed too many times already, and drawn far too much attention to my group's activities." A small, tight smile, "My organisation is more subtle than that." "Ah!" A beeping sound startled the younger man who reached into his pocket and pulled out the pager, "I am needed at the office." He turned to go and then paused, looking back at the older man. He glanced away at what he saw in his old friend's eyes, "We must talk again soon, Peter." And with that the man Mulder and Scully knew as the Well-Manicured Man turned and walked away. Admiral Peter Miles, the Director of Section 10, watched his opposite number from M.I. 7 as he walked slowly towards a nearby taxi rank, and he shook his head slowly. Peter Miles was not his real name, indeed he hadn't gone by his given name in over two thousand years. A life that long had advantages and disadvantages. 'Peter Miles' was now finding out that one of the advantages, the ability to take the long view in things, was also a disadvantage. Things were threatening to spin out of control. And for the first time in over a century, Admiral Miles was afraid. Afraid of failure. Afraid that all would be lost in the fires that were to come. Afraid that those he had allied with were not up to the task ahead. And he was afraid that the Consortium would succeed in their goals. "And, if they do," he whispered to himself as he watched the dark waters of the Thames flow by, "May the Gods have mercy on our souls." The end ...Until next time.
So, whaddaya think? The most common complaint I got after 'The Vacation' was that it was too short. So, after several months of having ideas swirling around in my head with no real order I read Sarah's 'The Unicorn & the Dragon' which kind of led to a jumping off point for this story. Hopefully this was worth the wait. This story is dedicated to various people: Cassandra, who means more to me than I thought possible. I won't forget you. To all those friends, both over e-mail and here in Scotland who have been helping me through all that has happened recently - and is still happening at the moment. I thank you one and all. Sarah, for not only falling into the above category, but for letting me borrow Erin for a little while. And to the memory of the children of Dunblane who died with their teacher on March 13 when a man walked into their school and started shooting indescriminately.
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