Title: The Bates Witch (1 of 4) Author: Xenith E-Mail address: xenitha@yahoo.com Rating: PG Archiving: Sure, just let me know first. Category: X H A Spoilers: Thru 6th season Keywords: Mulderangst, Scullyangst, Muldertorture, Scullytorture Summary: Mulder falls afoul of a witch's curse while investigating the mysterious death of a scuba diver in swim fins and tank, found unscorched in the middle of a burned out meadow, miles from water. Disclaimer: This story has absolutely nothing to do with the movie, the Blair Witch Project. I got the idea for the story from the allegedly true tale of the Bell Witch, which tormented a Tennessee family at 100 year intervals. Scully, Mulder, Skinner and the X Files belong to 1013 Productions and Chris Carter (lucky man). The witch is mine, so be nice to me. Feedback: Oh, yes!! Please e-mail me! Please feedback! Please! Author's Note: Many many thanks to may patient beta readers who suffered through many drafts, lots of writerangst and kept on cheerfully reading and commenting: KatVictory, Mori, Rachel, and my favorite ex-employee of the Reno Hilton (but not a bell-hop) Dennis. My thanks and a virtual box of Godiva chocolates to each of you--the round kind. The Bates Witch Part 1/4 August 10, 9:00 a.m. Hoover Building Scully walked into a darkened office and found her partner running through a set of slides projected on the wall. Damn it, that screen still hadn't shown up. Ever since they had gotten the office back from Spender and Fowley, the weirdest things had turned up missing. Scully's eye was caught by the picture on the wall and her mental commentary ceased. Mulder didn't even bother to look behind him at Scully's approach. "Good morning, Scully. Yes, you are seeing what you think you see. That is a scuba diver, in full gear, lying in the middle of a burned out meadow. And I might add, that the meadow has no high points or mountains within 1 mile of the body." Mulder got up and walked over to the wall. "You see the ring of ash surrounding the body? There were no footprints, tire tracks or other evidence of human passage after this fire began to burn." "So he died in the fire. He was walking up from a lake or body of water and was caught in the fire, then died of smoke inhalation or other natural causes. The wet suit is dark and the picture is of low quality, it's just hiding the burns. You can't really tell how the body is positioned here, so it may be hiding muscle contracture due to heat. Why were we called in?" Mulder turned to face Scully with a big grin. "Agent Scully, Mr. George Bates was last seen scuba diving off the Monterey coast at 8 a.m. He was found 500 miles away at 8:30 that morning in the Amberson National Forest by firefighters who had just put out an extensive forest fire. His body was found dressed in rental scuba gear, complete with a full tank of oxygen and flippers. But it gets better. When he was autopsied, based on the widespread fracture of virtually every bone in his body, it was determined that he died from a fall of about 500 feet." August 11 Amberson National Park, 9:30 a.m. Scully picked her way through the charred underbrush, thankful that she'd thought to pack her old sneakers and black jeans for the trip. Professional look be damned. They had carefully made their way past the police tape and found the same thing at this crime scene that other investigators had...nothing. "So why do you suppose he was wearing scuba gear, Scully? D'you think he was into rubber?" Mulder scanned the burned ground closely, occasionally running his fingers through the ash. "I don't know, Mulder. This is all flat meadowland. I don't even see any tall trees within eyeshot," Scully shook her head. "The only logical conclusion I can make is that he died somewhere else and was transported here." "By somebody who took the time to dress him in scuba gear rented in Monterey forty minutes before? Scully, that just doesn't make sense." Mulder continued to sift through the ashes. "Not that any part of this case does. And besides, the man at the rental shop identified a picture of Bates." "If you're looking to find out why George died, you're in the wrong place." A matter of fact voice came from the perimeter of the police tape. Mulder and Scully moved toward the woman standing there. She was in her forties, looking tired and mussed, her faded blonde hair in disarray. Mulder thought he could see a pattern of bruises running down the side of her neck, but covered with makeup. "I'm Jean Bates, George's wife. And I know what killed him, not that you'll believe me." Tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Mrs. Bates, I'm Agent Mulder, this is Agent Scully. What can you tell us about your husband's death?" Mulder studied the woman carefully while Scully handed her a tissue. "My husband was a womanizer, an alcoholic and a wife-beater," Mrs. Bates explained. "But that wasn't the reason he died. The curse killed him." "A curse," said Scully flatly. "Oh yes. The Bates Witch. Two hundred years ago, Meg Dawson got pregnant and insisted that Josiah Bates was the father. He not only denied it, he prosecuted her for perjury and took what little money she had in the lawsuit. Eventually the baby died of starvation and she blamed Josiah for that too. When she finally died herself, of sickness and hunger, she swore to come back every hundred years to see if the Bates men had mended their ways. And to punish them if they haven't. Every hundred years she torments the men of the Bates family, some with small pranks, others with bodily harm. And when she does appear, she doesn't limit herself to just the Bates men. Any men who come to her attention who aren't respectful of their women fall under her wrath. She was last active in 1899, when she haunted the family for a year, and drove Thomas Bates insane." "Mrs. Bates," Mulder grabbed Jean's arm and pulled her away from Scully. "Is that why you think George died? Because he's a drinker and a womanizer?" Mulder looked at Jean more closely. "Or because he beat you?" Jean laughed a little. "That was what did it, I think. George had been missing things for weeks. Little stuff like tie pins disappeared, replaced by rocks or lumps of coal. The family has been talking for a while about what year this is, and how important it is to mind your manners or the witch'll get you. George thought that was all superstitious nonsense." Jean looked around the charred field. "We took a vacation to Monterey, to try and work things out. We...had a fight that morning because George wanted sex, and I didn't. So he beat me up and took it anyway...Then he went out to go scuba diving like he'd planned. I stayed in the hotel with my ice pack." She eyed the frozen expressions on both Mulder and Scully's faces. "I know it sounds like I'd want him dead, but I didn't kill him. I still loved him, you know? He wasn't always that way, just when he was drinking. But I guess that the witch was watching him." "Mrs. Bates, you said that we wouldn't find any answers here." Scully began. "Where will we find them?" "Back in West Virginia. It's unusual for the witch to travel, usually she just stays put and bothers the family at home. We live in a town called Farmington, that's where she's best known. I guess she made an exception for George. But I'll be taking him home for burial, just as soon as the body is released." August 11, 12:00 noon Tico's Taco Palace "I can't believe that you give any credence at all to Mrs. Bates' story about a curse. Can't you see that she's trying to cover up her own motives for murder?" Scully said through her tostada. "No, I don't think she did it. And you know that there is absolutely no indication of what actually did kill him. Why not follow it up, if only to prove that she is the murderer and expose it?" Mulder scooped up more refried beans and slathered it into his tortilla with a generous serving of jalapenos. "Besides, do you think that there's any more information to be gained here?" He stuffed the tortilla into his mouth and began to chew happily. Scully shuddered and took a swig of her iced tea. "No, the scene is pretty bare. Ok, I agree that you're right to follow up on Jean, but I think we'll be finding a murderous wife. Personally, I don't believe in 200 year old vengeful witches." "I dunno, Scully, you haven't seen yourself in the morning before you've had your coffee...Hey! They got rules about throwing things in restaurants!" August 12, 4:30 p.m. Farmington, West Virginia "Hmmm, cozy place. Doesn't look like the Amityville horror," Mulder commented as he parked the car. Scully looked out the window at the small white clapboard house on a quiet side street. "Mulder, I still don't think asking George Bates' Great Aunt Beulah about this family 'curse' is going to be much help in solving the this case. Either it was a murder or some freak accident, not some 200 year old curse!" Scully pulled open her car door and got out of the car, waiting for Mulder to come around from the opposite side. "Well, who knows? Maybe the curse IS the freak accident," Mulder smiled in resignation. "Or maybe Great Aunt Beulah can shed some light on the potential murderousness of George's wife." The woman who answered the door was shorter than Scully, with wispy white hair caught in a bun. She wiped her hands on her cotton housedress before shaking their hands. "Come in, come in. Pardon my mess, but I've just finished the dishes and I'm in the middle of cleaning house." She led them into a small living room cluttered with old photographs, older furniture, and lots of odd shaped pillows scattered around the room. Scully's nose prickled at the sour smell of the place. It was familiar. Where had she smelled it before? One of the 'pillows' moved and she realized that there were at least 8 cats jammed into the tiny living room. Aunt Beulah cleared four cats off the couch and offered it to the agents. Mulder sat down with a bemused look as Scully surreptitiously wiped a bit of light cat fur away before she sat down. Damn. This new black wool suit was going to need the cleaners after this trip... "Let me get you some iced tea," she said and shuffled out of the room. A black cat wandered by and plunked itself into Mulder's lap. He began stroking it. "So, how many more do you think she has socked away? Scully? You okay?" Scully was sitting stiffly on the couch, eyeing the cats warily. "Sorry, Mulder. I just don't like meeting cats in large groups after that Ecuadorean jaguar spirit, or whatever it was..." Scully eyed Mulder, now rubbing the cat's ears, to the cat's obvious delight. "Nice to know you agree now that it was an 'or something'." Aunt Beulah re-entered the room with a tray containing empty glasses and a pitcher of tea. She set it down on a low coffee table. "I see you've met Midnight. He's the friendliest of my cats. For some strange reason, this house has always attracted cats by the dozens." She leaned over and scratched Midnight's head. He leaned into it and purred louder. "George hated them, you know. He said he felt like he was being watched." She poured tea for them all, then picked Midnight up and sat down in the wing chair, cat on her lap. "Now, how can I help you?" "Miss Bates..." Scully started, when the older lady interrupted. "Aunt Beulah, dear. That's what everybody calls me." "Aunt Beulah, you know that your great-nephew George died a few days ago in a freak incident in California? His wife seems to think that a family...uh..curse might have something to do with it." Scully nervously watched a ginger colored cat sniff at the pitcher of iced tea. Mulder quietly shooed it away. Aunt Beulah nodded. "Yes, I think she may be right. That curse is due to hit about now and this is the sort of thing Meg Dawson would do. Why, the last time she reappeared she caused such havoc..." Aunt Beulah settled deeper into her chair and continued. "I wasn't born until 1915, so I wasn't there to witness this, but my own aunt Mary told me about the last time the witch was active. My two uncles, Carl and Dennis, were both a little wild. Not too bad, just wild. Well, Uncle Carl had just married a neighbor girl, but was secretly seeing another woman on the side. And worse yet, his own wife knew it. She just got sadder and droopier as time went on, and more neglected. He knew that the curse was due to hit, but he didn't believe it. Well, one Saturday night he went to bed, fully clothed in his own bed, but woke up Sunday morning stark naked and curled up with his mistress, equally naked in front of the altar at St. George's Episcopal Church. The humiliation was just too much. HE didn't want to break it off, but the mistress got the hint and dropped him. He was the laughingstock of the town for years." Aunt Beaulah smiled. "And no woman in the town would have him ,except his wife!" "That sounds like your witch has a sense of humor. But would she kill?" Mulder elbowed a cat out of the way, picked up his glass and began to sip. Midnight wandered back and settled back into Mulder's lap. "She has a sense of humor all right. And a strong sense of justice. All I can say is that while she's active, any man she sees not treating his woman right might find himself punished, the severity of the punishment in proportion to the crime.. But she has killed before. When Meg died in 1789, her last words were that she'd be back in 1799 and every hundred years thereafter to watch over the Bates men and make them mind their ways. After she passed, everything was quiet and everybody forgot about her threat. But then, ten years later, Josiah Bates began to see mysterious shadows on the walls and hear voices whispering to him. By that time, family legend says, he had begun mistreating his wife. She tried to go back to her family, but they wouldn't take her in. Said her place was with her husband for good or bad. One night in late August they fought and he began to beat her. Josiah began to see strange shadows and felt the witch tormenting him. It got so bad that he decided to try to break the witch's spell. He was hit by a bolt of lightening and died. That same year, Josiah's brothers were both visited by the witch, but they simply had broken bones and sprains. And a clear message to behave themselves." "Aunt Beulah, you sound almost as if you approve of what the 'witch' was doing." Scully leaned forward, then fired Mulder a glare as she caught his grin at her use of the term. "Well, this world is a hard place for women. And George, nephew though he was, was no prize. According to the family stories, she tends to punish with humor and a sense of proportion. But I feel in my bones that she's back. So any men associated with this family had better watch their p's and q's." Both agents got up to leave and shook Aunt Beulah's hand. "Be sure to drop by if you'd like some more information. I just love to get visitors." She added as she waved to them from the door. Back in the car, Mulder belted himself in and began to drive. "Well, it sounds like our witch is a female chauvanist, if I ever heard of one. Whew! She must hate men with a passion! Bet she was short, dumpy and had hair on her chin." "Now that was a sexist remark," said Scully, looking out the window. "Besides, we don't even know if there is anything paranormal about the Bates case. So far it's just folklore." "Geez, Scully! It should be as clear as the nose on your face! The witch is back, and preying on the Bates men. This is a carbon copy of the 1790 incident. And it wasn't a sexist remark, it was an observation." "We don't have any evidence..." Scully began, but Mulder interrupted. "Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. So when am I ever wrong? Huh? You never listen to my theories, you always shoot them down. Couldn't you once, just once, admit that I might be right?" "I'll admit you're right when the evidence backs you up! God, Mulder, how much credibility do you think I'd have if I went haring off after every wild theory that comes off the Fox network or some other tabloid?" Scully was silent for a moment. "Aunt Beulah was right. It is hard for a woman, especially in this profession. Mulder, I *can't* just abandon the logical or scientific base for my judgments; I can't be perceived as an emotional thinker. It's bad enough being a female agent at J. Edgar's boys' club, but I'm short too. I have to be professional, and be seen to be professional." "So, I'm not professional when I go 'haring off' after my wild theories?" Mulder asked coldly. "Mulder, we've had this conversation before and I can never make you understand why I HAVE to look for the scientific basis for things. I'm tired of apologizing for it or defending it to you! I just wish you knew what it was like to be a woman trying to make your way in a man's world." Mulder looked at her pityingly as he pulled into the motel parking lot. "Scully, I never thought you'd go for the easy excuse-'I'm a woman so you must treat me differently'." "No, Mulder, what I'm trying to say is, 'Don't treat me differently because I'm a woman!" Mulder could see that she was fuming, so he walked into the office of the Blue Belle Motor Lodge to get their rooms for the night. The clerk watched Mulder through the plate glass window as he came through the door. "Looks like the missus is pissed with you," he said with a grin. "You aren't gonna get any tonight." "So what else is new?" Mulder muttered. "She's not my wife. We'll need two rooms, please, adjoining or with a connecting door if you have them." "Hmm, worse than I thought. Here, these two have a connecting door and there's a hot tub out back. It's got a fence and lots of underbrush around, so swimming suits are optional, if you know what I mean. Good luck!" The clerk grinned even wider as he handed Mulder the keys. "Well Scully, we're in luck. There's even a hot tub in the back. All the comforts of home, huh?" Mulder ignored the dark looks Scully was directing his way and parked in front of their units. The motel was divided into sets of small cabins. Their rooms formed a duplex, set off by themselves at the back of the property. Low shrubbery and trees surrounded it, further sheltering it from the rest of the motel. Mulder gave Scully her key and went to the trunk to unload the luggage. When he got to Scully's bag, he hefted it out of the trunk and set it on the ground. She went to pick it up but Mulder beat her to it and carried it into her room, depositing it on the floor. "Mulder, I can do that myself, damn it!" "What? Am I behaving like a greasy, sweaty male? I've never heard you object to my opening doors for you or moving heavy furniture that you knew you couldn't lift. Just because you're a woman, Scully, doesn't mean you can do everything without help! Even mine, incompetent as it seems to be." Mulder stalked out of the room, picked his own bag out of the car and, walking into his own room, slammed the door. The rest of the evening was no better. They ate a tense and quiet meal at the local Denny's. Mulder became gradually aware that this time Scully was neither going to give in nor drop it. Usually when they had this argument, she let Mulder blow off steam, then they went back to the old pattern. This time she wanted his acknowledgment that she was right. Well, he considered stubbornly, she wasn't going to get it. She was the most frustrating, dogmatic person he'd ever worked with. After six years, he was still having to defend his theories, even after he had been proven right time after time. Nope, not tonight, Scully. And, he thought to himself, he might just get a little revenge against that cool, emotionless Scully exterior. Bates Witch, part 2 August 12, 10:00 p.m. Blue Belle Motor Lodge Scully looked up from her book. She had been hearing the muted sounds of Mulder's television filtering through the walls for the past hour. She grimaced. This motel was generously provided with two television channels and piped in XXX movies. From the noises she'd been hearing through the walls, she could guess what Mulder was watching. The sounds stopped and Scully heard a tap at the connecting door. "It's open!" she called. Mulder poked his head in. "Hey Scully, it's a beautiful night. What do you say to some skinny dipping in the hot tub?" How to say this tactfully? "Mulder, I've just been overhearing your choice of programming, and the thought of getting naked with you in a tub of water just doesn't sound like a good idea right now." "Afraid you'll learn something, Agent Scully? Maybe lose that cool, professional exterior?" Mulder grinned and waggled his eyebrows. He ducked as she threw a pillow at him. "Okay, okay, but I'm going in myself and I'm not wearing a suit! So be warned!" Scully leaned back against the pillow on her bed and picked up her book again. She heard the sound of Mulder's door opening, then closing. Then she heard him remove the cover and the splash of him getting into the water. Hot tub. Boy that sounded good. But with Mulder? For a sensitive man, he sure could be an insensitive jerk sometimes. Avert my eyes....Scully grinned. I wonder if there are any windows in this unit facing the back? She put down her book and padded into her bathroom and stood on tiptoe to peek out the tiny bathroom window. Yep, he was there, relaxing in the tub. Couldn't see very well. Of course she'd seen him naked before, but usually he was in shock or dying at the time. Good looking man, really good looking man...She never really let herself think about that. It would ruin a good partnership, and Mulder wouldn't respect a giggly, flirty woman. God knows, it was hard enough to get him to listen as it was, and she knew he respected her opinions, well, mostly. C'mon, Mulder, shift over so I can see the rest of you...oh no...no...my foot's slipping...noooo! Scully slipped and fell off the narrow bathtub ledge she'd been perched on, falling over backwards and landing on her rear with a thump. While she was catching her breath, she could hear Mulder, first calling anxiously, then the sound of him climbing abruptly out of the hot tub. She scooted herself around so that she was at least sitting, facing the bathroom door. She put her hands on the floor and was painfully trying to crawl to her feet when she heard the slap-slap of wet feet. She looked up and found a very naked Mulder standing in the doorway, the most salient portion of him about six inches from her nose. She gave a gasp and fell backward, as Mulder yelped and jumped back himself. Scully found herself landing painfully on her rear for the second time that night. She looked up with embarrassment and irritation, hoping that there wasn't a guilty look on her face. Suddenly she felt completely and totally enraged at Mulder. Damn him, for traipsing around naked. Did he think she was made of stone? Her eyes narrowed; or was he doing this on purpose? She remained sitting on the floor (it was safer that way), folded her arms across her chest and glared at Mulder. "Mulder, what are you doing here?" she called through the open door. Mulder reappeared, wrapped in a sheet. "I heard you cry out and a loud noise. I called, but you didn't answer, so I came in to make sure you were all right. You are all right, aren't you?" Mulder was still dripping wet, the sheet absorbing much of the water was clinging tightly to various places on his body....no, Starbuck, don't go there. She slowly got to her feet, carefully keeping her gaze above Mulder's waist. "I fell, that's all. Most household accidents happen in the bathroom." She tried to say calmly, but knew her face was flushing. Damn, don't let on just where you were when you fell, Starbuck, or the shit really hits the fan. "What happened? Slip on something?" Mulder asked anxiously. "You weren't dizzy or anything?" "No, no I just slipped and fell. That's all, Mulder. I don't need your help, it's nothing. Damn it Mulder, stop hovering over me!" she snapped as Mulder anxiously tried to examine her more closely. "And you're dripping all over the floor." Mulder's lower lip stuck out. "Ok. Fine. Whatever." he replied. "You know, you've been a real bitch the past couple of days. For all of my denseness and masculine, non- politically correct attitudes, I'm DAMNED glad I'm not a woman, so I don't have to become a PMS-laden witch once a month and make the lives of those around me miserable! Oh, and here's your sheet back." Mulder unwound the now wet sheet from his body and dropped it onto the bathroom floor. He stood still for a moment, arms akimbo to give her the full view, then turned and stalked back to his room, slamming the connecting door behind him. Scully just stood there, her jaw dropping. Finally, she picked up the sheet and angrily tossed it into the bath tub, where it landed with a wet smack. "Damn it, Mulder," she muttered to herself "I wish, I really really wish you could know just what it's like to be a woman and have to deal with jerks like you!" Friday, August 13 8:00 a.m. Blue Belle Motor Lodge Scully stood outside the connecting door. She felt guilty about the way she'd treated Mulder. While she wouldn't admit to the PMS, she would agree that she'd been a bitch the past several days, and was ready to own up to it. She knocked on the door. "Mulder, it's time to get up! Mulder, it's me.." When she didn't hear any reply after several tries, she cautiously opened the door. Inside the dim room she could see Mulder's bed, and huddled in the center a pile of blankets roughly human-shaped. Scully walked over to the bedside, but the covers were pulled up over Mulder's head and she couldn't see his face. "Come on, Mulder. Time to get up. We have to work on the Bates case." She reached out a to his shoulder and shook him. A slender hand reached out from under the covers and waved in her direction. She could hear a very muffled voice from under the covers, but couldn't make out the words. "I can't hear you Mulder. Come on, time to get up." Mulder groaned and removed the blanket from over his head, rubbing his eyes. "God, Scully, I feel like five miles of bad road. What time is it?" Hazel eyes looked up to meet Scully's stunned face. "What's the matter, Scully? Cat got your tongue? Oh, I forget, you don't like cats much." Scully looked down at the beautiful brunette woman lying in the bed, wearing Mulder's favorite t-shirt! God, she looked just like one of the those women in those smutty magazines Mulder loved to read. Scully glared at the woman in the bed, obviously Mulder had snuck out and found a playmate last night. "Who the hell are you and where is Mulder?" Scully demanded. The hazel eyes widened. "What do you mean, Scully? Hey, I know I look different in the mornings, but I'm still the guy you've worked with for 6 years." Scully looked at the woman skeptically. "Well, have you looked in a mirror lately? This is ridiculous." Scully began looking around the room. "Mulder, where are you hiding? This joke has gone on long enough!" The woman in the bed, in the meantime, had caught sight of her hands and was examining them closely, then seemed to realize that she had shoulder-length hair. "How'd my hair get so long in a night..." She wondered, then looked down at the t-shirt and let out a shriek. "JE-sus...." Then pulled open the neck of the t-shirt and peered into the depths. She then pulled up the bedcovers and checked out the body below the waist, first just looking, then she dived under the covers checking her body with both hands. She resurfaced looking pole-axed and blinked at Scully. "Um...I know that you aren't going to believe this...but...Scully, it's really me. Mulder. It looks like I woke up...uh...female." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: The Bates Witch (2 of 4) Author: Xenith ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday, August 13 9:00 a.m. Blue Belle Motor Lodge Scully had finished her search of the room and hadn't found Mulder. She went back to the woman in the bed. "I don't believe you. Who do you work for? Krycek? Diana Fowley? What have you done with him?" "Hey, Diana wouldn't..." Mulder started to reply, then thought better of it. She spoke as slowly and calmly as possible, even though he was feeling more panicky by the minute. "Scully, it really is me. But I think you should take my fingerprints, and maybe a blood test to satisfy yourself. I don't know what happened, but I'm me. God, what do I look like?" The woman got out of the bed and went into the bathroom, to take a better look. Scully just watched with narrowed eyes. Scully saw a tall woman, with the type of willowy, bosomy figure that made magazine covers. Long neck, long legs, big bust, Scully sighed in jealousy. And to top it off, a husky alto voice. And Mulder, the rat, had gone out and brought this woman back to his room, then had the unmitigated gall to desert her here for Scully to find. Ooooh, she was MAD at him. The woman turned melting hazel eyes on Scully. "I look a lot like Samantha. But different." She fingered her nose and checked it in the mirror from different angles. "And I think my nose shrank. This...is really weird." The curious expression began to fade from the woman's face, to be replaced with the beginnings of panic. "Samantha? How do you know about Samantha?" Scully demanded. "Look, Scully, just take my prints and test my blood, ok? You won't believe anything I have to say until you have hard evidence. I know you." The woman quirked her full lower lip in a smile so familiar that Scully was jarred momentarily. It couldn't really be Mulder, could it?...No, that's impossible, it wouldn't happen, even to us...would it? She ran back into her room for her fingerprint kit and her gun. Ten minutes later, after she'd taken a complete set of prints and matched them with the FBI database, she was incredulous. "I still have to get the DNA results, but you do seem to have Fox Mulder's fingerprints. Mulder, it isn't really you in there, is it?" She peered closely at the woman...Mulder...as though trying to look into a cave. "Yeah, it's really me. I'll prove it. Your parents are Bill and Maggie, your brothers are Bill (who hates me) and Charlie. Your sister is Melissa, but she's dead. And you have an Irish aunt Olive. And you used to have a dog, but he got eaten by a giant alligator. And you take your coffee with cream but no sugar, and you hate light cream cheese." "Mulder, it really is you." Scully looked wonderingly at Mulder. "What happened?" "I dunno, Scully." Mulder ran his...her hand across her chin, briefly surprised not to find stubble there. "I had the weirdest dreams last night. I dreamed of a woman, tall and menacing, warning me about something, something I wasn't doing right. Then there was this terrible wrenching feeling and the dream ended. Then you woke me up. I feel really tired and kind of achy." Mulder looked around, then fingered the blanket on the bed. "Scully, what color is this bedspread?" "It's a red and green plaid and about the ugliest thing I've ever seen. Why?" Mulder began to grin. "Because I've never seen these colors before. And now I can! Women don't have color blindness, do they? And your hair..it's such a bright color!" She paused, examining her hands again, then peeking down the t-shirt one more time. "I still can't believe this. Do you think it's the curse? I was pretty mean to you last night. And how the hell do we change me back?" "Oh no." Scully abruptly sat down in the side chair. "Mulder, after you left last night I wished, I wished hard, that you could know what it's like to be a woman. And I said it out loud. Oh, Mulder, I'm sorry..." She held her hands over her mouth, then began to giggle. "Mulder, I'm so sorry, this isn't funny, but I just can't help it....What are we going to do? Is it a complete change? I mean, there aren't any bits of the...uh...old you left, are there? Maybe I should examine you in case the transformation caused some kind of physical damage." "I'm not a hermaphrodite, if that's what you're getting at," Mulder said flatly. "And no, I don't want you to examine me. I don't feel sick, just different." Scully gave Mulder a quizzical look. "Well, I guess the first thing to do is get dressed and go back to Aunt Beulah to see if there's some way to sweet talk the witch into changing you back." Mulder hesitated. "Scully, do you think you could go? I don't really want anybody to see me like this." Mulder gestured down towards her body. "I'm...not really sure how to behave like this." Scully sat down next to Mulder. "I understand how you feel. It really is up to you. I don't know how this change happened or what will reverse it. My first reaction is to take you to a hospital and try to find out just what happened." Scully stopped when Mulder began shaking her head violently. "Okay, we don't have to do that. But Mulder, I don't know how long you'll be like this. It isn't like you to hide from trouble." Mulder paused and looked deeply into Scully's eyes, then took a deep breath. "Thank you Agent Scully, for having more balls in this situation than I do. You're right. The last thing I should be doing is hiding. But, ah..Scully..you'll help me out here, won't you?" "Of course, Mulder. I'm still your partner," Scully nodded. "Well, I think I'll get a shower then, then we can go see Aunt Beulah." Mulder got up and began peeling off her t-shirt on the way to the bathroom, then stopped as she noticed that Scully was staring. "What?" Mulder asked. "Mulder..." Scully began, then grinned. "Mulder, if you're going to live as a woman for any period of time you're going to have to develop some...uh..modesty. It's all right to take your shirt off around me, but try not to do it in public, ok? You might get arrested....Or hired by Playpen magazine..." Scully muttered darkly. Mulder looked down at her two perfect breasts and her lips pursed in a silent "oh", then she clutched the t-shirt to her bosom. Scully was gratified to watch Mulder scurry into the bathroom and close the door. She heard the shower start up and wandered back into her own room. A long, hot shower, that was what she needed. Oh, did she need a long hot shower. And time to think. Scully's thoughts kept running the gamut from bemusement (boy, have I waited long for this day!), to sympathy, to envy (why is it that Mulder as a woman is prettier than I am?) and finally to panic. Oh my god, she thought, what if we can't find a cure? What will we tell Skinner? And how would I work with a female Mulder? I'm...ok, I'm in love with the jerk. Does that make me a lesbian all of a sudden? Oh, don't go there, don't go there, this is just getting too weird...I think this one is beyond even my weirdness scale, and I've seen a lot! Scully stepped out of the shower more troubled (if possible) than she'd stepped in. She toweled herself off and went to dress. As she was finishing her makeup she heard a tap at the door. "Come on in." She called and Mulder stepped in. Scully took one look at the new Mulder and paused. Mulder had done his..uh..her best with the contents of a man's closet, but clearly the fashion sense was masculine. Mulder was dressed in charcoal slacks, tight in the hips but loose in the waist. The white cotton shirt again was tight in all the wrong places. Oh please god, tell me I don't have to take Mulder bra shopping, she prayed. And Mulder had fastened the buttons to the neck but, thankfully, had omitted the tie. And the shoes, my god. She'd put on her standard brogans, which now flopped on slender feet. "Well, am I presentable?" Mulder asked anxiously. "You understand that I don't normally bring ladies' lingerie in my suitcase." She picked up one foot mournfully. "And I think I need new shoes." Scully bit her lip to keep from hurting Mulder's feelings further with a grin. "Mulder, I see two options. Either you stay here and remain out of sight, or I take you shopping. You can't go out like that. The clothes just don't work, and nothing of mine would fit you. Why don't you put on jeans and a t-shirt, and we'll hit the mall? Your running shoes should work ok for now. Usually when I have to wear shoes too big for me, wearing an extra pair of socks takes up the extra room. Try that." "Scully, you know I hate shopping, and all this..." Mulder gestured towards her body "just makes it worse. Can't you just get something and bring it back? I'd kind of like to avoid crowds." Scully looked at Mulder thoughtfully. "I would, but Mulder you really should try the clothes on. You need underwear..a bra. I can't just pick one off the rack for you. I think there's a J.C. Penney's nearby. We can go there and get you some clothing quickly, then be on our way." Mulder nodded then turned around and went back to her room. A couple of minutes later she reappeared in jeans and a very baggy t-shirt. Good choice, it hid some of the...er...bra-lessness. And the shoes did seem to be a better fit. "These jeans sure fit funny." Mulder complained. "They're riding up in the..um..the middle. And they're too tight at the hips. Did my butt get bigger?" "The eternal female complaint," Scully said drily. "Come on, Mulder, let's go to shopping." August 13, 11:00 Mayfield Mall Scully sat down to her salad and half sandwich and watched as Mulder wolfed down a cheeseburger and fries. She wondered distantly whether a female metabolism went with the change. If it did, she'd be putting Mulder on a diet before long. Mulder was now dressed more appropriately for a female. Buying a bra had been the most traumatic; the poor saleswoman had had to take measurements and was startled at Mulder's glee upon discovering that she was a 38 D. After a while, Mulder had started enjoying him...herself. Scully had firmly talked Mulder out of the wispy little lace bras and into something that would support Mulder's new...build. Then there had been the struggle to convince Mulder that showing cleavage before 7 p.m. was tacky. Who'd have thought that Mulder was a closet exhibitionist? The end result was that Mulder was now dressed in well-fitting charcoal colored slacks with a blue silk blouse. And appropriate underwear. Mulder had quickly understood the concept that thong underwear was inherently uncomfortable and agreed to more serviceable panties Scully quietly sipped her soda. Well, Scully considered, at least the witch hadn't dropped him off a cliff. All things considered, she'd rather be buying him women's clothing than autopsying him. She realized then that she did believe in the curse, and the witch. "Well, Mulder, are you ready to go visit Aunt Beulah?" Mulder grinned. "As ready as I'll ever be. And when I'm over this, if I ever want to become a cross-dresser, I'll have the wardrobe to do it with." Scully smiled back. "And tasteful, too." August 13, 1:00 Aunt Beulah's house Aunt Beulah greeted Scully's knock warmly and invited both agents in. As Mulder took her seat, she noted that Aunt Beulah kept eyeing her closely. "I'm sorry, dear," said Aunt Beulah apologetically. "But you do remind me very much of someone, I just can't figure out who...." "Aunt Beulah," Scully broke in. "You met Agent Mulder yesterday. We think he...she might have had a run-in with the witch. This morning Mulder woke up...like this." Aunt Beulah pursed her lips and her eyes widened as she examined Mulder more closely. "Oh, my. This is a new one. You must have done something to upset the witch last night, then." Aunt Beulah eyed Mulder and frowned. "Did you do something to your partner?" Mulder nodded. "I was a jerk, and she made a wish that I could have a better understanding of what it's like to be a woman. Well, she got her wish granted. I'm finding out." Scully could see Mulder reach down quietly and rub the heel of her foot, now encased in a pair of Italian dress flats and nylons. "Can you give us any idea of how long the witch's ..manifestations...last?" Scully asked. "I'm sorry, but as far as I know they're permanent. George is quite permanently dead. Thomas Bates was driven mad by the witch, and he was locked up in an asylum till the day he died. I'm very sorry, but in the end it's all up to the witch. Maybe if she feels you've learned your lesson, she'll change you back. But your situation is certainly a new one to me." "Have there ever been any attempts to communicate with the witch? Maybe using a medium or a channeler? Are there any other family members who might know about the witch? Might have some guidance to offer?" Mulder asked, her face solemn. Aunt Beulah leaned forward and patted Mulder's hand where it lay on her knee. "I'm so sorry, my dear. We did try a spiritualist medium in 1898. The witch dumped a pot of ink down her neck. As for further information...Well, my great nephew Charles has done some research into the town archives. He might have some old diaries or something to help." "Thank you, Aunt Beulah. You've been a great help," said Scully as they rose to leave. "If I can do anything else, please let me know." Aunt Beulah waved to the agents from the door. As Mulder turned the car turned into traffic, her cell phone began to ring. She picked it out of her jacket pocket and was about to answer, when she shook her head and handed it to Scully. "My voice has changed, along with everything else. You'd better run interference for now, Scully." Scully flipped the phone open. "Scully." Skinner's voice came over the line, suddenly heavy with concern. "Scully, I was calling on Mulder's phone. Where is he? Is he all right?" "Oh yes, sir, he's fine. Uh...my phone stopped working, so I'm using his for now. Can I help you?" "No, not really. I need to talk to Mulder about the Simmons case. You didn't work on it, and he needs to clarify some points in his report. Can I talk to him?" "Um, no, I'm sorry but he isn't here right now. If you'll tell me what you needed clarified, I can get back to you." Scully caught Mulder's questioning look out of the corner of her eye, and shushed him, waving her hand. "No, I really need to talk to him." Skinner's voice had an edge of suspicion to it. "Are you sure everything is all right, Scully?." "Oh, no sir. It's fine. Just fine. Mulder isn't here right now. Can I take a message for him?" Skinner still sounded suspicious but replied "Just tell him to call me. It's too complicated for a phone message. How's the case coming?" "We're working hard on it, sir. No real leads yet. All right, yes, I'll tell him...Good bye." Scully closed the phone and took a deep breath, then let it out, collapsing against the back of the car seat. "So, what did he want?" Mulder asked. "He wants to ask you some questions about your report in the Simmons case. He won't leave a message, and insists that only you can answer them." Mulder pondered a bit, then smiled. "You brought your laptop, right? I'll send him an e-mail asking for clarification and handle it all in writing." Scully nodded then frowned. "I just hope that satisfies him. He sounded awfully suspicious." "Yeah, with our track record he's probably assuming I've been transformed into a cockroach or something." Mulder took a quick glance down at herself and added. "Not that it's far from the truth..." Scully smiled. "Mulder, if you want to avoid a lifetime of shaving your legs, you better watch out what you say about women or the experience of being a woman. Who knows, the witch is probably listening right now." Mulder shuddered delicately. "You're right. I'll be more careful. Ok, Scully, what was the address for Charles Bates again?" With Scully reading out directions, they soon arrived at the home of Charles Bates. He was clearly wealthier than his great aunt, the house lay in the middle of acres of parkland, and was a mock-Georgian mansion. "Nice," said Mulder, as they got out of the car. She and Scully approached the front door and rang the bell. Scully reached for her badge and showed it to the butler who answered. Mulder began to retrieve her badge from her pocket, then realized that the name and face no longer matched and put it back. Scully caught Mulder's hesitation and added, "And this is my partner, Agent Mulder. Mr. Bates' Aunt Beulah referred us. We're investigating George Bates' death." The butler stepped aside as Charles Bates himself approached. He was a tall and attractive man in his vigorous forties with wavy brown hair and blue eyes. "How can I be of service to two such lovely ladies?" He asked cordially, waving the agents inside, his eyes running down Mulder's curves. Scully showed him her badge and introduced them, sensing that Mulder was startled at Bates' manner. Bates showed them into a richly furnished study, first Scully entering, then Mulder, then Bates coming in close behind Mulder. Bates sat himself across from the agents, edging his chair close to Mulder. He leaned forward and addressed Mulder directly. "So you're investigating George's death? Surely you don't agree that George was killed by some stupid curse. Agent Mulder, you look like a very intelligent woman, this can't make sense to you?" Bates paused and looked deeply into Mulder's puzzled eyes, appearing to wait breathlessly for a reply. "Uh...Well, we have reason to believe that there may be some truth in the old legend. Your Aunt Beulah seems to think that you may have some information to help clarify that." Mulder felt the force of Bates' heated stare and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "Well, there's no denying that the locals believe in the curse. I'll be happy to open my library to you for your researches, and I'd be pleased to give you any help I can. Come on in, I'll show you." Before Mulder could react, Bates had grabbed Mulder's right elbow and was guiding her out of the room. Bates' hand soon moved to the small of her back, and she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck. Scully followed behind, fuming and ignored. Charles Bates' library took up a tall room with a third floor skylight, covered floor to ceiling with bookshelves. Bates took them over to a glass case containing some old books and documents. He opened the case and removed several old leather-bound books. "This is Josiah Bates' diary. It contains the original account of his affair with Meg Dawson and the alleged curse. Here is Edith Bates' diary, describing the curse and Josiah's mysterious death. And this manuscript is an account of the occurrences in 1899 written by Mary Bates." Bates turned to face Mulder and looked deeply into her eyes. "If you need any help at all, please don't hesitate to call me. Here's my business card." He pressed it into Mulder's hand. "And where can I contact you if I need to?" "We're at the Blue Belle Motor Lodge, Rooms 17 and 18." Said Mulder carefully handling the antique documents. She reached out her hand to shake Bates' hand and was disconcerted when Bates took her hand and kissed the back of it. "We really must be going." Scully broke in. "Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Bates. Come on, Mulder." Scully grabbed Mulder's other elbow and pulled her out of the room. Scully kept walking fast until they were both out of the house and in the car. Outside, Mulder stopped and took a deep breath, then began wiping the back of her hand against herslacks.. "God, Scully, that guy was coming on to me. I feel like a piece of meat." "Good analogy, Mulder." Scully sighed. "It happens periodically. You learn eventually to put on such an aura of professionalism, that they consider you unapproachable." Scully got out the car keys and opened the driver's side door. "Why don't I drive us back to the motel." The drive back to the motel was quiet. Scully occasionally glanced at the passenger seat, but found Mulder silently looking out the window. At dinner, Mulder was still quiet. Finally Scully broke the silence. "Mulder, don't let that lecher bother you. This kind of thing happens pretty often." "No, that isn't it." Said Mulder. "He's not important. It's just that I never realized the kind of crap you have to put up with. Doesn't it make you mad when they look at you but don't see you at all? To Bates I wasn't an officer of the law, with a brain, I was just...just...." "A barbie doll? Yes, it's hard to maintain credibility sometimes. You just grit your teeth and work on being better than they expect you to be." Scully smiled at Mulder. "You're handling it well. Don't worry, we'll get this thing solved soon, and you can go back to being a dominant male." August 13, 8:00 p.m. Scully had picked up her book and was trying to finish the chapter she'd interrupted last night. The evening was quiet and she didn't hear any noise from Mulder's room. Strange, he...uh...she must not be in the mood for XXX movies. Just as she was beginning to get into the story, Mulder's cell phone rang. Scully picked it up. "Scully." "Hello Agent. Isn't it time you tell me what's going on over there?" Skinner's voice was crisp with a slight edge. "I don't know what you mean, sir." "What I mean is that you accessed the fingerprint database to establish that a set of prints matches Mulder's fingerprints on record. And I see that you also submitted a blood sample by courier to be cross-checked against DNA records on file for Mulder. What's happened to him, Scully? Was he kidnapped? Is he implicated in something? What?" Scully's mind felt like a screaming blank, and her usual glib excuses were completely absent. "I...don't know what to say, sir. Mulder has...a condition...that he developed suddenly which made the testing necessary. I can't describe it over the phone, but we're looking for treatment now." "Is it life-threatening?" Skinner's voice sounded worried. "Is he hospitalized?" "No, it's just uncomfortable for him. He doesn't need to be hospitalized. We're working on it." "All right, then keep me posted on his condition." Scully hung up the phone. She felt vaguely guilty for misleading Skinner, but what she had told him was the closest to the truth she could manage over the phone. The connecting door opened and Mulder poked her head in. She was dressed in shorts and a basketball style tank top, sans bra. Scully shook her head but said nothing. "Um...Scully, I hate to disturb you...but I think I need your help with something." Mulder looked vaguely embarrassed. "What's wrong, Mulder?" Scully put her book down and walked over to the door. "I...uh...I think I started my period. What do I do?" Mulder looked vaguely nauseated. Scully smothered a grin and went back to her suitcase, removed a small package and handed it to Mulder. "Here are some tampons, just read the directions." Mulder read the label on the box and then looked even more nauseated. "I...Scully, I can't do that...." Her eyes had a panicky, deer-in-the-headlights look. Scully decided to take pity on Mulder (and save herself from having to explain just how you inserted those things). She fished a couple of plastic wrapped packets from the back of her suitcase and gave them to Mulder. "Ok, here are some pads. Just stick these to the inside of your underwear. We'll buy more tomorrow. Oh, and here's some Pamprin for menstrual pain or cramps if you have any." "Cramps?" Mulder looked owlishly at Scully. "Yeah, you know, abdominal pain, diarrhea, migraine. They're fairly common. Oh, and don't forget to rinse your underwear out in cold water, or they'll stain." Mulder gave Scully a long look, then took the bottle and walked with it back into the bathroom and quietly shut the door. Mulder sat up late reading over the Bates documents, chewing thoughtfully on sunflower seeds, trying desperately to find an answer. She hadn't taken the Pamprin, and was beginning to regret it. Man, did Scully go through this every month? Her lower gut hurt in regions she still couldn't name yet, and she thought she was starting to get a headache. She shifted in her chair, trying without success to get comfortable. Damn, this was miserable. Then Mulder's eyes hit on a sentence in the diary she was reading, the journal kept by Edith Bates, Josiah's wife. Mulder got up and ran to the connecting door. "Scully, I think I may have found the answer!" Mulder called out. Scully quickly appeared at the door and Mulder led her over to the table where the book lay open. "Edith Bates talks about a ritual which is said to be able to break the witch's power. In his last days Josiah had been increasingly tormented by the witch until he became desperate. He found a gypsy woman who showed him a ritual to remove the curse and break the witch's power forever. It looks like Josiah was in the process of performing the ritual itself when, as she puts it 'he was strucke downe by ye bolt of the evil witch and did blaze into flame until naught was left save glowing ashe.'" Scully looked up from the book. "This doesn't look like a very viable solution, Mulder. There's no evidence of what this ritual was, or even if it would have worked if Josiah could have completed it. The witch got him before he could destroy her." Mulder gave Scully a steady look. "Scully, I can't keep living like this. And I can't keep hiding out in a motel in West Virginia." Mulder stood up and put both hands on her hips, the low cut armholes of her tank top gaping open on either side. "Sooner or later either I solve this, or I tell everyone at the Bureau I've had a sex-change operation." Scully sighed. "You're right, Mulder. We do need to solve this. I just wish I knew where to start. Does the book say anything about what the ritual might be?" "Here," said Mulder flipping pages. "This is the ritual Edith Bates says Josiah followed." Scully looked it over. "Mulder, this is ridiculous. How can you ever manage to gather all these ingredients, much less the...uh...special helper you need." Mulder just looked at Scully quietly, then said, "Scully, I think you qualify for the special helper role, don't you?" Scully blushed and looked down. "Ok, I'll help you. I always do." She sighed. "What all is on the list?" From: Xenith Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 16:20:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: The Bates Witch (3 of 4) Source: direct ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: The Bates Witch (3 of 4) Author: Xenith ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bates Witch 3 August 14, Blue Belle Motor Lodge Farmington, West Virginia 10:00 a.m. "Thank you very much." Scully took the Federal Express package from the clerk and began to open the office door. "So, you having a good time?" Drawled the clerk lazily. "You and your boyfriend, sure didn't seem too cozy when you arrived, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of him since you got here. You keepin' him in bed?" Scully blushed to the roots of her hair. "Excuse me, I have to go," she snapped. "And who's that good-lookin' brunette? You guys doin' a threesome out there? Can you use a fourth?" He called after Scully as she strode out of the office and all but broke into a run for the motel room. She was breathless as she opened the motel room door, then closed it behind her. "What's the matter, Scully?" Asked Mulder, busily eating the last of the doughnuts and reviewing her notes. "Hey, what's wrong?" Mulder asked, noting Scully's agitation. "Oh, nothing. The DNA report arrived. I'm glad I still have friends in the lab." Scully ripped open the package and pulled out the transparent sheets, holding them up to the light. "Oh my." "What do you mean, oh my?" Mulder came over with an anxious look and peered at the transparencies. Scully pulled out the typed report and went over it. "What's wrong, Scully?" "Well, Mulder, your blood is 99% a match all the way around except for one those characteristics consistent with being a woman--you have two X chromosomes. You are definitely Fox Mulder, except that you are a female." Mulder sat down suddenly. She gulped. "Well, that's more or less been our operating hypothesis. I guess we need to start gathering things for that ritual." "Okay. I'll check the yellow pages for herb shops while you get dressed." Scully picked up the package and moved through the connecting door to her room. She was studying the yellow pages closely and had made several phone calls, when she heard a knock at the front door. Scully went to the door and found A.D. Skinner standing there, briefcase in hand. "Isn't it time you told me what's going on, Agent Scully?" He asked bluntly. Skinner followed Scully into the room. "I..don't know what you mean, sir. I explained it to you when we spoke." Scully said tentatively. "When your DNA tests on Mulder were submitted to the lab, I asked for a copy as well. I'm no expert, but I'm told that these results are abnormal, that something is wrong with Mulder's chromosomal structure, two X chromosomes?" Skinner's eyebrows climbed and he glared at Scully. The connecting door burst open and a tall, brunette woman strode in, wearing pink panties and a pink lace bra wrapped partly around her torso, hiding nothing. "Scully, I can't get this thing to fasten. Would you help me....." The brunette looked up into the suddenly bemused (and slightly awed) face of A.D. Skinner, who clearly didn't know where to look. Skinner blushed bright red and focused his eyes on the carpet. "Excuse me, miss." Skinner turned his face away. Scully quickly grabbed her bathrobe and draped it around Mulder, who was slowly beginning to realize she'd committed a faux pas. Scully made a shooing gesture at Mulder toward the connecting door. Mulder finally got the hint, nodded and ducked out of the room. "I'm so sorry, sir. That was unexpected." Scully began. Skinner interrupted. "Who is that woman? And where is Agent Mulder?" Scully was trying to figure out how to explain matters when Mulder reappeared. "I'm here, sir." The brunette reappeared, wearing a blouse and slacks. "I'm Fox Mulder." "You're kidding me." Was all that Skinner could say, staring at the brunette. Then he began to see a resemblance to Mulder...hair color...eye color.. Skinner's look of disbelief turned to something near panic. "What? You really are serious." Mulder sat down at the table. "Why don't you sit down and have some coffee, sir. This will take some explaining." August 14 Blue Belle Motor Lodge 12:00 Skinner finished his fourth cup of coffee, still more than half convinced that he was hallucinating. "So let me get this straight. This witch's curse turned Mulder into a woman and now you're trying to do some kind of ritual to change him back?" Skinner leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. His glasses had been laid on the table half an hour into the story. "Six years of supervising the X Files and I thought I'd seen everything." Scully handed him a bottle of Advil. "I can certainly agree, sir. It took some convincing for me to believe it too. But the tests show that this really is Mulder, but different." Skinner pried off the cap and swallowed two pills, swilling down the last of his tepid coffee. He grimaced, whether at the taste or the situation it was hard to tell. "Well, he can't go back to D.C. like this, that's for sure." Skinner looked at Mulder again and shook his head. "Ok, I'm in. What can I do to help?" "Help?" Asked Scully. "You're staying?" "Agent Scully, the way I see it, you two have a situation here that is totally and completely out of your depth." He raised his hand at Scully's protest. "Yes, it would be out of anybody's depth. I just think that you need all the help you can get. Even if I find myself in the woods on a moonlit night beating a stupid drum." "Well, the list of herbs and other ingredients is pretty long. And according to the diary, we need to draw a circle with some symbols around it. Edith Bates says that she's included the diagram, but it isn't here. Maybe it's still in Charles Bates' library?" Scully pushed the list onto the table and pointed. "And two of these ingredients can't be obtained here. There's an herbalist about two hours' drive away from here who stocks them, but one of us will have to drive over there and get it." Scully looked at Skinner who was visibly drooping. "You've already driven five hours today to reach us. Why don't I go to the herbalist, and you two take the rest of the ingredients' list and get the diagram?" "I can research in Bates' library while Skinner goes to the herb shop." Mulder offered. "He had some fascinating old first editions on display there." Scully frowned. "Mulder, are you sure you want to be in a room alone with him? He was pretty obnoxious." Mulder grinned. "Not a problem, Scully. If he gets out of hand, I know just where to kick him." "All right, you two run the other errands. I'll meet you back here in a few hours." Scully picked up her purse and her keys and went out the door. "Well," said Skinner. "Since we have only the other car, why don't I drop you off at Bates' home and I'll pick you back up again." "Fine," said Mulder. "But I'd better harness myself into that damned bra first." Mulder was forced to fasten the bra by herself. Skinner, when asked to help, refused point blank. Even though he believed that this woman really was Agent Mulder, there were still limits. 1:00 Home of Charles Bates Mulder rang the doorbell and was let into the house by Charles Bates himself. "Agent Mulder, I'm so glad to see you again. Please come in." Bates motioned Mulder into the foyer. "Thank you, Mr. Bates. I find that I'll need to use your library again. There is a diagram referenced in Edith's diary that I need to look at." "Of course, please come inside. And call me Charles, please. And what's your first name? I'm sure it's beautiful, to match your eyes." Bates looked deeply at the hazel orbs thus mentioned. "Uh..Fo...Samantha, Samantha Mulder." Mulder stuttered. "Samantha, what a pretty name. Well, here is the library, and I think I know just the manuscript you want." Bates pulled open a drawer in a map case and removed a yellowed parchment sheet. "I think this is it." Mulder eyed it closely then saw Edith Bates' signature and the year, 1790, in the corner. "Yes, this looks like it. May I borrow this?" "Of course." Bates rolled the document up and encased it in a cardboard tube, before handing it to Mulder. "I notice that you've been admiring the other books in my collection, would you care to see them?" "I'd be happy to." Mulder grinned and looked avidly at the the books in the glass case. Bates grinned and looked avidly at Mulder. "Here, my dear, let me show them to you." For the next 45 minutes, Bates showed Mulder all the rare books and manuscripts in his considerable collection, all the while taking every opportunity to pat, stroke, caress and fondle any part of Mulder's anatomy within reach. Mulder went from feeling uncomfortable, to irritated, to fed up. Finally Mulder decided that whether Skinner came to pick her up soon or not, she was leaving. "Thank you for your tour, and for the loan of the document. I'll take good care of it. But I really need to leave. I'll call a cab." Mulder pulled out her cell phone and began dialing. "No, don't think of it. I'll drive you." Bates edged closer to Mulder, his eyes glittering. "No, I don't want to bother you, I'll call." Mulder began to have an uneasy feeling, as Bates moved closer. Bates moved fast and grabbed the phone out of Mulder's hand. "Why don't you stay a while? I haven't shown you the wine cellar yet. And maybe you could stay for dinner?" "Uh, no..no thank you. I can't really. I've got to leave," said Mulder, backing away toward the library door. She reached for her gun, hidden under her blazer at the waist. Bates followed and grabbed Mulder's wrists in both hands, forcibly twisting the gun from her fist and throwing it to one side. Mulder saw the gun skitter under the display case, out of reach. Bates slammed Mulder's arms over her head against the closed library door and pressed his body against hers. Mulder began to panic, realizing that she'd lost muscle strength with the change and couldn't depend on a male body to fight back with. While Mulder vainly struggled and fought, Bates leaned forward and forced his lips against hers, pushing his tongue inside her mouth. She began to fight harder, then abruptly brought up her left knee aiming for Bates' very aroused groin. Bates sensed her movement and jerked to one side, kicking with his right foot to pull Mulder's other foot off the ground, then roared with pain. Mulder found herself abruptly lying on the floor, with Bates landing with a thump sprawled between her spread legs. The fall winded her, but she desperately scrabbled backward, panting for air and trying to force out a scream. She managed to get out one cry, then lunged to her feet and stumbled for the library door. "Go ahead and scream, you bitch!" Grunted Bates, climbing to his feet after her. "Nobody's here but me, and I own the whole 20 acres around." Mulder wrenched the library door open, but Bates got up fast and grabbed at the collar of Mulder 's jacket and blouse. The jacket pulled away hard and the blouse tore, leaving Bates with a handful of shredded fabric, as Mulder slipped through the library door and ran for it. Mulder sprinted through the foyer and jerked open the front door, Bates close on her heels. She headed for the driveway and could hear the sound of Bates' footsteps crunching on the gravel, getting closer and closer. She began to pant for air, trying to run harder and faster. But Charles Bates was quicker. He caught up to Mulder and pulled her down with a flying tackle that landed her face down in the gravel. Bates rolled her over and pulled off what remained of the blouse. "You like to play hard to get, don't you? Think that you can pull a gun on me?" Bates grinned. "I know about c**ts like you, all promise and no action. Well, I got what you need, what all you bitches need." He pressed his body down hard onto Mulder's, tangling his right hand in Mulder's hair forcing her head back against the gravel. And as Mulder stared up into his eyes, she began to be afraid that this really was going to happen. Bates lay across Mulder's body, his left arm pinning her shoulders down, and the weight of him pinning her to the gravel. Bates leaned down and kissed her again. Mulder turned her head away in disgust but heard Bates laugh out loud. Then she felt Charles Bates remove his right hand from her hair, to grope his way down her body, unfastening the zipper of his pants. "Oh god, this isn't happening, this can't be happening..." Mulder thought in a blind panic as she began to struggle again. But that only seemed to egg him on. As Mulder fought harder than she ever had, in the back of her mind she wondered where Scully and Skinner would find her body. August 14, 2:00 Skinner's mind kept going over the day's events. He snorted. Of all the unlikely and peculiar things he'd seen or heard of since meeting Fox Mulder, this took the cake. Not that Mulder made an unattractive woman. Far from it. Whoah, Walt...this is Mulder we're talking about, and no matter what the packaging looks like now, that's a MAN in there.....But what packaging... Trust Mulder to come up with this kind of messed-up situation...What on earth do we do if this stupid ritual doesn't change him back? I guess it wouldn't be the first time that two female agents teamed up...And how on earth to explain this to the director? Skinner turned into the ornate wrought-iron gates that surrounded Charles Bates' house, and began to travel down the long driveway. In the distance he could see two people...struggling? A man and a woman, and the woman was....being held down by the man. The man in the distance was on top of her....he was naked from the waist down and was pulling off her pants...Skinner pulled the car to a stop, jumped out and began running.... He could see the figures more clearly now. Oh my god...that's Mulder!! He ran over to the pair, grabbed Charles Bates by the scruff of the neck, and pulled him off Mulder. Bates swung on Skinner, and it was with deep and abiding pleasure that Skinner decked him. Once Bates was cuffed and lying face down in the gravel, Skinner knelt next to the shivering woman. She lay where she had fallen, trembling and dressed only in bra and torn panties. Her eyes were closed and she was drawing in large, gulping breaths. "Mulder?" Skinner asked anxiously, kneeling next to her. "Mulder, are you ok? Did he...hurt...you?" He reached his hands out, feeling that he should be helping her up, or doing something, but afraid to touch her. Mulder's eyes opened. "Yeah. I...guess I'm ok." She shivered and wrapped her arms around her body, pulling her legs in to her chin. Skinner could see that she had cuts and scratches running down the length of her body with heavy bruises on her thighs. Skinner took off his jacket and handed it to her, careful not to touch her as she flinched away. He then scooped up her slacks and handed them to her. "Here. You look cold." Mulder nodded and got up slowly to put on the clothes but didn't speak. "Mulder, why don't you sit back down," Skinner asked. "And where is your weapon?" Mulder sat on the grass next to the driveway and looked up dazedly. "I tried to use my weapon, but he was too strong. It's in the library. Bates took it and threw it under some furniture." Mulder said and then fell silent, staring into space again. Skinner crouched down next to Mulder. "Mulder, I'm going to call the paramedics as well as the police. Did he rape you?" Skinner asked gently and began dialing his cell phone, never losing eye contact with Mulder. "I don't want paramedics....I'm fine..really." Mulder added, seeing Skinner's look of disbelief. Mulder hugged her knees and looked up at Skinner with eyes deep and green. "If you hadn't come along...I think he would have raped me...as it was...he had his tongue in my mouth..." Mulder leaned over the gravel and began to wipe her mouth and spit, trying futilely to clean her mouth. "I don't need paramedics. What I really need is a shower." "Mulder, you have to see a doctor for forensic reasons, and you look pretty battered. Can you do that? You can shower later." Mulder nodded. "Y'know, this isn't really what I had in mind when I decided on a career in law enforcement," she commented with a half-smile, then stared into space. When he finished the 911 call, Skinner dialed Scully's number and spoke briefly but urgently. August 14 4:00 Monongalia General Hospital "I got here as fast as I could." Scully ran up to A.D. Skinner in the hospital waiting room. "What's his...her condition?" "Mulder's in with the doctor now. It looks like she was beaten up in the struggle. As far as I could tell, the perpetrator didn't complete the sexual assault, but Mulder was in shock and couldn't say much at the time." Skinner frowned uncomfortably. "They're still doing the rape kit, though." "Damn. Poor Mulder." Scully sat down in one of the plastic chairs. "I should never have let her go to that house. I had a feeling about Charles Bates. But I assumed that Mulder could take care of herself...." "Your partner of six years could, but I doubt Mulder paid much attention to the self-defense lectures geared toward women." Skinner shook his head. "I share the blame in this as well. I shouldn't have let Mulder out of my sight. She's a trained agent all right, but she's at a physical disadvantage right now, and she doesn't have the, well, the awareness most women have of physical danger. If she continues to work at the FBI, she'll need some re-training in self-defense." Scully stared at Skinner. "Sir, you're talking as if this were a permanent state of affairs! Mulder is going to go back to being what he was: a tall, sarcastic, egotistical guy." Skinner stared right back. "And if he doesn't? We still refer to Mulder as 'he' when we aren't thinking about it, but right now that's a woman I saw loaded into an ambulance. I don't know how this happened, but we need to prepare for the possibility that Mulder might be this way for life." "Well, Mulder's still my partner right now. She'll need some moral support, especially now." Scully moved toward the nurse and was motioned into an examining room. As she entered she could see Mulder still lying on the table, although it appeared that the examination had been completed. "Excuse me, but I'm Dr. Dana Scully. I'm Mulder's partner and next of kin." Scully flashed her badge. The doctor motioned her in and left them alone. "Mulder...how are you doing?" Scully pasted a reassuring smile on her face, aware that it wouldn't fool Mulder one bit. Mulder's face was swollen and bruised as were the portions of her body not covered by the hospital nightgown. Mulder slid herself into a sitting position, grimacing with discomfort. "Road rash," she explained with a wry smile. "I'm okay. Don't worry, all he managed to do was grope me...and french kiss me." Mulder's face took on a nauseated look. "They had to take fiber, hair, saliva and semen samples for the forensics labs. I think I'll have a lot more sensitivity to sexual crime victims from now on." "I know, Mulder. Are you okay?" Scully sat down next to her and put an arm around Mulder's shoulders. "Yeah. It was...a shock, but I'm okay. I'd love to get out of here, but they took my clothes away...what's left of them." Mulder scrubbed her eyes with one hand. "Is Skinner still out there?" "Yes, he is. I stopped at the motel and got you a change of clothes." Scully put a plastic bag on the table, containing Mulder's favorite gray sweatpants, baggy sweatshirt and running shoes. "You know my fashion sense Scully." Mulder pulled out the clothes and began dressing. "Hey, how come you aren't sitting with your eyes turned away like you usually do when I dress?" "I don't have to. We're both girls." Scully grinned. "Hey, does that mean I get to see you naked?" Mulder asked hopefully. "Nope. *I* don't have lesbian tendencies," Scully replied calmly, then ducked as the plastic sack went sailing toward her head. Scully followed Mulder out to the waiting room, noting that Mulder seemed to be moving hesitantly and stiffly. When Skinner got up and began to stride over to them, Mulder flinched back briefly, then recovered. "Agent Mulder, how are you feeling?" asked Skinner with concern. "I'm all right sir. Nothing but bruises and a determination to get this ritual out of the way." Mulder gave Skinner the patented Fox-Mulder-bullshit smile. Skinner wasn't fooled. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather rest up a bit? And anyway, we need to get that diagram, don't we? Is it still at Bates' home?" "We don't need to go back there," Mulder said quickly. "I saw the chart and I remember the symbols. I can recreate them." Skinner nodded. "I wouldn't worry about Bates, by the way. I got the call while you two were in the examining room. It seems that the police cruiser taking him to jail developed a freak short in the wiring system. Bates was fatally electrocuted while sitting in the back seat, while the two cops in the front seat weren't touched. I think your 'witch' is working overtime on this one." Skinner added drily. Mulder's eyes grew round. "I better not do anything to piss her off, then," he commented. "So, do we have all the ingredients?" Scully broke the silence. "I have the two things I went for. And now we have the chart. How about the herbs?" Skinner nodded. "If the store clerk was right, I have all of them, labeled and in packets in the car. So.." he said, turning to Mulder. "Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" "More than ever," Mulder said vehemently. "I don't think I have the balls to be a woman." August 14 Midnight Prickett's Creek Campground "I feel ridiculous." Skinner sat on the ground painting his face with red ochre. Mulder and Scully, already similarly painted, were busily drawing a large circle by flashlight and sprinkling herbs liberally over the area. They worked carefully from a chart that Mulder had drawn from memory. "We don't have a choice," said Scully. "The ritual calls for all participants to paint symbols on their faces and arms, so we do it. At least the ritual demands that we do this thing at night, under the stars, I think it said." Scully stood up. "There. I think that's done it." "I haven't seen the text of this ritual. What else do we have to do? We aren't sacrificing animals or anything are we?" Skinner looked nervously at the various sacks of herbs as though they hid a live chicken or two. "Nope, not even a virgin," said Mulder. "We say the words and the person suffering from the curse stands in the middle of the circle, holding hands with...well with somebody who loves them. If they stay that way for one hour, the witch's spell is broken." "I see." Skinner smiled a little and looked pointedly at Scully. "And who would this special person be?" "I...uh...respect Mulder deeply and I'm glad to help him." Scully responded stiffly. "Uh, huh. So why do I have the niggling feeling that all of this won't be as straightforward as it seems?" Skinner dabbed the last bit of pigment onto his skin and stood up. "But I have to admit that I'm glad we're doing this out in a wilderness area. That motel clerk keeps giving me funny looks and asking whether I like the hot tub. Okay. What now?" "Scully and I stand in the circle holding hands while you recite the spell." Mulder pointed toward the paper in Skinner's hand and moved with Scully to the center of the circle. Scully set a lantern down in the center and took Mulder's left hand in her right. "It's just nonsense syllables." Skinner held the flashlight over the paper. "All right, here goes nothing." Skinner began to read, and at first nothing happened. Then gradually the air began to feel thick and heavy. The sounds of the forest gradually faded, and the starlight dimmed. Soon they all felt as though they were inhabiting a bubble of lantern light surrounded by a tangible darkness. As Skinner recited the final syllable, a ball of glowing green light formed just outside the circle and grew until it was human-tall. Then its outline became clearer as the face and figure of a woman appeared. "Aunt Beulah!" Mulder cried. "What are you doing here?" "You're the witch?" Scully demanded. "But we went to your house!" "Not my house," Aunt Beulah said with a smile. "The real Beulah Bates has been in the hospital with a broken hip this past week. But you were so interested in George's death, I just had to help you out. And get a good look at you." She turned to Mulder. "So, my dear, have you had an interesting few days? I imagine you have a good deal more empathy for your partner now." "Oh, yes. This has been a very educational experience," Mulder nodded her head eagerly. "Does this mean you'll change me back now?" "No. You still have to fulfill the terms of the ritual, don't you? Of course, successful completion is rare and if you fail, I get to kill you. Oh, Edith didn't put that in her diary did she? Well, she was a prime example of a failed ritual." The witch pulled up her feet and sat comfortably, legs folded, suspended about four feet off the ground. "You see, the ritual is only completed by your true love--yes, Agent Scully, that would be you. If Agent Scully can hang on to you for an hour, the spell will be broken and you will be a man again. In the meantime, Agent Mulder, your touch will be causing her the most intense and exquisite pain that the mind can imagine. She will have to love you deeply to hang on to you. She could die; some women have, you know." The witch gave Scully a sympathetic look. "Edith had to be persuaded to try the ritual, then barely lasted ten minutes. She gave up and ran from the circle, giving me full possession of her husband. He wasn't worth much, so I removed him from this earth and made Edith a wealthy and, I might add, a happy widow." Scully's face grew pale. "So if I fail, you destroy him too?" "Of course. That is my price." The witch's eyes narrowed. "So, shall we begin?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: The Bates Witch (4 of 4) Author: Xenith ------------------------------------------------------------------------ August 15 Prickett's Creek Campground 12:20 a.m. "I don't understand why you have to do this," Skinner interjected. "What has Mulder ever done to you? He doesn't even belong to the Bates family." "No, he doesn't. But his behavior isn't much better, is it? He takes his partner for granted, ignores her opinions, treats her like an appendage to himself. Oh, he doesn't beat her or physically abuse her, that's why he isn't lying there dead at this moment. If Mulder wants to be a man again, it will have to be earned." The witch looked at Mulder and Scully with a focused stare and Scully jumped, reflexively starting to pull her hand from Mulder's. "Scully, what's wrong?" asked Mulder anxiously. Scully's face was grim. "Your hand. It feels like it's on fire, it's getting hotter." Scully shot the witch a defiant look and grabbed Mulder's hand with both of hers. "But she's not going to make me give up." As the minutes ticked on, Mulder could see sweat beginning to bead Scully's forehead. To Mulder's own vision, she could see their clasped hands beginning to visibly glow in the lantern light. Scully closed her eyes and bit her lip. "Scully, tell me what's going on." Mulder reached out with his left hand, then pulled it away. "Scully?" "Fire, running from your hand and through my body, down my spine to my legs...feels like..." Scully stopped talking and sagged to her knees. She began whimpering under her breath, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Mulder knelt down next to her, and felt tears begin in her own eyes. "Whatever you're doing to her, stop it! Stop it right now!" Mulder looked helplessly at Scully, who still had both her hands wrapped tightly around Mulder's. "I'm the one you want to punish, not Scully. If you've got to torture somebody, do it to me, not her!" Mulder looked at the witch desperately, but the witch only smiled, her eyes cold, watching. Tears were now streaming down Scully's face and she was sobbing, but still clung to Mulder's hand as tightly as before. "No, Mulder, we've go to finish this," she gasped. 'She'll kill you if we don't." "I can't stand this, Scully. I can't let this go on..." Mulder's voice trembled with emotion. "Skinner, how long has it been?" "Twenty minutes." Skinner approached the circle and tried to go in, but found himself facing an invisible wall. "I can't get into the circle. I'm stuck outside." Skinner drew his gun and glared at the witch, but knew that firearms were a false security blanket. "Is there anything I can do to help?" "No. I don't think so," Mulder replied miserably. Scully was hunched over and crying steadily in a way Mulder had never seen before. "Scully, what's happening?" "Can't ...describe it. It hurts...oh it hurts...." When Mulder tried to loosen his hand from her grip, Scully glared at him in fury. "Don't you....DARE...let go. I'm not..going through this...to attend your...fucking...funeral! And I'm NOT....gonna...let that fucking....WITCH...have you!" Scully fell silent, gasping for air. Mulder grinned in spite of herself. "Well, when you put it that way, Agent Scully what can I say?" "Just...shut the fuck up...will you, Mulder?" Scully grated. Mulder shut up. It was hard to control her impulse to gather Scully up and try to protect her, but Mulder knew that to do so would only make the pain worse. "Thirty minutes." Skinner called. "Hey, Scully, thirty minutes. We're half way through." Mulder whispered. Scully just nodded her head and grimaced. Her shirt was soaked through with sweat, and her hair was plastered tight against her head. Scully hadn't looked this worn since she had been in the final stages of her cancer. Mulder remembered the witch's words, that some women didn't survive this, and her worry increased. Suddenly Scully began to shake, then to convulse, collapsing backward to lie flat on the ground. Despite that, she still maintained a tight grip on Mulder's hand. Mulder watched Scully helplessly writhing on the grass then looked up at the witch with burning eyes. "I don't know what kind of sick pleasure you get out of this, but it's no better than the petty cruelties of a Charles Bates, or Josiah Bates for that matter." Mulder looked down at Scully, whose convulsion had ended, leaving her half conscious. Tears ran down the sides of her pinched face. "This ends now. You win. She doesn't deserve this and I won't allow it." Mulder smiled at Scully, then picked up Scully's hand and kissed the back of it tenderly. Then she pulled her fingers away and gently laid Scully's hand down onto the grass. and stood up. "Mulder...no!" Scully called, trying to pull herself to her feet, but was thrown backward by a blast of force. Mulder's body began to shake and dissolve into a cloud of light and wind, moving faster and faster until Mulder became transparent. Mulder gave a last wrenching cry, then disappeared. The witch followed immediately after. The wind died down and the sounds of the forest returned. Skinner charged into the circle, glad to be able to do something at last, and ran to Scully. Scully had managed to stand and was scanning the forest around, holding the lantern and swinging it wide. "Scully, Mulder's not here. Not any more." Skinner approached her and grabbed her arm, arresting the swing of the lantern. "She took him somewhere. People don't just...disintegrate." Scully fought off Skinner's arm and stumbled forward, sobbing hysterically. "Scully, stop! You should be seen by a doctor, then we can organize a search for Mulder...or what's left of him." Skinner peered into the forest himself, then reached for Scully and grabbed her into a bear hug. "Come on, let's get you looked at, then we'll find him. Don't worry, we will find him." Skinner took the lantern and began to help Scully toward the car. "I'm fine, really. The pain is gone. It stopped, the whole thing stopped when Mulder dropped my hand." Scully looked bleakly around the dark forest. "Where did she take him? She can't have him. He's MINE." Skinner and Scully stopped abruptly when the witch materialized in their path. "You are right, Agent Scully. He is yours. You earned him. And he has earned you. I thought he might be teachable, and I'm glad I was right." The witch gestured to one side and Scully saw a very male-looking Mulder curled up on the ground, unconscious. "I did say that the witch had a sense of justice and proportion, didn't I?" Scully ran over to Mulder and quickly felt for a pulse. Strong and regular. She sighed in relief, then saw Mulder's eyes open. "Hey, Mulder, how ya feelin'?" "Like I got a bad case of PMS....Hey, I'm alive!" Mulder looked around, then felt his chest and examined his hands. A slightly disappointed look crossed his face. "I'm back in my old shape again too." "Yes. Isn't that what you wanted?" Scully asked anxiously. "Oh, yes. But, I can't see colors any more. I can't see your hair like I did, or the grass and the trees..." Mulder looked around wistfully. "I'd never known what red and green looked like before. But I'll remember." He brightened. "And I don't have to wear a bra anymore!" Scully giggled. "So, does this mean you aren't going to the White Flower Day sale with me after all?" "Far from it," said Mulder grinning. "I'm coming along to carry your bags and help you choose some comfortable shoes. Those Italian shoes kill your feet." "Well, agents, maybe we should go back to the motel," Skinner said drily. "I take it that this investigation will be officially declared 'unsolved'?" Both Mulder and Scully nodded fervently, and Skinner continued. "I also noted that the witch seemed to think that you two have some kind of relationship going; what was the phrase she used? 'True love'...wasn't that it?" Mulder and Scully stopped walking, both turning defensively toward Skinner. Skinner grinned and went on. "Of course, my hearing isn't what it used to be. I know that you two are complete professionals at all times and would never let your personal lives affect your work." Skinner smiled benignly and walked ahead of them on the trail towards the car. Scully pulled at Mulder's arm and stopped him. "Mulder, I know what you did. I wasn't that far out of it." "Scully, she was killing you. I couldn't let that happen," Mulder said quietly. "Even if I was the one left behind? Mulder, I couldn't stand that, being left behind again-forever." Scully reached her hand up to caress Mulder's stubbly chin. "I don't ever want you to ditch me again, even if it's the grim reaper calling you." Mulder smiled. "Did you mean what you said when you said, and I quote 'he's MINE'?" "You heard that? Well, yes. I guess I am territorial. So, don't you go off with any more witches, or you'll be singing like a woman again." Mulder put his arm around Scully's waist and began walking with her toward the car. "Scully, you say the most romantic things." Epilogue Report of Special Agent Dana Scully File number: X-156845645 The occurrences of phenomena attributable to the Bates family witch came to an abrupt halt after Agent Mulder and I returned from the forest. While I cannot deny the concrete evidence of Agent Mulder's apparent physical transformation (the DNA tests) I am still convinced that much of our experiences that night were the result of the hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac properties of the herbs and body paint we used that evening. Nevertheless, Agent Mulder passed his most recent physical in perfect health, as did this correspondent, showing no apparent lasting ill effects of our experiences. One odd event did occur, which has been attributed to the Bates Witch, although without substantiation. On Sunday August 22, one Walter Parks, the clerk at the Blue Belle Motor Lodge, was found nude and sleeping with his two mistresses in front of the altar at Evangel Christian Fellowship by the pastor and church choir. Mr. Parks alleges that he went to sleep in his own bed the previous night and never met the women before in his life. Mrs. Parks has filed for divorce and is expected to receive a generous settlement.