"BOKOR HOLIDAY" or (So, How was *Your* Weekend?) by: CAC (alias, The Stinker) *********************************** Tom Colton was still stinging from the fact that Spooky Mulder had solved the Tooms case and had made him look like an incompetent fool in front of his superiors and worst of all.....Scully. He had reveled in brief contentment when after Spooky's last escapade, the X-Files were unceremoniously taken from him and he was given every shit case that came along...That is until they buried him in personnel. What a monumental day, he thought!!! Now, out of nowhere, the X-Files are reinstated, Mulder has Scully back, and Asst. Director Skinner is retiring. Life is not fair. Who does that guy know? His thoughts became dark as he sucked down another scotch and with each drink, his anger and frustration grew in proportion. How many drinks did that make, he wondered....he'd lost count. Hell, the retirement party had been going on for a couple of hours now. He couldn't be expected to keep record of his alcohol consumption...could he? He looked across the room for the hundredth time and spied them yet again....smiling, laughing....even Spooky was having a good time. Well, "why wouldn't he," he grumbled to himself. Spooky seemed to be Dana's "second skin" all night...they were inseparable, in the literal sense. They danced by him again, if you'd call what they were doing...dancing, he pondered disdainfully. Why don't they just drop the pretense and do the "wild thing" right there in the middle of the floor? He snickered to himself at the imagined event and suddenly realized that the music had stopped and Mulder had left Dana alone to walk over to the bar to refill their glasses, stumbling slightly along the way. Well that's a wonder...seems he was not the only one who had imbibed a little too much this night. Mulder seemed to be treading shaky ground as well. He decided this would probably be his last chance at getting Dana alone and made his move. Colton carefully picked his way through the crowd of partygoers until he had placed himself directly behind Scully's left elbow. Seizing her upper arm, he spun her around roughly and demanded obnoxiously, "About time you danced with a *normal* guy don't ya think?" Dana, realizing that he'd had one too many, decided to be diplomatic and tried to redirect his attentions to someone else. "Really Tom, I don't want to dance right now...but thank you...perhaps one of the other...." "I'm not intersted in one of the *others* he growled obstinately, I want to dance with you...NOW." He jerked her toward the dance floor as she twisted in his grip to try and free herself. Now *she* was becoming angry. Tom took several steps with his unwilling partner in tow before he realized that someone was blocking his path. He could only guess who that might be. Looking up, he saw Mulder standing before him holding a delicate crystal drink glass in each hand, glaring down at him with barely contained fury. Mulder spoke through clenched teeth in a low controlled voice that belied the anger that he suddenly felt. "Colton, the lady said she's not interested. I suggest that you release her arm and find someone else." Colton violently dropped her arm and stepped up to Mulder in a threatening stance, angrily spitting out his words. "Why, Spooky? Have you staked a claim? Huh, Spooky? Is she that good a *lay*? Huh? Oh, I forgot...you're only interested in mutants, aliens, and shit like that....probably wouldn't know what to do with a *real* woman...would ya, Spooky?" A crowd gathered around listening intently with the gossipmongers at the head of the pack as Mulder studied Colton with disbelief, his hazel eyes seething with dark contempt. Scully sensed disaster and stepped in to try and diffuse a rapidly deteriorating situation. "Come on Mulder, you're both drunk...it's not worth it." Tugging on his sleeve she repeated in a pleading tone, "PLEASE." He considered her words, but Colton just wouldn't let it alone and repeated mockingly, "Yeah, Spooky, PLEASE....bet she likes it doggy-style." Even Scully was taken aback at this last remark and her mouth fell open soundlessly. She watched helplessly as Mulder's grip tightened explosively around the glass in his right hand in an effort to contain himself. The delicate glass suddently shattered under the pressure about the same time as his cool and he flung the other glass to the floor. Snatching Tom's suit lapel with his now bloody right hand, he wrenched him forward until they were face to face. He glanced briefly at Scully.."I may be three sheets to the wind, but I can still recognize an asshole when I see one and Colton....You're a fucking asshole. Do you come from a family of fucking assholes? I mean....is it genetic?....or do you have to work at it? As for knowing how to treat a *real* woman...up yours. Any relationship that I do or don't have with my partner is none of your goddamn business or anyone else's. Gee, call me old-fashioned but if you ever insult her again, I will rearrange your fucking face. Now get the hell out of my way before I plant this size thirteen up your goddamn ass and put you into orbit over Arlington as a fucking UFO." Mulder grasped Dana with his left hand and turned to leave but Colton, filled with resentment, called out acidly. "Fox." Mulder spun around just in time to see a fist headed in his direction which with some effort, he was able to avoid. He in turn fired off a right with the injured hand that caught Colton square in the face and sent him to the floor in a slide. Scully smiled sweetly at Tom as he sat up awkwardly against the wall. "I once said that I wanted to be there when you fell on your ass....this isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it just goes to show...wishes can come true." Scully put her arm gingerly around Mulder's waist and gently supported him as he walked unsteadily to the door. "Mulder, just what in the hell did you think you were doing?" He looked at her with feigned innocence. "Coming to the aid of a damsel in distress?" Scully glanced at him ruefully. "Oh great, my knight in shining armor, my hero, my prince....." Uh oh, he thought uneasily...wrong response. What'd I do now? OK Mulder, back up and review the situation. Number one: First off, ya got slightly polluted....that's *not* gonna work in your favor. Number two: So you made a scene in public....So what? YOU didn't start it. Number three: Then you hurt yourself and punched somebody in the face....Well goddamn it, the bastard deserved it...so why is she pissed? Number four: You're still bombed, so even though this makes perfectly logical sense to you, she's not gonna but it....... Out loud he merely offered with resign, "Dana, you know I would never let anybody hurt you." Oh shit. The look on her face told him that he should brace himself for another Scully lecture. Yep....she's gonna jump your ass for sure.....Well, fool, better sit back and shut up before you dig yourself in any deeper. She looked at his hand with concern in her eyes. "Don't make promises that you may not be able to keep...I know it's *Difficult* but try to remember....You are *Not* Captain America, O.K.? YOU can get hurt. Let me see your hand." He tried to give her the uninjured one. "No, Mulder, the other one....you know the one with the handkerchief wrapped around it..(God, is he messed up)" He held out his right hand for inspection and she gently unwrapped it. "Good going, Mulder, looks like it's gonna need stitches." Mulder studied it with detached interest. "It's OK, it doesn't hurt." Scully smiled slightly and shook her head. "It will when you're sober. Get in the car and try not to get sick or pass out. We'll have to go to my place so I can clean the cuts and stitch them up because there is no way I'm going to spend the rest of the night in the Emergency waiting room and watch you bleed all over the floor." "That's disgusting," he whispered groggily as he settled down in the car seat. She reached over, fastened his seat belt and stroked a wayward piece of hair from his eyes. They were beautiful eyes, soft and gentle, and right now...slightly blurry and a little red. He looked at her quizzically and then just smiled. She started the car and pulled away from the curb. He was the most complicated man she had ever known...God, it would take a lifetime to figure him out, if she ever could...She smiled at the prospect. ***** Part2 ***** Scully glanced at the clock on the dashboard as they pulled up in front of her apartment. Oh boy, she thought, 1 AM...No sleep tonight..er..today. She reached over to Mulder to unfasten the safety belt and noticed the handkerchief had come undone while he slept and a dark red spot had formed on his clothes. "Well Mulder, guess you've bought a tux...they're certainly not gonna want it back now." She shook him gentle with no response except a low moan. "Come on Mulder....wake up...you're gonna have to help with this. You're too big to carry. Alright big guy you asked for it." She took her fingers and mightily flicked his left ear, immediately producing the desired effect. His eyes flew open in confusion until he was able to focus on her face. "Are we there yet?" he asked hoarsely. "Yeah, we're here," she said, as she got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. Mulder opened the door and emerged swaying slightly while leaning heavily on the car door for support. Suddenly the color seemed to drain from his face and he mumbled hastily, "Excuse me," as he turned and made a bee-line to the corner of the building where he promptly threw up everything he had eaten in the last two days....at least that's how it felt. "Mulder, you OK?" Jesus, she thought, how many times has she had to ask that question? Too many. "I'm fine....just fine," he murmured, unconvincingly. Once inside the apartment, she ushered him quickly into the bathroom, washed the cuts, wrapped his hand in a clean towel and seated him in a chair at the dining room table. "Stay there and don't move," she said with authority. He looked up at her with his best *puppy dog* eyes and meekly replied, "yes ma'm." She left the room and returned carrying a black bag, from which she produced a menacing looking syringe. "What's that?" Mulder asked with growing apprehension. "It's a syringe, Mulder, you must be out of it more than I thought." "I know it's a needle....why do you need it?" "It's just Novocain to kill the pain while I'm sutchering your hand. Due to the amount of alcohol in you blood, I'm kind of limited from giving you any of the *good* drugs." "Can't you just butterfly em or something...it really doesn't hurt...much." "No, I can't." "Dana," he whispered softly, "I hate needles. I Really do hate them." She'd heard that tone before and it usually worked...but not this time. If she gave in, it would definitely not be in his best interest. "I don't *Believe* you, she countered. You've been shot, stabbed, poisoned, beaten up and God knows what else and you're afraid of a little needle?" "LITTLE," he stammered, "That thing looks like the Alaskan Pipeline." "I'm not discussing it any more...it's got to be done, so be quiet, don't move, and take it like a man." "Dana, why do people always say things like that befor they intend to inflict great bodily pain?" "To embarrass people like you into submission. Now hold still. I have work to do." He gave her a gorgeous smile and with mischievous eyes, he replied in a low, sultry voice, "Dana, you don't have to embarrass me...I'd submit willingly....." She shook her head slowly. "What am I going to do with you?" He looked hopeful. "I could think of a lot of things, none of which your mother would probably approve." "You're not gonna make this easy...are you?" He grinned, "Nope." ************************************ She awoke to the sound of music playing in the other room and the space next to her empty. Rolling over, she stared at the alarm clock on the night stand. Oh God, 6 AM.....Did he forget that we're on vacation?...Where in the hell was that music coming from anyway...I don't remember having that in my CD collection she thought foggily. Besides, he should be having the mother of all hangovers at this point...sometimes I think that man's not human. Then she remembered the piano. The gift from her brother had arrived yesterday and she felt guilty that she had totally forgotten about it and had not even called to thank him. Dana padded quietly through the hallway and peered out into the living room and was more than a little surprised to see the incongruous sight of her partner sitting at the piano, clothed in nothing but a pair of light blue boxers. He didn't notice her, so she remained silent and just listened to the soft, melodic voice. He played beautifully. "In every heart there is a room A sancturary safe and strong To heal the wounds from lovers past Until a new one comes along I spoke to you in cautious tones You answered me with no pretense And still I feel I said too much My silence is my self defense And every time I've held a rose It seems I only felt the thorns And so it goes, and so it goes And so will you I suppose But if my silence made you leave Then that would be my worst mistake So I will share this room with you And you can have this heart to break And this is why my eyes are closed It's just as well for all I've seen And so it goes, and so it goes And you're the only one who knows So I would choose to be with you That's if the choice were mine to make But you can make decisions too And you can have this heart to break And so it goes, and so it goes... And you're the only one who knows......" Dana moved up quietly behind him and place a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't know you could play." "There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Dana," he said with an air of mystery. He held up his bandaged hand and said jokingly, "It's kinda hard to play like Liberace when your wrapped up like a mummy." She smiled, "Well, it was still beautiful." "Thanks, Mother always believed in a "well-rounded " education. "You never cease to amaze me." "Really? Think we can figure out what I'm gonna wear?" She conducted a quick appraisal and stated enthusiastically, "What you have on looks pretty good...blue's your color." He rewarded her with a pained expression and got up. It was then he noticed something wedged between the piano and the wall. "Hey Scully, there's something stuck behind you piano." Mulder reached into the space and pulled out the object, holding it up to the light. It appeared to be a human bone with Dana's named scrawled on it in red. He glanced over at her with eyebrows raised and remarked in dryly, "momentos from your first autopsy? I didn't realize you were into collecting souvenirs." "Mulder," she said shakily, "I've never seen that thing before in my life. I hope this is somebody's idea of a sick joke. All humor left his eyes, "Has anything else turned up around here that you don't recognize?" "Well", she contemplated for a moment, "I did find a gold medallion outside my door the other day." His brows knitted with concern, "Where is this "medallion" now?" She favored him with a questioning stare, "I left it with Mr. Woodworth, the landlord. I assumed someone in the building had lost it. "Dana, where are my clothes? I've got to get dressed." Oh no, she despaired, she'd seen that look before and it meant nothing but trouble. "Where are we going?" she ask warily. "To see a man about a piece of jewelry." "This is VACATION, Mulder, remember....relax , no work...have fun...Etc....... This is *not* and X-File....Just someones *bad* joke." ***** Part3 ***** "Oh wonderful, Mulder, this just peachy. It't our first day of vacation and here we are spending it hassling*my* landlord about an object that isn't even mine....I *know there has to be some unfathomable explanation for this foray into the realm of jewelry, so if you don't mind, I would be most appreciative if you would let *me* in on why in the hell we're here." Mulder pressed the buzzer with renewed zeal and began to answer her, when the door cracked open and a bedraggled middle-aged man in a bathrobe peered out from beneath the door chain. "Sorry to bother you so early in the moring Mr. Woodworth. I'm special agent Fox Mulder with the FBI and I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment?" Mr. woodworth glanced at Scully and said in recognition, "oh, it's you...sure, come on in." He made his way to the couch, sat down heavily and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "Now, what can I do for you Mr. Mulder that couldn't wait till later?" "Well, it seems that you have a medallion that belongs to me and I've just come by to pick it up." Scully snapped her head in his direction at this unexpected revelation and opened her mouth in surprise, then shut it suddenly when she saw Mulder shoot her a look that demanded silence. Luckily, Mr. Woodworth didn't catch the by-play and merely stated gruffly, "The damn thing is on my desk and you're welcome to it...it gives me the creeps." Mulder ambled over to the desk and nonchalantly retrieved the amulet between his thumb and forefinger, studying it briefly, before dropping it into his pocket. He thanked the man for his assistance, collected Scully, and left Mr. Woodworth to his couch, coffee, and TV. As they left the building, Mulder tossed Scully the keys. "You drive." She caught the keys in mid-air with a gesture tht betrayed her growing annoyance. "OK, where to?" He smiled sheepishly. "My place first so I can change into "something a little more comfortable"(He didn't like tuxedos and being in one this long made him ansy), and then to see Mamma Lorina. The address he gave her was definitely not in the better part of town. Mulder leaned back in the seat, pulled out the talisman and began scratching at it with his pocket knife. "I knew it!", he said with satisfaction. "It's lead underneath." Scully, who had been driving in silence, hit the brakes out of frustration and brought the car to a screeching halt along the shoulder of the road. "Damn it, Mulder, are you gonna tell me what the hell is going on or am I gonna kick you butt out of this car right now and make you walk home?" "Jesus, Dana, he said with genuine surprise, "I didn't want to say anything until I was sure." "Sure about what?" "Have you been missing anything lately? You know, even something small? "Yeah, I lost my brush again, big deal. I lose it at least once a week. So what's a lost brush have to do with this *great mystery* that you won't tell me about?" He appeared to be indecisive and mumbled, "If I tell you, you'll think I'm nuts." "Mulder," she said evenly, "*That* is a foregone conclusion....Now spill it." "I think".....he paused for a moment...."I think someone is trying to put a curse on you." "A what?" She managed a crooked smile until she realized that he was dead serious. "A curse.", he said quietly. The lead medallion, the human bone with your name on it....I"ll bet you ten to one if it's analyzed, you'll find that the name was written in human blood. These are all items commonly used in the practice of *bokor* or black magic. I fear your life may be in danger." "My God, I think this time you may really have gone off the deep end.", she said with concern. First of all, who would want to curse me and secondly, I don't believe somebody can hurt you just by willing it." "Good," he replied with relief. "Wait a minute...Mulder, aren't you gonna try and convince me to *open* my mind and consider the possibilities?" "No", he state matter-a -factly. "This is one time where you're better off *not* believing...in this instance, *Belief* can kill. I know you don't believe and that's OK, but please listen to me. Someone has been in your apartment, someone has been watching you. Now you'll have to admit that whoever that someone is can't be up to any good. When I was involved in the "Process" cult murder investigation in 87', I was made painfully aware of what evil and perversions these monsters would inflict in order to fulfill their satanic doctrines. Their horror was worse than anything the X-Files could ever chronicle. They were an abomination of nature, a grotesque evil, not only of the body but of the soul as well. *You* may not believe, but *they* *do* and in the end, that's what counts. Please don't take this lightly...these people are dangerous and must be stopped." She knew that she did not believe in black magic, but she also knew that she *did* believe in Fox Mulder and if his instincts told him there was danger, she would listen. She placed her hand gently on top of his and patted it lightly in acknowledgment, started the car and drove. He relaxed a little. At least he'd won this round as he knew he would. The presentation of his argument had been logical and after all, she *was* a very logical woman. Mulder bounded form the car as it came to a stop in front of his apartment building and leaning across the passenger side, he winked a Scully and in a bantering tone quipped, "Keep the engine runnin'...I'll throw on some jeans and be back in a flash." He dashed across the hall into the bedroom, quickly stripped and pulled on a pair of jeans. There was a noise outside the door. "Hey Scully, I thought you were gonna wait in the ca....." He felt the blow before it actually hit, he tried to turn but it was too late. He heard the loud crack inside his skull as the pain exploded and engulfed his mind with darkness..... Where is he?, she wondered, silently. It's been a good fifteen minutes....and they say women take a long time. "That's it Mulder," she said out loud, "I'm not sitting out here in this damn car all day. I'm giving you to the count of ten, then I'm commin' in." She climbed the stairs to his floor and noticed that his door was standing open, which was unusual to say the least. Mulder would *never* leave the door open. The hair on the back of her neck stood up...this just didn't feel right. Knowing that Mulder seldom carried a weapon when he was off duty, she instinctively drew her own and cautiously crept through the doorway and into the room, clearing each area as she went. "Oh Sweet Jesus," she gasped as she knelt beside the still form sprawled face down on the floor. A small trickle of blood ran down his neck as a large purple lump began to appear on the back of his head. Satisfied that they were alone, she holstered her weapon, reached down and felt for a pulse. "Thank God," she breathed with a sigh of gratitude. He could still be in trouble...at the very least, a concussion. She probed the discoloration gently with her fingers then carefully rolled him over on his back and checked his eyes and vital signs. In her opinion he would be alright, but boy he would have one hell of a headache. Still...she'd have to watch him for a while, just to make sure. Someone was calling his name....Sam? He opened his eyes very slowly and tried to turn his head toward the sound. That was a big mistake. The light was painful and the movement assaulted his brain with dizziness as he fought down waves of nausea. He heard the voice again, muffled and far away, yet he knew it and knew that he must find his way back to it. Finally, the voice had a face and the face was..."Dana?" he rasped breathlessly. "How long? What happened?" "The answer to your first question is about an hour and as for the second...I was hoping that you could tell me." "Somebody hit me," he relpied facetiously. "Great deduction, Sherlock, ever think about becoming an FBI agent?" He smiled painfully and shut his eyes. Scully pulled the quilt she'd taken off the bed tighter around him and stroked the side of his face with the back of her hand. Just lie still for a little while and rest. ***** Part4 ***** Later, against her protests, he staggered to his feet and shakily made his way to the sofa and sat down. The effort drained him. He then noticed the doll on the table. "Where did this come from?", he asked, picking it up as though just touching it would burn him. "I found it at the end of the hallway...I thought it was yours. You do have some strange things in here you know." "It's a voodoo doll," he said with loathing. "The hair and pieces of cloth probably belong to you." They were here, Scully....they were here." He pulled on a loose fitting shirt over his still throbbing head and walked slowly toward the door. "Come on Dana, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this. Let's get this stuff analyzed and then go see Mamma." "Who is Mamma?", she asked, her curiousity piqued. "Only about the most unusual person you'd ever want to meet." "Can't be," she stated wryly, "I've already met him." She stared at him with a smirk that made him chuckle. "No, really, she's about the best authority on anything having to do with witchcraft, voodoo, the occult, etc. She's a mambo, that's a voodoo priestess and she's also plugged into cult activities in the area. She's really *out there*.....You'll like her." She felt silly walking to the lab carrying a voodoo doll and a bone. Perhaps she should let Mulder take this stuff in there, after all they were all used to getting weird things from him. Nah, that wouldn't be fair....it was just a thought. Oh hell and damnation....What's Colton doing here? Just what I need to round out a perfectly glorious day. Maybe Mulder won't see him. Too late... Mulder crossed the room to where Colton was standing and they eyed each other briefly. Mulder obviously came to some sort of decision and addressed Colton calmly. "I hear that you cracked the Ton Ton Ma Kut drug ring. I'm glad to hear there is one less cult-based crime syndicate for us to contend with....good work. I would also like to apologize for punching you in the face last night. Granted, you really pissed me off, but resorting to violence is not my usual MO. I hope any further altercations will be unnecessary. However, should the situation present itself again in the future, I only wish that I am sober enough to remember how much I enjoyed it." Dana watched in disbelief, trying to comprehend exactly what she thought she heard. "Mulder, did I just hear you apologize to that jerk? I think that blow to your head has affect your brain." "It wasn't quite an apology, just almost." He grinned broadly, "Sometimes the need to mess with their heads..." He chuckled, "God, I love this place!" He gingerly followed Scully through the labe doors and proceeded to be a general pest as usual, looking over everyones' shoulder and questioning every aspect of each analysis. Various technicians, over the years, had gotten used to him being under foot and when he wasn't around, they actually missed the attention that he afforded them. Scully took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "Most of the tests are inconclusive, however, the blood present on the bone is A+ and human and the genetic make-up of the blood also matches the genetic code found in the cellular structure of the bone, thereby indicating that both items came from the same individual. This person either died or was killed, dismembered and his blood was then used to write the script. Mulder, this is insidious. Did you have any luck with the other items?" "Not much. There are no usable fingerprints except ours on anything. I sent the amulet to the crypto guys to try and figure out the symbols and writing. The doll, however, was filled with a rich type of soil usually found near riverbeds and farms." "Hey Scully," he tapped the end of her nose with his forefinger, "how's about us doin' a little slummin'? I think it's time to call on Mamma Lorina." This was indeed a very seedy part of town. What could he possibly expect to accomplish here? They arrived at the tiny herbal/apothecary shop and went inside. Mulder led her down the narrow passageway and parted the beaded curtains at the end. "Ah...., memories of Woodstock," he purred with a nostalgic air. "Mulder, you were never a Woodstock." "Yeah, well, I saw the movie!" He began to bellow at the top of his voice, "Mamma Lorina, Mamma Lorina.....you in here?" A large, black woman appeared from a back room, wearing traditional Island dress and speaking with an equally traditional Island accent. "Is dat ya, Fox? Come here ta mamma ya unruly boy. Dare is no need ta bring ta house down bout our ears wid all dat noise." She reached up placed both hands firmly on the sides of his face and forcefully brought his head down to plant a kiss on his forehead, then released him, smacking him playfully on the cheek. "Ya not come ta see mamma in long time ya naughty boy...an now I see perhaps why dis be so. Who is dis lovely young girl, mon?" "He blushed and cleared his throat. "Ah..this is my partner, Dana Scully." "So ya be keepin' dis one outta major trouble?", she asked laughingly as she glanced in his direction. Dana's eyes took on a peculiar glint as she looked at the jovial woman standing before her. "I try, Mamma, I *do* try." "I know ya not come jus to see Mamma, so what be ta problem dis time, ma Fox?" He told her in great detail about the objects and events that had occurred in the past few hours and asked for her opinions and advice. "Tell me, Mamma, what do you hear about cult activities in this area lately?" "I hear dat when da "Ton Ton Ma Kut" syndicate was broken, ta "Process" took da control to ta drugs, child prostitution and pornography in dis area. I also tell ya, Fox, ta Voodoo be bo longer pure. It now be mixed jus like America. It be harder to tell where ta Voodoo end and ta udder magic begin. Ta doll, bone, and blood could be ta work of a *houngan* or Bokor Priest...it is powerful mojo, but the charm...dis is not Voodoo...dis is ta evil magic like dat used by ta "Process"..ta worship ta Evil One. Often times ta name of ta sacrifice in in some way hid in ta markins'" "Thanks, Mamma." He smiled and hugged her tightly. "I will try ta be a good boy an com see Mamma mor dan one time in ta year," he mimicked in his best Island voice. "Miss Scully," Mamma handed her a card. "Dis be ma numba, if ya be needin' any ting at all." "Thank you, I shall keep it handy." "Let's get back to the Bureau, Scully, I want to get another look at that medallion..I think it's still in crypto." "Mulder, she eyed him with amusement, "You certainly have some *strange* friends." "I know," he countered, appraising *her* from head to toe. ***** Part5 ***** They made it back to the Bureau about 6:00 PM and most of the building was deserted except for a few employees and agents catching up on paperwork. They parted at the elevator. He went to the office in the basement and she went to crypto to retrieve the medallion. Mulder, files in hand, returned to the main office area to discover Colton, of all people, working at a desk. "Colton, has Scully been by here yet?" Colton looked somewhat annoyed, but answered, "Yeah, she was here...got a phone call, something about an abandoned farm out by Old River Road." Mulder suddenly remebered the soil composition they had found in the voodoo doll and he came to a very alarming conclusion. "Quick Colton, she may be walking into trouble, I'm leaving now...call for back up." He ran for the door and out of the building. He *had* to catch her. Scully walked into the main office area and was startled to find Colton busily working at a desk. "Tom, have you seen Mulder?" Tom looked up from his work, "Yeah, he got a phone call about a lead or something and said to tell you to stay here and try to figure out that medallion." That's odd, she thought. It was not like hm to leave her alone without an explanation, especially if he believed her life to be in danger. It must have been *some* lead. She sat down at an empty desk and turned the object over with her fingertips. Well at least crypto had translated the symbols into letter she could understand. Mulder drove up to the old barn, quietly with the headlights out. If Dana was in there, he didn't want to startle them into any irrational behavior. He got out of the car, drew his weapon and silently crept up to the building. There was no moon and seeing anything was nest to impossible so he felt his way along the wall, listening for any sound or movement. In a sudden flurry, a heavy weight fell on him from above and he crashed to the floor, the impact jarring the gun from his hand. He searched for it frantically as many pairs of hands grabbed at his body and held him immobile, while someone stripped him to the waist and removed his shoes. His hands were manacled and a piece of duck tape was placed over his mouth as he was hoisted toward the ceiling and left suspended several inches above the dirt floor. How long had he been hanging here? Where was his back up? What the fuck was going on? This was one party he decided he didn't want to stick around to attend but the more he struggled to try and free himself, the deeper the metal dug into his wrists....he could feel the warm liquid trailing down his arms....his arms, God they ached and it was getting harder and harder to breathe... Scully looked at the object for the umteenth time and sighed. OK, Dana, let's try a different approach...pretend that you're doing the anagrams in the newspaper. So, write down all the letters in the order in which they appear as you go around the circle. "Here goes nothin'," she said out loud. She wrote them down one by one. SEIDREDLUM. She stared at the letters with sudden comprehension. It was so simple! Why in the name of heaven hadn't she seen it before? "It's not me..It's not me.," she said in a raised voice...".Oh my God, they're after Mulder." A clerk who had been working late came into the room at the sound of her outburst. "Is everything alright?, she asked. "No, Peggy. Where's Colton?" "He left about a half hour ago. I was kind of surprised to see *you* here since I overheard Tom tell Mulder that you had gone to investigate a lead at some deserted farm on Old River Road. "Peggy, call the local police and have them meet me at that location...It could be a matter of life or death....Hurry!" She sped off in the car, hoping all the way that somehow she could be wrong. ***** Part6 ***** A fire sprang up behind him and cast eerie shadows on the floor and on the wall before him, towered an inverted cross above a large, waist-high table of granite. An ordinary barn had suddenly transformed into a vision of hell. Something had gone terribly wrong. Where was his damn back up and where was Dana? He got a sickening feeling that perhaps they had harmed her. Panic and sorrow gathered within him like an approaching storm and its raging tempest made him physically ill. The doors opened slowly and a long line of hooded figures, carrying lighted candles filed into the building, chanting,"Soul-ti-bon-ange," in a low monotonous tone. The lead figure carried with him a three foot length of cane. He had heard of "scourging" during certain rites but had read that it was a symbolic gesture and never actually performed. Somehow he knew there would be no symbolism here....Goddamn it, he was about to die at the hands of beings who he despised and was denied even the ability to fight back. Anger filled his entire being.....anger and something else....regret. Dans...There were so many things he'd wanted to tell her, so many things that he'd *needed* to say....so much left undone. He was afraid. He did not want to die. One by one they struck him and he shook involuntarily with each new pain that they inflicted. Their chanting echoed in his head and made him dizzy. He felt numb. The high priest stood before him, ceremonial dagger in hand. Mulder wrestled with his own demons to face the terror that confronted him and as the blade pierced his side, the primordial scream that filled his mind was never allowed to escape his lips. Dana willed the car to go faster. A sense of dread surrounded her and an anxiety that she could not explain tied her stomach in knots. Tears filled her eyes. Hang on...please hang on. The blood dripped freely from his wound into the small, silver chalice which was then held high above the priest's head. The high priest sanctified the offering, raised it to his lips and passed it around the circle. Mulder watched in horror as they drank his blood. This could not be reality, he thought, yet this was more hideous than any nightmare he could ever have imagined on his own. With the circle completed, the high priest placed a strange white powder into the remaining liquid, chanted some words in a language that Mulder did not understand, and force the contents down his throat. The spasms convulsed him at first and then gradually lessened as the paralysis claim his body. He could hear the beating of his own heart. His mind was aware yet the messages it sent were ignored by his body. His senses were intact even though he could not respond. They released him from his shackles and laid him upon the granite alter. The chanting increased in pitch and fervor as the high priest raised the dagger high above his chest. He wanted to look away but his eyes were open and he did not possess the power to close them. A shot rang out, followed by bright lights and mass discord. The police had arrived and he found himself staring up a what appeared to be emergency medical personnel who discussed him like he wasn't even there. "No respiration, no pulse, eyes fixed and unresponsive...we're too late for this one...he's dead." They pulled a sheet up over his face. "Leave him for the coroner." Coroner? Oh fuck, they think I'm dead...I'm not dead you son of a bitch. He screamed at them in his mind, but they could not hear and he had no way to tell them. ***** Part7 ***** Dana pulled up to the flashing lights. There were police cars everywhere and she noticed, one ambulance. She ran to the officer in charge, showed him her ID and was told exactly what she did not want to hear. She held on to her grief and entered the building, hoping beyond hope that they were mistaken. She reached over and pulled the sheet away from his battered body, brushed a stray hair from his eyes as she had done so many times before, and gently kissed his lips. She caressed his lifeless hand and pressed it to her cheek. Unable to contain herself any longer, she wept openly and without reservation. Seeing her plunged him into a depth of despair that he had not known to be possible. She was so close. He felt her breath on his face and the warmth from her body next to him, yet she might as well be standing on the moon for he could not reach her. In hopeless anguish, he cried with her. ***** Part8 ***** Seeing her plunged him into a depth of despair tht he had not known to be possible. She was so close. He felt her breath on his face and the warmth of her body next to him, yet she might as well be standing on the moon for he could not reach her. In hopeless anguish, he cried with her. She looked down at him one last time and saw it....a single tear traced its way down his cheek. Dana stared at it momentarily in amazement, then rushed to the door. "Get an EMT in here NOW!," she yelled. "I want that equipment in there." She pointed to the barn. "And HURRY!" The technician was slow to respond and looked at her with pity. "I'm sorry, but the man is dead." "Listen, I am a doctor. I have seen hundreds of dead bodies. I've seen them shake. I've seen them open their eyes. I've even seen them sit up...but I have NEVER seen one cry. Now get your ass in there." On the way back into the building, she cornered one of the followers as he was being led away. "What did you give him?" "Tell me what you gave him!!!, she snarled. "Zombie poison." "What the hell is that?" She frantically searched her pockets and pulled out Momma Lorina's card and gave it to the sergeant. "Call this woman and tell her Fox was given "zombie poison". I don't know what the hell it is but you can bet that she does. I want to know what's in it and what to use as an antidote. Got that? I want it copied down verbatim...NO mistakes and then I want the information sent to the toxicology lab at the hospital STAT. I want the antidote ready for him when he gets there." "Dr. Scully, "You were right. The EKG is recording a heartbeat. It's very faint but it's there." "OK, put him on 2 liters Oxygen and start an IV...normal saline. Hang on... You're gonna make it. Let's get you out of here." ****** Part9 ****** Sitting by the bed, she watched him sleep a deep, peaceful sleep and shuttered. She'd nearly lost him....between the injuries, the shock and the poison, it had been a long, rough night. The warmth of the sun shining through the hospital window woke her and she opened her eyes to find that he had been watching *her* sleep. "Good Morning," she ventured cheerfully. " Nice to see you're still among the living, Sherlock." He motioned weakly for her to come closer, then reached out, pulled her to him and kissed her soundly on the lips. He whispered in her ear, "I was unable to return the gesture last night." Quietly, he added, "Thank you." She stepped back and saw the twinkle was back in his eyes where it belonged. "Tom Colton was picked up today and taken into custody," she said without preamble. Mulder questioned her with his eyes and she continued. "He put a contract out on you, Mulder." Now she really had his attention. "It's true that he broke the "Ton Ton Ma Kut" drug ring but his success was based on information given to him by the "Process". He made a deal with them that he would concentrate all the Bureau's efforts against the Ton Ton Ma Kut, giving the "Process" free reign to pick up the slack while he turned the other way when it came to *their operations* if they would do one thing.....get rid of you. This way he felt that he could kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. One: He could get the recognition that he felt he deserved and a rung up the infamous ladder and Two: He could get you out of his hair for good, thereby fulfilling some kind of perverse revenge that he felt he owed to you. Momma Lorina was right when she said that the amulet didn't belong with the other objects. It was Tom who put those things in my apartment and Tom who hit you and left the doll. He wanted to throw you off and jerk your chain and it worked. Mulder, he read you like a book. All you could see is that *I* might be in danger, so it never occurred to you that *you* could be the target. Dropping the amulet by my door was an accident, in fact it was the one thing that tipped me off that you might be in trouble." "So, I can be *read* that easily, huh?" He sounded a little disappointed. "Now, where do you want to go when you get out of here? We still have a week of vacation left you know." "I dunno," he said languidly. Where do *you* wanna go?" "I don't know," she smirked, "Where do you want to go?" "I think I'll go to work," he mumbled, "It's safer. OK, how about a visit to my Aunt Carol's ranch in Vermont? Lots of fresh air, sunshine, horses, trees, me.......Hey Scully, we could go for a walk in the forest." She looked at him in mock horror. "Whaaat? he asked with angelic innocence. "I was remembering the *last* time you asked me to go for a walk in the forrest." "Oh, right....Do I know how to show a girl a good time or what?" He yawned and drifted lazily back into his dreams. She paused and said a silent prayer and thanked whatever devine power it was that kept Fox Mulder safe. She was beginning to realize just how *much* she would have missed him...... [End]