All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really... The character of Jackie St. George belongs to me though... Dragons of The Blood by Sheryl Martin The last scarlet drops fell into the container; the ripples subsiding as he watched the body hang limply. Setting about the task of unbinding the corpse, he gently moved the bucket to one side; humming happily to himself. *************** The dark alleyway flashed as the police photographers did their job of documenting the grisly find. A crowd of spectators stood behind the barricade and murmured among themselves as the cool night breeze swept down the street. A young woman pushed through the group; her long hair loosely tied back with an elastic as she hopped over the barrier. Striding up to the detective; she caught her breath. "Who found him?" He glared at the ID staring him in the face, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "You St. George?" "Unless I stole the wrong wallet." Jackie growled. "Brief me." He led her away from the crowd into the back of the alley. "One of your Mounties, according to his identification. Brian Jameson. Found by the garbage man almost an hour ago." She knelt down, lifting the sheet. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes. "Brian..." Standing up again, she turned to the detective. "I want this turned over to the FBI." She didn't notice the pair coming up behind them. "No way. This isn't a federal matter; and we think he might be part of a..." His voice trailed off as Jackie grabbed the lapels of his jacket, turning to slam him against the wall. "I'm telling you to do this... and I'll only ask once more." She snarled. "You want a diplomatic incident? I'll have you deported for this..." St. George laughed hoarsely at him. "Oh, believe me, if this were all it took to get out of your bloody country, I'd have done it long ago." She slammed him harder into the bricks. "Give." Smash. "It." Smash. "Over." Smash. "Jackie..." She heard Fox Mulder's voice behind her as she stared into the man's face. "Alright -- it's going to the Feds." He shrivelled under her fiery gaze. "I'll send over the files." As she released him, the man looked behind her at Dana Scully. "You two friends with this psycho? We shoot rabid dogs around here..." He had gotten just out of range as she lunged for him, instead finding Mulder's arms grabbing her. "Calm down..." He said softly. "You're not that invulnerable..." "He was one of my men." Her eyes locked with Fox's. He nodded. "Let's see what they have." Scully looked over at the coroner's wagon. "I'll meet you at the autopsy room." ***************** Jackie stood nearby, talking on Fox's cel phone as Dana snapped off the rubber gloves, shaking her head. "There's no blood left in the body." She said disbelievingly. "Hold on, Rosie..." Jackie turned around. "Give me a sec, okay? Rosie, just explain that I can't accompany the body back to Ottawa... yah, I know... and that the autopsy is my responsibility... right, later..." She handed the phone back to Mulder. "What do you mean, no blood?" "There's a small slit in the right wrist -- an artery." She pointed it out to them on the pale skin. "It appears that the blood was drained out by having the body in an upright position..." She looked at Fox. "He was bled to death?" He frowned. "No other signs of cutting?" "None..." Dana noticed Jackie turning away. "You okay?" "Yah..." Her shaky voice echoed in the autopsy room. "It's just... Brian and I always used to joke about the worse way to die... we agreed that being alone would be number one on our list..." She sighed. "And he must have been awake during this, right?" Dana licked her lips, staring at Fox. "It's possible..." Mulder held up a thick folder. "It seems our vampire's gotten a few more bodies. Four, to be exact." "This isn't a vampire." Scully objected. "You know full well that there are cases of people, anaemic possibly, who try to drink blood to make themselves into vampires. It's a mental aberration..." "I believe in vampires." Mulder said softly, his mind far away. St. George reached for the folder. "Let's get out of here." ********************* "All four men were drained the same way." Dana read aloud as they drove towards the office. "No sign of a struggle... the others were totally unrelated - no obvious connection." "It'd take a lot to pin Brian down." St. George pointed out. "He's no pushover." She tapped a nail against her teeth thoughtfully. "Hypnosis?" They turned to look at Mulder, his blank stare focused on the road. "Hello?" "Ah... it could be." He blinked as they entered the parking garage. "If you had the right eye contact and found vulnerable people you could control them. We know that..." Dana looked at Jackie, who shrugged. "So what the hell is going on?" Dana turned on him as the office door closed. Jackie had headed back to the embassy to do some work, quietly telling Dana to call when they were online again... the look of annoyance on her face was clear. "What?" Mulder reached into his desk for a pen. "You. You're acting strange over this... it's important to Jackie; that's why she got us the case. We're supposed to be helping her, remember?" "I know. I do." His voice dropped to a whisper. "It was just that while you were... gone... I had a case dealing with vampires..." "I know." Mulder looked up. "I read the files, you know. To catch up." Scully frowned. "But there's something you didn't put in... is it relevant to this case?" "No." He shook his head adamantly. "I'm certain of that. It just hurts to remember..." She stared at him. "Don't ask, not right now." "Then let's get the files on these victims compiled." Her no-nonsense tone make him smile. ****************** "The killer probably met them at some point." Scully paced back and forth. "There's no other sign of injury other than the initial cut... no fighting of any sort on the body." Jackie looked at the files spread out over her desk. "So they went willingly?" St. George said softly. "Brian was a fighter..." Her eyes met Mulder's; sitting in the far chair. "But he was also a flirt..." "Brandy's?" Dana asked, referring to the local bar. "Brandy's." Jackie nodded. "You coming, Mulder?" Her sharp tone jolted him out of his reverie. **************** Ed smiled as he watched the trio enter. Stacking three glasses on the bar top, he waited for them to come closer. "The usual?" Dana shook her head. "We're working..." She smiled. "Maybe later." He laughed. "And I promise not to call the army in again..." Pulling Fox to one side, Jackie let Dana start talking to the plump bartender. Staring into his eyes, she took a deep breath. "So what the hell is up with you? You don't want this..." "No." His whispered reply came. "I just remember the last case with a vampire..." "What?" Jackie replied. "Hell, I read the case file too; Dana shipped it over to see if I had any theories if it was related." Her eyes locked with his, demanding. "Tell me..." "There was a woman..." He broke away from her gaze, embarrassed. Taking a step back, she smiled. "I read about her." She moved closer again. "So?" "I... ah... we..." He shook his head. "It just happened." "So what?" She stared at him, watching his expression. "Mulder... look up. I hate talking to your bald spot." He weakly grinned, pulling his face back up. "Mulder... I'm not your confessor." Jackie laughed softly. "Even with a name like St. George, that's the last thing I can do. I can't give you absolution; nor should you be seeking it." Gently placing a hand on his shoulder, she continued. "It was while Dana was gone; it was a bad time for you. I've been there myself... I wish I had known you then to be here for you... although I definitely wouldn't have slept with you." He chuckled. "The only person whose forgiveness you need is your own. I understand, and Dana does." His eyes flashed over to the bar where Scully was still talking with Ed. "I think she suspects... although she'd never ask you, and I don't think she cares. If you told her, she'd understand that it wasn't serious -- give her credit for that much." He nodded, sighing. "But... if you ever do it again, and I find out..." She slapped his face lightly, waving her finger threateningly. "I will be very mad and I won't stop her from killing you..." Jackie turned to go, smiling. She stopped suddenly, finding her hand firmly held by his. "Thank you." Raising it to his lips, he kissed her hand lightly; looking deep into her blue eyes with a smile. She laughed, pulling away. "Even saints have to avoid temptation, Mulder... don't push it." The young woman walked over to the bar. He shook his head with a smile, wondering at her, then followed. "Yep, he left here that night with a woman." The bartender poured a glass of coke for Jackie, smiling as he slid the mug down the bar to her. Dana took a step back behind Fox as he leaned on the polished wood, scribbling notes in his journal. "You know the type..." He grinned at Mulder. "A hot redhead..." St. George choked on the drink, hastily wiping her mouth. Mulder felt Scully's eyes drilling into the back of his head, waiting for his response. Swallowing noisily, he nodded, grimacing inwardly. "She's a hooker. Usually I throw them out, but he took a fancy to her so quickly that before I knew it, he was gone..." The plump man shook his head. "Bad way to die." "There aren't that many good ways." Mulder closed his book. "Thanks." "We're having a wake for him tonight... drop by." He looked at Jackie. "Lotta folks send their regrets to you too... he was one of your boys." "That he was." She sadly smiled. "That he was..." ********************** "It fits the profile of the other victims. They were all seen in the company of a redhead." Scully flipped through the folder. "Problem is, which one?" "You know who the best person is to ask about this..." Mulder said as they got into the car. "I know... but I don't have to like it." Scully sighed. Turning in the seat, she stared at St. George. "And you promise me one thing..." ************** "Scully! St. George!" Frohike reached for the camera as the trio entered the Lone Gunman offices. "And you brought Mulder along..." He frowned, then sighed as he flicked the lens cap off. "Nice dye job, Jackie... but not red enough for my taste..." A heavy hand descended on his viewfinder, obscuring the lens. "Number one, it's not a dye job. Number two, if I hear one shutter click, the whole roll's going to be filled up with pictures of your intestinal tract." Jackie smiled. "Please don't make me shove this up your..." "Ah... we're here to ask for your help on a federal case." Mulder jumped in, noticing the fear on Frohike's face. "A federal case?" He snickered, placing the camera far away from him. "And you need my help?" "A man was murdered." Jackie leaned in close. "He was one of my Mounties working at the Embassy..." His face grew solemn. "I read that... I didn't know." He looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry." "I am too." She whispered back. "I shouldn't have been so nasty." "So I can get the camera back?" He grinned. Shaking her head, she laughed. "I almost felt sorry for you... no way. But I hear you know about redheaded prostitutes..." "Mulder!" He stared at Fox. "What other secrets have you told them?" "Well, not the one about your erotica collections... yet." Fox smirked. "Seriously..." "You got it." Frohike turned around and started to tap madly on the computer. "I just want you to know that I don't really use this information, I just compile it as a resource..." The disbelieving looks filled the room. "Jessica Rogers. And here's the address..." He handed the printout and pictures to Mulder. "She's most likely to be in your area at the times of the murders. She's got a pimp, Gene Miner - weird guy." "I have to hear your definition of weird." Scully murmured. "He's a bit of a nut searching for the secret of long life; does all that health food stuff and all... wants to live forever. His address's on the bottom." The man grinned at Scully. "So, what are you going to give me for the information?" "Mulder..." Scully fixed her gaze on him. He flinched. "Ah... I'll call you later." "Jackie?" His eyes stared hopefully at the Canadian. Smiling broadly, she leaned over the desk. "Well, I've always had this fantasy about chocolate M&M's..." His eyes widened... "And being blindfolded..." She whispered, watching his eager reaction... Mulder and Scully chuckled as they watched. "And then?" His choked question came out. "Oh... but then I'd probably kill you..." She chortled, turning to go. "Debt paid in full." "That was very cruel." Scully said as they headed for the car. "I loved it." "Great scenario." Mulder mused. "I think it's on my list..." He opened the back door for her. "But you shouldn't lie like that to him..." "Hey, great minds think alike. You taking notes, Dana?" St. George grinned. "And who was lying?" ************************* They slowly drove up the street, looking out at the local girls. "See anyone you like, Mulder?" Scully chuckled, seeing him flinch. "Hah-hah... I'm hysterical..." Pulling into a parking spot, he looked at the two women. "So we go find our mystery lady, and she leads us to Miner... then what?" He stared directly at Jackie. "What?" She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I know... the courts will decide..." "It's tempting, I know." He said softly. "But you have to play it legally." "I have before, or don't you remember?" She snapped back. Scully put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down... he didn't mean..." "The hell he didn't!" Throwing the car door open, she got out angrily. "What do you think I do, just kill for the fun of it! To hell with you, Fox I-have-no-feelings Mulder!" Slamming the door, she stomped off down the street. "Jackie!" He yelled after her, getting out himself. Throwing up his hands, he turned to Scully. "What did I say?" "What she didn't need to hear." Dana responded. "She's walking a thin line right now, and you didn't need to remind her of it." She stared at him. "What's wrong with you?" He rested his forehead on the car door. "I don't want... ah... get back in the car. We have to talk." ************************ Grumbling, Jackie kicked over a trash can in the alleyway. She shouldn't have lost her temper with Fox... he's just a little raw right now... but that bastard still can't forgive himself... and who put him in charge of your life? Shaking two aspirins out of a container, she swallowed them dry with her anger. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a redhead heading down another alley with a possible client - Jessica Rogers. Bingo. And to hell with Mulder and Scully... She slunk along in the dark. ******************************* "So?" "So what?" "So you asked me to get back into the car so we can talk, and you've said nothing for two minutes..." "What, you counting?" "Mulder..." Her voice lowered to a growl. "St. George is out there tracking..." "Alright..." He took a deep breath. "I... ah... became involved with the woman mentioned in the vampire case while you were gone. Kirsten." He choked as he said her name. "It was... against regulations..." "Which you respect at all times, of course." She looked closely at him. "Mulder... why are you telling me this?" "I... I thought you should know..." He licked his lips. "I just wanted to tell you that it wasn't serious or anything..." He avoided her eyes. "She was just there..." "I understand." Reaching out, she put her hand atop his. "My father was in the Navy. How many times do you think he heard the same sort of talk from his men when they were so far from home? And he always told them the same thing." "What?" He still couldn't look up. "That when all is said and done, what's in your heart and soul far outweighs anything you do with your body..." She squeezed his hand. "Now stop sulking and let's go get Jackie. You own her an apology." "Scully..." He looked into her hazel eyes. "Your father was a wise man." She grinned. "And my mother was a forgiving woman. Get out." ************************ St. George watched the pair enter a stairwell, stepping into one of the recesses... Grinning widely, she looked at her watch. One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four, one thousand five... Jumping down the stairwell, she drew her .38, flashing her badge in front of her. The man struggled with his pants, trying to zip them back up and run at the same time. She let him pass, falling every second step as he dashed out of the stairwell. "You going to bust me?" Jessica chewed her lip. "I'm over eighteen. Twenty-two, never done drugs..." "And I feel much better for you telling me that." Jackie smiled. "I want Miner... tell me where he is." The bat landed at the back of her head, sending her pitching to the ground, unconscious. "Babe, you gotta start being more careful." Gene Miner squeezed Jessica's face painfully. "This cop just about got you in trouble." She nodded, the terror in her eyes feeding his ego. Kicking her gun to one side, he hoisted the woman's body over his shoulder. "We gonna live forever, babe... you and me. You go find another guy and I'll take care of her." He began to climb the fire escape, wrestling with the dead weight as he ascended. ************************** "Mulder..." Scully knelt down by the stairwell. They had been directed here by a local who appreciated the value of having some friends on the legal side of the law... She picked up the .38. "Damn..." He put it in his coat pocket, looking around frantically. "She must have been knocked out..." "Here's her ID." Scully pocketed it. "We have to find her." "Ah..." The low voice startled them, coming from the darkness. Whipping their pistols free, they levelled them at the shadows. "Come out, with your hands above your head..." Mulder said sternly. Rogers slowly walked towards them, shaking her head. "He's nuts... he's nuts... I told him, you can't kill a cop - he didn't listen to me and now he's going to kill another one..." She began to rant. "Where is he?" Mulder demanded. "Apartment 4C... we bring them back here, cause it's easier to drag the bodies up the escape..." ************************* Groggily Jackie fought her way awake, feeling the leather restraints on her wrists; holding them down at her side. With a feeling of panic, she realised her feet were bound with the same soft leather... and nothing sharp was around to cut herself on... Swallowing noisily, she fought back the fear enough to scan the room. The bloodstains on the floor shocked her; the wide circular smears of past victims being dragged from this room to another for disposal... she figured. A large metal cauldron lay in the far corner, filled half-way with... "Blood." Gene Miner smiled as he entered the room. Rubbing a hand over his clean-shaven face, he strode over to her. "The secret of eternal youth... I will bathe in the blood of a hundred innocents and live forever." "Boy, have you got the wrong woman." She joked nervously. "And trust me, it's not possible." "I believe in the power of the blood." He stared at her sharply. "As do you. I can tell." He circled the room, stopping every now and then to stare at her. "Your blood will make me more powerful... I'll outlive everyone..." "And watch reruns of Melrose Place? I'd rethink that philosophy..." Drawing his hand back with a hiss at her comments, he went to hit her - then halted. "I know..." He whispered. Jackie opened her eyes again, flinching instinctively from the blow she was expecting. "I know this is what you want... and I won't let your blood flow like this - on your terms." Walking over to the corner of the room, he pulled a cloth away, exposing a table of containers and knives. "But if you're unconscious... I'll drain you dry and you won't even know it..." She frowned. "I don't know if even that might make you get a date on Saturday night..." Her bravado failed as he approached with an ether-soaked cloth. Slapping it over her face, he watched her struggle for a second before slipping back down into darkness. Dropping the sponge back on the table, he picked up a straight razor, running his finger lovingly across the blade. Holding her right wrist gently, he laid the blade across the skin... "Federal agents! Freeze!" Scully yelled as they burst into the room, Mulder behind her. Their eyes widened at the sight of the blood-filled container. Spinning on his heel, Miner laughed. "You can't kill me!" He took a step towards Scully. "Hold it!" She yelled, aiming. A second later she began to squeeze the trigger of her pistol - to hear the shot from Mulder's weapon just above and beside her. Miner fell back, turning to slump against St. George. Opening her eyes, she grinned into his face. "You want to see a Dragon?" She snarled. "You want to see the power?" Slamming her head forward with all her might, she head butted the man. A thin trickle ran down her forehead as she ripped the restraints from the wall, picking him up in her hands. "You want to see it?" She roared, the blood running down one side of her face. "Jackie!" Mulder took a step forward, putting his hand out. Miner laughed, bringing up the razor. Slashing out with it, he nicked the inside of her right wrist; a light cut. "You can't kill me!" He pushed his face into hers. "I am evil!" Dropping the razor, he grabbed her head with both hands. "I am what you hunt..." He burst into flames, engulfing them both in fire. Tossing him from her, Jackie fell to the floor as the flames licked at her hands and face. Tearing off his trench coat, Fox threw it over her, patting out the flames as Dana watched Miner collapse in the corner of the room in a fiery pile - setting fire to the walls. Pulling them to their feet, she pushed the pair out the door as the apartment began to burn around them. ************************ "Ow!" Jackie yelped as Dana applied the burn salve to her arms and face. "Don't be such a crybaby." She scooped another fingerful out of the jar; gently spreading it over her cheeks. "You're lucky you didn't get anything worse than this. No scars at all... you'll just look like you got a bad sunburn." The phone rang. "Here." She handed the jar to Mulder. He grinned at her. "Don't you even think it." Jackie warned, balancing herself precariously on the edge of the kitchen counter. He took a large hunk of the ointment, draping it on the edge of her nose. "Mulder... nothing personal, but you're not my first choice of men who I want spreading lotion on my body." She laughed at his downcast expression. "Although it looks like you and Miner shop at the same specialty stores." He chuckled, looking at the leather restraints lying on the table. They had gently unbuckled them from her wrists and ankles when they had gotten back to Scully's apartment, St. George denying all medical treatment until she got someplace safe. "So why do you think he burnt like that?" His tone turned serious. She shook her head. "I don't know... evil vs. good... I don't know." She shivered. "But he had the right idea - if I hadn't held my breath he would have tried to bleed me - I don't know if it would work or not; but I don't want to try it." Jackie looked down at the floor, shifting back and forth. "I'm... I'm sorry for being mad at you. It just seemed..." "I know." He smiled. "I'm hard to be around sometimes. Ask Scully." He held out his hand. "All forgiven?" "Always will be, Mulder." She laughed, shaking his hand with a grimace. "Ow..." "I told her." He said under his breath. "And?" She watched Dana on the phone. "She understood." He shook his head. "I don't... but you were right..." "Hey, women are always right - except when we listen to you guys." She flicked the lotion at him, catching his cheek with a white smear. "So listen to her more often... and don't be afraid to talk to her, you jerk..." "The fire marshal's putting the fire down to careless smoking." Dana rejoined them. "He says he found an ashtray of butts in the far corner." "And what do you say?" Fox asked. "I say..." Dana smiled. "I say let's go to that wake tonight and have a few drinks for Brian... and book off tomorrow." She patted Jackie's shoulder. "You going to be alright with this?" "Yes." Jackie nodded, speaking more to herself than to them. "Justice was done..." She looked up. "And I would have given him to you." "I know." Fox softly said. "I know you would have..." "So, to Brandy's?" Dana asked. "Sounds like a plan." He grinned, reaching out to her. She frowned, scraping the lotion from his cheek. "You two been fighting again?" She fixed her stare on the pair. "I thought you'd have made up by now." Her authoritarian gaze made them both shiver. "We're fine, Dana..." Jackie smiled, matching Fox grin for grin. "Just fine..." **************************** Albert Einstein: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who no longer pauses to wonder and stand in rapt awe, is as good as dead."