My Partner, the Devil II - 1/10 *It is not neccesary to read the first story "My Partner, the Devil I" but I strongly suggest that if you haven't already done so that you do. It will make a hell of a lot more sense that way. It is a short, vignette type piece, and is sort of a prolouge to this. It will give you some more background for this story, and probably make this read more enjoyable (hopefully)* Title: My Partner, The Devil II Author: Alyssa E-Mail: alyssa@total.net Summary: With the return of MulderDevil and MulderAngel, Scully and Mulder must track down a serial killer who has escaped from Hell. Mulder/Scully bonding Spoilers: minor up to season five, spoilers mentioned in the form of obscure references. Ratings: PG-13 for language Type: Story, Angst, Romance, Adventure WARNINGS: This talks about certain religious themes that some just might possibley find offenseive. I don't think they will, but you never know, so here's the warning. Disclaimers: Scully and Mulder aren't mine. Anything else you recognize in here isn't mine either, any an all X references and characters belong to Chris Carter. Joneston, MulderDevil, MulderAngel, and Peaceful Acres are mine though. Author's Notes: This is my first sequel story and I really enjoyed writing it. I am really starting to get into this fanfiction thing so I'm afraid that you haven't heard the last from me. I hope you enjoy it. I dedicate this to my very special e-mail buddy, Visioncary, and to all the members of DDPOL and the mini list. A special thanks to Laura for her encouragement in my writing, and to Sam for coming up with the idea of the list to begin with. Thanks to Fox, who is an inspiraton and thanks to my english teacher who gave me the best piece of advise anyone has ever given me in my writing. My Partner, the Devil II - 2/10 Disclaimers in part 1 "Come on Spooky, get off it. This isn't one of your damn X-files, you have no authority. Should of known it was a mistake to get you out here." "If you would just get off your high horse for one minute and listen to me, then we might *get* somewhere with this. And I wouldn't be out here, Jonesy, if you were doing your job right instead of standing around all day with your thumb up your ass, bitching to people that *you* requested be here." Dana Scully, repressing the urge to roll her eyes and sigh a long, tired breath, walked away from her partner and ASAC Tom Joneston to the relief of the air-conditioned car. She should of known that as soon as the case had come across their desk that it would be trouble. A possible serial killer, cutting the throats of middle aged men. Mulder had been called in after a month of useless arm flapping by the VCU, and he had only been here one day before insisting that the current profile was wrong. Which, Scully didn't doubt, was very much true. She also had the suspicion that no one else doubted it either. But Spooky Mulder had a way of bringing out the hostilities of those around him, even if it wasn't on purpose, which Scully had still yet to be sure of. And coming in after only a few days of reviewing the case file, and basically throwing away two months of work did nothing to calm those hostilities. Scully knew that he didn't necessarily mean to ruffle so many feathers. He wasn't *completely* tactless. Mulder just saw different priorities then others. He rather be a son of a bitch ten times over and see that others saw his way, which annoyingly was usually the right way, then waste time being nice about it. This quality in her partner was both endearing and annoying, depending on which side you looked at it from. Opening the passenger side door and getting in, Scully turned on the AC full blast and pushed the small shutters of the fan her way so that the cold air hit her full on. It was July, it was humid, and the weatherman had said that a heat wave the likes of hell was on the way. Lord have mercy on us all, Scully thought grimly. She looked up and out the window just in time to see Mulder coming over. Long, g-man strides eating up the ground under his feet, mirrored shades reflecting the shinning sun. In his black suit, and blank face, he looked very much the FBI poster boy. That is, until he opened his mouth. Scully almost smiled at that thought, but the feeling to do so quickly faded when she saw that he didn't seem to be minding the heat as much as everybody else. Stone Cold G-man - serial killers, mutants, red hot heat waves do your best. Bastard, she thought, he should be suffering with the rest of us. Like to see him have to wear pantyhose in this heat. Scully rolled the window down as Mulder leaned foreword to talk. "Jonesy wants to show me the first murder site. He says that if I see it I might change my mind about the profile," he made a strangely indifferent but tolerant sound. "This one is about two months old, I doubt that there will be much to see, but it's worth checking out. Do you want to come? I don't think it's really necessary, you could start the autopsy if you would rather." "I think I'll do the autopsy," Scully said, with the barest hint of hesitation in her voice. Mulder smirked knowingly. "Smart move Ms. Scully. Nothing like a cold coroner's office on a hot summer's day. I'll see you back at the hotel. Here, take the keys, Jonesy will give me a lift." The keys were passed through the window, and Scully watched Mulder stride off quickly to wear the ASAC waited. He was leaning up against another rental car, arms crossed impatiently as he waited for Mulder to come. An exchange was made, and a look passed over to where Scully was shifting over to the driver's side. She started the car, pulled out smoothly and onto the road. This latest crime scene was closer to town then the others. A green field with few trees or ditches to hide the corpse. Mulder believed that this was a sign that the killer was escalating. Getting closer and closer to town, and no longer even bothering to really hide the body, and as result, no longer really caring if he got caught. The first body, a 42 year old insurance salesman, named Joseph Hardy, had been found in the forest. His throat had been cut, but there had been little or no blood found at the scene. The forest was almost a good 30 miles from town. The second body, a 41 year old dentist, had been found in a ditch off the road of a seldom used street. This had been 22 miles from town. Eight bodies, and 11 miles closer to town later, a suspect still hadn't been found. This latest victim had been a 41 year old plumber. His throat had been slashed like the others, and had been found by the caretaker of the field. Scully had to do the autopsy on him now, he had been killed just this morning. She didn't think she would find anything conclusive, but to assume was to folly, as her aunt use to tell her. Scully slipped on a pair of shades and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she traveled through the town on her way to the local coroner's office. Peaceful Acres, Colorado. With the acceptation of the rampaging serial killer murdering middle aged men, Scully could see how the quiet little town would get such a name. It was very serene and very peaceful. She felt like she had taken a step back in time. Small box stores lined the streets and a horse drawn carriage carried a snuggling couple down, across the sidewalk. This time, Scully did sigh. In an absent minded gesture, Scully's hand drifted down to her stomach and scratched at the spot just next to her bellybutton. She had been shot there just a few of weeks ago. An FBI sting gone bad, chasing a suspect a little too recklessly. She still remembered that insane dream that she had while in her coma. Devils and Angels, after-lives and such. At the time she had almost allowed herself to believe that it hadn't even been a dream, that it had actually *happened*. She shook her head ruefully. She'd been hanging around Mulder to long. She had even cast her partner in the role of the Devil and the Angel, not that she'd ever tell him or anybody else that. What kind of Freaudian ramblings would result from that confession? Turning into the parking lot of the morgue Scully turned off the air-condition with a suffering grunt, and threw the shades on the dash board. Oh woe is me, she thought dramatically but not without amusement. She opened the car door and stepped out into the glaring sun.. and nearly right into Mulder. "Oh! Mulder, you startled me. How'd you get here so fast?" Her partner didn't answer, nearly smiled down at her, not moving. Taking a step back, uncomfortable at their sudden proximity she stared up at him, squinting against the sun. He had changed his clothes. Shunning the suit and tie, he was now dressed in "street clothes". Black jeans, black t-shirt, black leather jacket. The raybans were still tucked in the front pocket, and a pair of shinny red horns sat on his head. "Mulder?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow, "What are you doing here dressed like that?" "Do you object to the 'thug' look Ms. Scully? Shame, I rather like it." A ridiculous thought entered her head then. It was incredible and stupid, but at the same time came with such certainty that Scully could do little to stop it. Maybe it was his attitude, the way he addressed her, what he was wearing, the simple fact that there was no way that he could of beaten her to the morgue. But she found herself voicing her thoughts out loud. "You're not Mulder," she said, taking a further step back. The man that looked like her partner clapped his hands once, with dripping sarcasm and at the same time an odd sincerity. "Well done Ms. Scully, there is hope for you yet." "Who are you?" Scully asked as she raked a look around the parking lot. There were several other cars, but not a soul was in sight, she worked her throat and a hand slowly started to go for her gun. The man saw the movement and sighed. "If you want to shoot me, please feel free to do so. But I assure you that it would be a waste of both our time," he pouted in a way that was very Mulderish but with an underlining sense of something sinister, he quirked a smile. "I'm actually hurt that you don't remember me Dana. I thought if nothing else I was the unforgettable type. Are you telling me that our last encounter meant so little to you?" Scully didn't doubt that this man was telling the truth, that they had met before. Was he the alien clone? Was he, God forbid, Eddie Van Silent 'H' Blundht? "No, neither of them. Try again." "You read my mind!" Scully said in shock, backing away once again until she felt the car at her back. "Who *are* you?" "It's no fun when I have to tell you Dana. It's much more fun to guess don't you think?" the man that looked like her partner questioned. Then with an impatient, disappointed roll of the eyes leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "I'm the Devil Dana. Welcome to hell." Scully reeled. Now she knew why this man in front of her was so familiar, but not in the sense that he was her partner. They *had* met before. Two weeks ago, while she lay in her coma. This man, this man who looked like her partner, but who claimed to be the Devil in her partner's form, was in her dream. "It wasn't a dream Ms. Scully. And you're not dreaming now either. I don't really have to go through the whole explanation of why I'm here and why I look like I do, do I?" the man asked. Scully's mouth opened and closed like a fish and the man sighed and came to stand next to her, leaning against the car as well. "Oh fine then. Here I go again. This is a form I borrowed from your life, one that you recognize, so that you would be able to see me. To perceive me. Since you are not dead, or even having a near death experience this time around, you wouldn't be able to perceive me in my natural form. This form that I am in now, is your perception, your interpretation, everybody has a different one. I merely took on the form of your partner so that this will be a lot easier for you. Or, as I like to call it, the 666 theory. Understand? Good. Now, to get to why I'm here this time..." "Now wait a minute," Scully interrupted. "You expect me to believe that what I experienced while in a coma wasn't a dream at all, but that it actually happened? That I actually went to Hell, met you the Devil and one of God's angels? You really expect me to believe that?" "Yes," this MulderDevil said without a pause. "Yes, I do, it would make things so much easier, but I know that isn't going to happen. Is this a problem? I took on your partner's form before, when you came to see me in Hell, it's not as if you aren't use to it. It's not as if you don't like it. Why are you getting all bent out of shape now?" "Bent out of shape!! BENT OUT OF SHAPE?!?!" "See, now you've gone and upset her." Scully spun around at the new, but painfully familiar voice to see Mulder standing to her right, close enough that she could smell a a bizarre scent coming off of him. He smelled like rain, like wind. There was no way that he could of gotten there without her realizing. He was dressed completely in white. White pants, white shirt, and a white trenchcoat. A sparkling tin foil halo hovered above his head, supported by a stick. He didn't carry the same malevolent look as the other Mulder, but she doubted that this man was her partner either. She remembered him from her dream too, only now she was beginning to doubt that it had really been a dream at all. She was beginning to doubt a lot of things, like her sanity for one. "Don't worry dear," white dressed Mulder said nicely, "We won't do you any harm. Although that one might annoy you to death," this Mulder shot a withering look over her head towards the other one, which was met with an amused indifference. "I'm your guardian angel Dana, and I'll stay with you through this." MulderAngel promised. "Yeah, well, I'm the Devil Dana. Boo." MulderDevil added. Scully felt her head spin, and she weaved dangerously. It's the heat, she thought to herself, it's playing tricks on me, I was thinking about that dream I had just before these two showed up. Maybe I passed out from the heat. And I skipped breakfast, and I'm just not use to it....I - She felt strong arms around her, and then she was being lifted and her butt made contact with a soft, cool material. She opened her eyes and saw that MulderAngel had laid his coat out on the hood of the car and she was sitting, quite comfortably on it. MulderDevil merely stayed where he was, arms crossed, looking bored by the whole thing. "Am I really in Hell again?" she asked MulderAngel, choosing to ignore the other. "God, what happened this time?" "Don't worry Dana, you're not in Hell. Big surprise, he was *lying*," his voice dripped acid and the Devil smirked. "'I'm the Devil, welcome to Hell.' just go together my little goody to shoes," he said flippantly. "Besides, I was just trying to get her attention, it's not as if she believes either of us anyway." MulderAngel frowned. "Dana, you're catholic, why can't you believe that we are who we say we are? Don't you think that this is a little elaborate to be a hoax?" "I've seen a few elaborate hoaxes in my time to know not to take everything at face value," she said, chin raised. Good and Evil shared a look. "Dana, I think we have some talking to do. When we tell you why we're here, then you might just listen to us." "I have an autopsy to do," she said lamely. "If your time is really that important we can talk while you work," MulderAngel said lightly. "I hate dead bodies," MulderDevil complained, his nose wrinkling. Scully looked at him, wide eyed and confused. He just shrugged. "Onward then, come on. I might have all of eternity, but damned if I waste it on Earth with you two." He pushed himself away from the car and came to stand close to MulderAngel and Scully. "So are we going to get on with this or what?" "You need to learn some manners," MulderAngel said with a frown. The other just threw his head back and laughed a throaty laugh. "Good one old man, good one." End part 2 My Partner, the Devil II - 3/10 Disclaimers part 1 As she pushed open the glass doors to the coroner's office and walked down the halls carefully, her heels clicking on the tile, she was very aware of the twin Mulder look alike that flanked her at both sides. She wasn't surprised when no one seemed to notice the unusual pair. I'm losing it, she thought bleakly, I *have* been with Mulder too long and now I am completely losing it. Scully found herself relaxing somewhat when a warm touch grazed her hand and she looked up to see MulderAngel smiling down at her. She looked to her left to see MulderDevil looking particularly interested in a blonde tall leggy woman that sauntered by. She approached a desk where a young man sat, he looked up and smiled politely, not seeming to notice the other two. "Dana Scully," she said, her voice slightly strained. "I understand that an autopsy bay has been set up for me?" she flashed her badge and the younger man looked through a computer file to his left. "Ah yes, Agent Scully. This way please, we've been expecting you, I'm Brian. Brian DeMoray." MulderDevil grinned at the doe-eyed kid and left Dana's side to step up next to him. "Well, well, well. Do you wanna hear something cool Dana Scully?" he asked as he leaned in close to the kid, but turned to face the nervous agent. "Mr. 'Boy Next Door' here once killed his neighbor's dog. Ran the poor animal down with his bike. It broke its leg, and lost consciousness. Kid didn't think it was still alive, knew that he would get in trouble if they found it dead, so he put it in a garbage bag and threw it over a bridge. Still thinks about it. Not that deadly a sin when you think about it. He was just a kid and didn't really mean any harm. But the guilt will do you in. But I'm sure you know all about that, don't you?" He reached out then, tentatively with his left hand, and brushed it across the young man's face, causing him to stop and shiver. He turned to Scully with a frown on his face. "Did you feel that?" he asked tilting his head slightly to the side. "We really have to get that air-conditioner looked at..." "I feel like someone just walked on my grave." "I feel like someone just walked on my grave." Devil and boy said in tandem. MulderDevil turned to Scully. "I just love that expression." Scully pursed her lips and turned away from them both briefly. "Well, here we are. Best facility in Peaceful Acres, Dr. Scully. The body is all ready for you and everything you need is out there. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask," DeMoray said as he opened a door to reveal a bright and shinny autopsy bay. Scully could see the body covered by a blanket on the steel table with the tools and scrubs set up next to it. "Thank you, I'll do that," Scully said, returning the smile before walking in. "He's a very nice young man," MulderAngel said. "He's a loser," MulderDevil dismissed as he walked over to the body. Then, with a sigh of impatience and disgust threw back the covering on the body, revealing the pale corpse beneath. MulderDevil looked up and gave Scully a sly smile. Then, with a quick, sudden lash of his arm, his hand passed into the corpse's chest and came back out just as quickly, fist clenched. "Got his soul!" he said, eyes bright and wild. Scully felt her jaw drop slightly as she looked from the body up to the clenched fist of the maniac standing over it. "He's kidding," MulderAngel said, a touch of impatience in his voice. "There is no soul in the body. It leaves when the carrier dies." "This is just an empty shell," MulderDevil confirmed, finally letting his hand drop. "A piece of garbage useful only to vultures, maggots, parasites, and pathologists." Taking a moment to stare daggers at the darkly clad man Scully raised her chin indignantly and went to change for the autopsy. "Are you going to tell me why the two of you are here, or should I just check myself into Peaceful Acres Mental Institution right now?" "That won't come for at *least* a year," MulderDevil said, face calm and serious. Choosing to ignore him, Scully turned to his heavenly counter part as she started to scrub up. "It's really about you and your partner," he said. "And the case that you are working on. This serial killer person." "Oh, he is *so* mine!" MulderDevil said happily. "I love playing with his kind in Hell. Especially when we get past the easy part. Loads of laughs I tell ya, loads of laughs." "A turning point is happening in your life and his Dana," MulderAngel went on, "and although it isn't usually our place to interrupt the natural flow of fate, we felt we had little choice this time." "In other words, we're sticking our noses where they don't belong. I wouldn't even be here if it didn't mean leaving St. Mulder over there alone with ya. Who knows what kind of trouble the two of you would stir up." "But why here? Why now?" A look was exchanged between devil and angel and Scully patiently waited it out. "This serial killer of yours...He's, um, not what he seems," MulderAngel said vaguely, a little bashfully. "He got past my security," MulderDevil sighed. "My fault, I admit. I should of been watching more carefully I suppose, not leave my stupid ass cousin in charge," he slapped himself on the forehead, "Oy, hiring family never did anyone any good. I had this guy burning without dying for about fifty years, one of my better punishments I assure you, but somehow he got away. Go fig. So now we have - *I* have to bring him back, and the only way to do that is if you and your partner catch him." Scully shook her head slightly, as if to clear it of the fog that had settled there. "So what you're telling me is that this guy came back from the dead?" "Yeah." "Why do you have to wait for me and Mulder to catch him? Why not just pick him up yourself?" "It's a little more complicated then that, you see. He made contact with the outside world, killed even, that gives him sort of a 'grace', if you would excuse the expression, Angel babe. We can take them back as long as they don't communicate in anyway with you people, but if they do....well, it takes the help of a human to bring them back. Usually we catch them as soon as they escape, which isn't often, but this was a rare occasion. "You see Dana, the dead, or par for the politically correct term, the 'living impaired', are quite frankly, better then you mortals. When you die and go to the so called 'good place' you receive enlightenment. You know everything, love everything, and are everything. You are love, and you are joy, you are peace. Emotions and no emotions, you are perfect and happy and at the same time neither of these things. There really is no way to explain it..." he drifted off slightly and Scully saw MulderAngel regard him with a look of fondness and wastefulness, "You have no form, or you can be every form. It is the highest level of existence in the infinite," his dreamy, far away look got a sudden, harsh edge and he smiled slowly, "Now....when you go to Hell...you are denied all of this, you stay human, but since you are already dead, you do not die. Eternal suffering. Everything bad in life. From the feeling you get when you step on a bug in bare feet, to the feeling you get when your first born dies in your arms, Hell is misery you thought incapable of feeling. In other words....I seriously get to mess you up down there. Which is why so many people try to escape I imagine. "When someone succeeds in escaping, they pass back over into this world and out of the other. They gradually forget what they were and where they were. They are still dead. The only way to bring them back after having escaped and made contact with people is to have to drag their ass back. It really is kind of fun. The reason a mortal must catch them first before I can do this however is because after these escapees make contact, a tether if you will, one that was broken upon entry into Hell, is re-established. A mortal makes the tether, a mortal must break the tether, just one of those little clauses in the infinite that just makes things so interesting. This all..." he gestured around the room and to the occupants, "existence, living, dying, is such a complicated thing. *Being* is such a complicated thing. But, that's why they pay me and Angels the big bucks." "How do you break this tether?" Scully asked. "I'm not too sure," MulderDevil said with a careless shrug. "It has never really come up before. The mortal just catches the guy, and when the security of the dead person is absolute by the said mortal, I can take him or her back." Scully paused for a moment, staring hard before setting her mouth in a firm line. "I don't know if I can believe that," she finally said, but with less skepticism then usual. "I didn't expect you to. But weather you believe or not, it's true, and there's not a damn thing you can do to change that. It's like...just because you don't believe in this room..." he gestured around the autopsy bay, "..it doesn't stop to exist. Not believing hurts no one but yourself in the end, really. Deprives you of something. So, solve your case, just like you would usually do. We'll hang around until then," MulderDevil said, dismissing her skepticism with a casualness that was both resentful and insulting. She looked over to see the man in white regarding her with a kind sympathy, but no word to the contrary of his counterpart. "Well then," Scully said, snapping on the latex gloves. "Sure, fine...." "'Whatever'...yeah, yeah, yeah...enough with it already Dana. It's getting a tad bit old don't you think?" End part 3 My Partner, the Devil II - 4/10 Disclaimers in part 1 "So Spooky, what do you think?" "Is there something that I should be seeing Jonesy? 'Cause quite frankly, all I see are woods and trees and bugs." "What happened to that snap analysis mind I keep hearing about Spook? I'm a little disappointed." "Jonesy, I'm hot, I'm tired, and I'm sweating bullets. I have a cramp in my foot from that last incline, that you could of warned me about by the way, and I'm thinking of jumping you and beating your head against the ground for dragging me out here. So tell me before I strip, lie down, and die." This actually produced a laugh from the other man, and Mulder only shook his head woefully. "Come on Tom. Have some mercy will ya?" "You're okay Mulder, if you're not careful I might actually start to like you. Check that out Mulder. See where the bark scrapes off the tree over there?" Joneston asked as he pointed out a large red oak. Mulder looked at where he pointed and nodded. "Right by that tree was where the body was found. According to our ME and forensics guys, the guy didn't go without a fight. Bits of fingernails, skin and blood was found on the tree, like he was scraping' at it or something." "Autopsies confirm that fact," Mulder nodded. "So, it's a safe bet that our victim saw his killer before he was murdered." "How is that relevant? He's dead, it's not as if he can exactly give a statement." Mulder shrugged, and smiled, "God, it's times like this I wish I had a ouji board." Jonesy shook his head, "I just pray your kidding Spooks." "Of course I am. Do I look like the type of man that wouldn't have a ouji board? What else is there?" "Killer shows signs of extreme strength.." Jonesy went on, "He had to of carried the body for several miles into the woods, and there are no traces of any foreign objects to aide him, or tire tracks for cars of any kind. A few of these victims weighed a good two hundred pounds, which would suggest that our killer was a big guy, but..." Jonesy pointed to a patch of ground that had been removed, lifted out by the forensic team no doubt, earth and grass was just beginning to form again. "There were a few sets of footprints lifted from here that our forensics team believes were the killers. And judging by the indentation of the earth from the prints, they say that the killer couldn't of been more then 150 - 160 pounds," Jonsey smirked, "That's skinnier then your Mulder." "You're just jealous of my athletic powers. Any idea where the blood went? The victim supposedly bled to death but there was hardly any blood at the scene, right?" "That we're not sure of," Joneston said, "Since there are signs of struggle here, it is conceivable that the killing took place here. But then that brings to question why a man who was probably two times bigger then his killer allowed himself to be dragged this far." "Could he of been chased here? Maybe driven here unconscious and the killer could of let him go, gotten a thrill from chasing him all over again." Jonsey shook his head thoughtfully, "That's what one would be inclined to believe but the footprints deny that idea. It is possible I suppose that any other evidence could of been erased during the struggle." "And there were no drugs found in his system?" Mulder asked. "None." "Well," Mulder said, "I think we have an interesting case here Jonesy. How 'bout a hot-dog?" Scully, trying to ignore the two that were arguing behind her picked out her cellular phone from her jacket pocket and pushed the first speed dial number. It picked up after two rings. "Mulder," her partner's voice was a sigh. "Mulder, it's me. I just finished the autopsy on Jonathan Jenkins, the latest victim. There really isn't anything unusual here Mulder. His throat was slit, it's obvious he bled to death. There were no signs of struggle in this case, and no signs of unconsciousness prior to or during death. No drugs, no blows to the body," Scully said in a clinical voice, trying to ignore the two faces that were staring at her as she talked. "That's what I was afraid of. I don't get it Scully. According to what Jonesy told me, our killer is not exactly pro-football material, his victims outweighed him and out stood him. They must of been taken out somehow, even if only temporarily. Could he of taken them by surprise?" Mulder asked. "I don't seen how," Scully said. "The splatter pattern of the blood and the autopsy denies that. Perhaps our killer is trained in the martial arts." "I don't know," Mulder said doubtfully, "My profile suggests against that. I see him as someone who feels rather small to himself, and appears that way to others. But with something drastic in recent his life that changed his perception of this. He feels a need to prove to those who are 'superior' to him that he is capable of dominating them, in sense, killing them." "Seeing the murder sight didn't change your profile?" Scully asked. "No, it was somewhat enlightening though, I've added a few things to what I had before. But this thing isn't any closer to being solved. It would appear though, that our first victim saw our killer. Too bad we can't get the dead to testify. I gotta go Scully, Jonesy's calling. I'll see you back at the motel okay? We can get some lunch." "Okay Mulder," Scully said, her voice distant. She put away her cell phone and turned to face the two that watched her. "It kinda goes against the rules," MulderAngel said carefully. "Talking to the dead I mean. This man that you are thinking of that saw the killer...he's still in Hell awaiting judgment." "I wish you would stop that," Scully said, "It's very disconcerting to have someone reading your thoughts like that." "I'm sorry, of course it would be. Not to worry, won't happen again," MulderAngel said easily. "Rules - schmooles," MulderDevil broke in impatiently, "I never liked those things...too confining," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "But you *do* have a point. The Big Guy does tend to get touchy about that sort of thing. But there are a few deadies that get past, under the wire, if you get what I'm saying." "I thought that it was impossible to talk to the dead," Scully said, "That the living are not able to perceive them, as I am you." "They can't," MulderDevil said. "But this is different. The guy is not yet in Heaven or Hell yet, there's always a loophole Dana, remember that. I *might* be able to pull some strings, considering he's waiting in my pad and all." "Why can't you just tell me what he looks like?" Scully said. The Devil snorted, "You expect me to remember every face that walks through my door? Get real. Nope, this Hardy guy is our best bet, I'm sure I can get the description." "Even if you do, how will I explain where I got this description from?" Scully asked. MulderDevil grinned, "Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something," he pointed to MulderAngel, "And no funny business while I'm gone Old Man," he winked and stepped into an elevator that suddenly came up from the tiled floor of the autopsy bay. He stepped in and waved one last time as the elevator descended back into the floor, going down. End part 4 My Partner, the Devil II - 5/10 Disclaimers in part 1 "So, I'm glad to see that it appears you and Agent Joneston have reached some sort of common ground," Scully said as she drank her coffee and nibbled at her grilled cheese sandwich. The small cafe where they ate had a moderate crowd that day, and Mulder and Scully were having lunch in one of the red vinyl booths, leaning in close to each other as they talked. "We both want to catch this guy," Mulder said absently, "And I think that's anybody's ground. He's not so bad. I admit I was hasty with my initial profile, which I still think is about 90% right, but that's only because I hate these things." Scully reached out and patted his hand briefly in sympathy, "I know Mulder," she said, "Don't worry, we'll be back in the basement together where we belong in no time." "Give me a flukeman any day," Mulder said in agreement. "You two are so cute," MulderAngel said at Scully's right ear and the agent controlled the urge to jump out of her seat and accepted the other's chastened apology with a woeful shake of the head. "So what's your theory on this Scully?" Mulder asked as he spooned a generous amount of chili into his mouth. "I think that this man will keep on killing until we catch him. And that there had to be some witnesses who saw the murder," Scully said, trying not to be too obvious as she attempted to foreshadow what she would tell Mulder was an anonymous source when MulderDevil came back with a description of the killer. "I agree that he will keep on killing, but I don't think there were any witnesses. Our killer is smart. Very much so. He kills precisely and with precision. His pattern of where he dumps the bodies indicates an orderly mind, and a controlled thinking process of logic. He's insane, I think, but he's very much in control of what he is doing and who he is doing it too. He would of been very careful of witnesses and killing in areas where there would be none. Not to mention that they would of come foreword by now. This is a small town, and these people stick together," Mulder said. "What if a witness was someone passing through town?" Scully asked, cursing herself for thinking that she could fool Mulder like this, for trying to being with. "It wouldn't make a difference," Mulder said. "The killer would of made sure there was no one around to see the murders," Mulder sighed and put the spoon back in the half finished chili. "I can't finish this," he said, "I'll be no good to this case if I'm popping rolaids while interrogating suspects. Not exactly intimidating. Excuse me." Scully watched as he slid out of the booth and headed for the back bathrooms, and she slumped slightly in her seat. "You should tell him the truth. He, of all people will understand," MulderAngel said. "Mulder doesn't believe in this stuff," Scully said. "Angels and devils, and afterlives and all that. For all his believing he can be very close minded when it comes to this sort of thing. Not that I blame him though, he's been hurt in life from early in his childhood. He has no reason to believe in God. I don't know if his parents were practicing Catholics." "He may not believe in us, but he believes in you. If you tell him, he'll listen," MulderAngel insisted. "And the two of you can solve this together, quicker." "Forget him," a new, but familiar voice chimed in. Scully turned to see MulderDevil sitting on a stool at the counter of the cafe, his arms out and stretched across it's length. "I got the description, now you can solve this by yourself Dana. Get all the credit. This will go a long way in helping your reputation with the Bureau, no longer just Mrs. Spooky, but someone who solved a serial case all on her own. Without *his* help. He won't listen anyway, to you. Why bother? It's just a waste of valuable time when you can be catching the guy." "Don't listen to him Dana," MulderAngel insisted, "The two of you have always been through these things together. And he can help you with this. You can protect each other, this will be dangerous, you'll need each other." "He's ditched you before," MulderDevil said, springing foreword, "Ditched you like a bad date. All because he was too damn lazy or conceited to pick you up for the ride. Why don't you give him a taste of his own medicine? Huh?" "He might of been wrong to do so, but he was only doing it because he thought he was protecting you, his heart was in the right place. If you leave him, he'll worry. Ditching him won't do any good. And if it hurts you so much, you should talk to him about it. You haven't done that yet." "Stop it!" Scully screamed, covering her ears with her hands and shutting her eyes. When she opened them again slowly she saw that she had become the sudden center of attention in the cafe. Clearing her throat slightly she averted the gazes and looked to the seats in front of her where MulderAngel and MulderDevil had squeezed through. They looked at her expectantly. "I'll somehow give the description to Mulder," Scully said slowly, getting a glow from MulderAngel. "But I'll slip it under his door, that way I won't have to explain this to him where I got it." "Good enough for me, I just want the guy," MulderDevil shrugged. He held out his empty palm in front of her and a sudden burst of flame appeared in the center. Then a rolled up piece of paper appeared in the fire's place. "Here's the sketch. Piece of cake." Scully took it and looked at it briefly before tucking it into her briefcase. "Why can't you just tell me his name?" Scully asked. "I can, but it won't do you any good," MulderDevil said, "He changed it when he ran away. I don't know his new one, and it doesn't really matter anyway." "Tell me anyway," Scully said. "William Van Zoderic," MulderDevil said, playing with the pepper shaker idly. "He was a wonderful poet in his time, before he became a killer that is. I guess his haikus and sonnets bored him in the end." "I somehow doubt that boredom was his motivation for his murderous turn," Scully said. "Whatever you say Dana." "Hey, Scully!" Mulder called as he came out of the bathroom and towards her, three heads turning to watch his approach. "Joneston just called me, there's been another murder." End part 5 My Partner, the Devil II - 6/10 Disclaimers in part 1 The murder site this time was in the town's public park. The body strewn out in broad daylight amongst the monkey bars and swings. The park had been evacuated for the past two weeks while it had been fumigated for a breed of fruit flies that were swarming the area. A large white tent blocking off the area from the rest of the town. Masks were distributed to those who had to go inside. "The murder happened right in the middle of town, in broad daylight, with people walking up and down the street, what do you *mean* no one saw anything?!" Joneston was demanding when the approached. "When did this happen?" Mulder asked as he came up from behind, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. "Body was discovered by the team of fumigators making their final run through. None of them saw anything either," Joneston said bitterly. "I'm beginning to think that this killer is one of your X-files Spooky, or is in possession of a cloak of invisibility. I don't understand how he keeps walking through these murders so easily." "Could have something to do with the fact that he's dead," MulderDevil muttered. "Can you excuse me for a minute Mulder?" Scully asked and was already moving out of the tent before Mulder could reply. She kept on walking without a looking back and got into the car and shut the door. "What does being dead mean exactly?" Scully asked, "What kind of advantage does this guy have?" "Nothing that you don't have," MulderAngel said, "He's not stronger, or faster or any of that. He does not have a cloak of invisibility as this Joneston jokes. Your partner has the right idea when he says that the man is smart. He is smart. He just happens to be dead as well." "Mulder's profile says that he also lives in this area, that he has a home in town, is that true?" Scully asked. "If we knew that then we would tell you and this whole thing would be over already," MulderDevil said with exasperation. "Just like I can't keep track of the dead in Heaven, or the Angel here of the dead in Hell, neither of us can keep track of the dead on Earth. It's just the way things are," MulderDevil leaned back in the back seat of the car. "It really is a shame, the control and security that we lack when it comes to this sort of thing. To rely so much upon you insignificant mortals." "Well, us 'insignificant mortals' are your best shot right now. So I suggest you drop whatever bug you have up your ass," Scully snapped. "What if we don't catch this guy?" "That's never happened before," MulderDevil mused. "In theory, the boy will keep killing, and killing and killing. Keep in mind that it's never happened before for a reason. These types always screw up somewhere. "One chap back in the '80's went a little fubar and slaughtered the residents of a third floor apartment building after escaping capture from me and you mortals for forty years. He was shot by a law enforcement officer and that secured him to the mortal. I came then, and took his soul back to Hell," MulderDevil smiled a truly happy, blissful smile, "He's suffering and screaming for all eternity now. It's wonderful." Scully shivered, "You truly are sadistic," she said. "So I'm told." Mulder watched with some concern as his partner sat twisted in the front seat of their rented car, holding a conversation with someone in the back. Only, she was alone in there. Since when did Scully take up the habit of talking to herself? Taking in a deep breath of fresh air from outside the fumigation tent, Mulder absently rubbed the back of his neck and scanned over the area with tired eyes. Taking in the dark, green grass, and the faces of the crowd of people that stood anxiously behind a yellow strip of police tape. In his profile, Mulder had characterized the murderer as an egomaniac. Desperate for attention, and seeking constant highs of adrenaline. This last murder was definitely an escalation. Right in town, right in broad daylight. The killer was mocking their inability to catch him. Mulder wouldn't be surprised if the killer was in the crowd, studying his handiwork with glee. "Very good Agent Mulder, you're on the right track," MulderDevil whispered in his ear. Not hearing, Mulder continued to search the crowd, flinching in the bright sun, sweat beading on his upper lip. "Come on Mulder...show me how smart you are. That little partner thinks you're a genius of some sort when it comes to this sort of thing. Prove you are worthy of her admiration, concentrate, he's right in front of you..." MulderDevil continued to coax as he stepped when Mulder stepped. Mulder put his hands on his hips and scratched behind his left ear as something tickled it insistently. He shrugged his shoulders inside his hot suit and continued to look out into the crowd. "She has the fucking composite, but she's not thinking to look in the crowd. She hasn't read your profile yet Mulder, and you haven't shown it to her. Whatever happened to communication between partners? Use your *brain*..." MulderDevil insisted. Sighing, Mulder reached into his pocket and slipped on his sunglasses, and the world descended into a reddened dimness, and the illusion of cool settled in around him. He started to walk back towards the car, and MulderDevil stood where he was, watching him go, shaking his head sadly. "Bad form..." he said and disappeared. End part 6 My Partner, The Devil II - 7/10 Disclaimers in part 1 Scully sat in the front seat of the car, biting her thumbnail nervously as she waited for Mulder to get back into the car. The one that called himself the Devil had left a few minutes ago and in that time Scully had decided to show Mulder the picture of the suspect. And tell him about everything that had happened so far. The side door opened and Mulder got in behind the wheel, wiping an arm across his brow and then struggling to remove his suit jacket. "Peaceful Acres may be a beautiful place to live Scully, but it's about two steps too close to the sun to want to live here." Mulder noted the anxious look on his partner's face and touched her shoulder briefly to get her full attention. "Scully?" he questioned, "Something the matter?" "There's something I have to show you Mulder," Scully said as she reached for her bag. "I shouldn't of kept it from you but I didn't know how to tell you, or even begin to explain..." Scully fumbled with the folded piece of paper and handed it over to her confused partner. She watched carefully his expression as he studied the picture, "It's the killer Mulder, that's the face that Joseph Hardy, the first victim, saw before he died." Mulder was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the drawing, his face drawn in thoughtfully in concentration, his eyes unreadable behind his dark glasses. "Mulder?" Scully questioned, "Mulder, say something." Suddenly, Mulder was up and moving out of the car, "Shit!" he swore, "Scully, I saw this man in the crowd outside, our killer is here!" Scully shot out of the car with a gasp and followed Mulder as they both ran back to the crowd, their eyes searching the masses of faces for the man, the killer. She could feel her heart beating in her chest, her mouth slightly open with breath coming out in puffs. Cutting his way through the crowd with shoulders and arms, Mulder reached one end and then raced back to the other. "Damn it!" he swore to himself, he had been there, he had seen him, and he had let him get away. "Mulder! Do you see him?" Scully called from one end of the crowd, and Mulder shook his head silently in frustration, but still seeking out among the faces. Letting her own frustration rise, she didn't even notice until he spoke that MulderDevil had re-materialized next to her. "He's gone," he said. "They actually *pay* you for this?" They had gone back to the motel in defeat after giving the sketch to Joneston. When asked where they had gotten it, Scully had just said with was from an anonymous source and then said nothing on the ride back. They were settling down in their rooms when Mulder finally addressed her. "Where did you get that sketch Scully?" Mulder asked. He watched as she tilted her head to the right slightly as if listening to someone who wasn't in the room, her eyes getting a slightly faraway look. Mulder felt himself bite his lower lip slightly. "Scully?" "I heard you Mulder, and I'm going to tell you the truth. Maybe, if I had done so before, we would of caught the guy," Scully said guiltily. "What is it?" Mulder asked, getting up and sitting down next to her on the bed. "You know you can tell me anything Scully." Scully nodded and took a deep breath. "Remember a few of weeks back Mulder when I was shot by that man during the sting operation?" He nodded, "How could I forget, I was afraid I'd lost you in that one," he said, rubbing her shoulder gently. "Well, during that time when I was...out, I had this really strange dream. Or at least I thought it was a dream. I dreamt that I was in Hell, waiting to see if I would live or not, a decision that was up to God. I met the Devil there, and we.... talked," Scully couldn't help a rueful smile at what she was saying. "God, that sounds insane I know, but it was real. Or at least, I thought so at the time. But then afterwards, I dismissed it as a dream. And that was all." "Why?" Mulder asked, genuinely curious. "I thought you believed in God and Heaven and that sort of thing." "I do," Scully said, "I have that faith in me. But this, this was so weird Mulder, strange. Nothing like I expected it to be, and since it was unexpected, I think I dismissed it without much thought. It was something that I shouldn't of done, because earlier today...I saw him again. The Devil. And my guardian angel too. They said that they were here to see me because of this case that we are on, and because of a turning point in both our lives." "What kind of turning point?" Mulder asked. "They didn't tell me that," Scully said. "But they did tell me that this killer we are chasing is...undead. That he was dead but escaped Hell and started killing again. And that they need us, mortals, to help bring him back," Scully said. "Why do they need us?" "Because this dead man made contact with mortals and re-established his tether to this world. They said we need a human to secure him for capture and return to Hello," she said. Then, almost as an after thought, laughed and got to her feet, and started to pace. "God, listen to me, I'm out of my mind aren't I? I've totally lost it...It didn't sound this crazy in my head." Mulder watched her pace carefully, and thought out his next words with ease. "You still haven't told me where you got that composite," he said. "He gave it to me. The Devil. Hardy is in his 'Waiting Room', waiting for judgment, and since you said that he saw the killer before his death, he went to get it," Scully said. "Why didn't he just tell you himself what the guy looked like?" Mulder asked. Scully smiled fondly, "Not everybody has a photographic memory like you Mulder." There was a brief silence and Mulder took a deep, releasing breath. "Okay, Scully," he said. "I fully believe that this is happening to you. I am not inclined to believe in God, but I do know that there are forces beyond our control," Mulder stood and took her by the shoulders to stare her in the eye. "Scully, it means a lot to me that you felt you could tell me this. And I want you to know that I will always be there to listen to you, do you understand?" Scully smiled and nodded at this man that was her partner and so much more. She leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck and enjoyed in his scent as he returned her embrace. "Good," he said with a satisfied grin. "Now, let's go get our killer." "You didn't tell him that we're right here," MulderAngel said. "I wasn't ready, and I don't think that he would of been either," Scully said as she watched Mulder talk to Joneston in the local precinct from across the room. "But it feels good to have told him what I did." "You two are so touchy feely it makes me sick," MulderDevil gagged. "Please, in the future, if you plan on putting on such displays of affection give me a warning will you?" Scully ignored him and instead watched as Mulder talked to more local PD, with occasional nods at breaks in the conversation. After a minute he walked back over to her and leaned in close as he spoke, "There is a man matching the description living in town. Goes by the name Henery Drake, and lives in a quieter part of Peaceful Acres. He keeps to himself, nobody really knows anything about him. He moved here about four years ago." "Why do you think he waited so long to start killing" Scully asked. Mulder shrugged. "If you're right, and this is some sort of renegade Dead Man then he would of experienced confusion. I remember reading something similar to this in an old X-File. A woman, who had supposedly been dead for three years mysteriously rose again and appeared to her family with no memory of her death. She started to live her life with them again, doing all the things she usually did. Eating, sleeping, all that. But then one day she was shot by someone who claimed to be a Ghost Hunter for Satan. As soon as she was shot, her body disappeared. It was as if she had never been there," Mulder paused, "It is possible that this guy didn't remember anything until just recently, and as a result, started killing again. I didn't think to make this connection before." "Oh, I remember her," MulderDevil declared. "Dirty ol'hag she was. Thought herself to be a witch and kidnapped small children and buried them in her basement next to her collection of preserves. I do believe that she's in the chorus of 'Achey Breaky Heart' for the twenty - two millionth time right now," he let out a silent whistle, "Bitch can scream." "Have you ever considered seeking professional help?" MulderAngel asked. "I seek out and listen to myself and that's a lot more then I can say for most people." "The local sheriff, Joneston and some of his men are going out to pick him up now. We can question him, but without any real evidence, we won't be able to hold him for long," Mulder said. "We might not have to," Scully said. "They told me that all we would have to do is 'secure' him. When he is under the control of a mortal, then the Devil can come and bring him back to Hell." Mulder blinked and then nodded, slowly. "Okay, Scully," he said softly. "You don't believe me," Scully said, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "I believe *in* you Scully," Mulder said, "I told you that. And I believe that these things are happening to you, what influence they are of I don't know," he saw her start to protest and held up a hand. "Scully, on all the cases we have been on, have you believed me in all those situations?" he asked. She didn't answer. "No, you haven't. And I respect that. Because I know that even if we don't share opinions and beliefs all the time, we both have faith in each other. You don't always agree with my theories but you respect the journey. And I will respect yours now," Mulder said. She smiled slightly. "I know Mulder. I know you do. It's just strange...being in this position. Of seeing these things that I know shouldn't be, but are. And it's hard not having someone believe you. Thank you for being there for me. I can't think of anyone else who would be in this situation." Mulder reached out and ran a hand over her face and the two shared a look and a long moment of silence. Eyes meeting eyes and for a second, neither breathed. "I thought I told you to warn me," MulderDevil pouted, and in a blink of light, disappeared. End part 7 My Partner, the Devil II - 8/10 Disclaimers in part 1 MulderDevil watched as the man that had escaped his defenses, William Van Zoderic, was dragged out of his house in a pair of steel cuffs, a look of twisted anger on his face, but he remained silent. Smart man. The one named Joneston, and the sheriff got in one car with another officer and Van Zoderic got into the back seat. MulderDevil frowned when he realized that he could not take him back into Hell yet. It meant that he was not secure in these people's custody. He might try to run, MulderDevil mused. Or kill some people in an attempt at escape. The cars started back to the precinct and MulderDevil watched until even their clouds of dust were non-existence. Thunder boomed over head and a crack of lightening shot through the sky as dark clouds of a storm rolled overhead. "I know, I know," MulderDevil said irritatingly as he looked up. "It's taken care of, okay? Just cut it out with that stuff already, I get the picture." Lightening flashed again and hit the floor just inches before MulderDevil's feet, causing him to jump back slightly in surprise. He let out an exasperated puff. "I don't understand what you see in these people, these worthless mortals. What's the big deal? So the world is relieved of a few more of them with people like Van Zoderic, the world won't miss them." Thunder rumbled, rain started to drip. "You're too soft, too...*good*," MulderDevil spit out the word like a bad taste. "It will ruin you in the end, make it easier for people like me to take over. Is that what you want?" A crack of lightening and the Earth shook slightly. "You could try this type of intimidation with your precious people," MulderDevil mused, "Maybe then this damn place wouldn't be so screwed up." The rain was coming down in earnest now, sheets and sheets of it pouring down and washing away the foulness in the air. MulderDevil pulled his jacket closer around him, took off his plastic horns and shook them off before putting them back on. "We would get along better if you were a little more dry, and if I wasn't such an asshole. But...what can you do? People don't change, why should we?" MulderDevil looked around the small driveway and at the small house, an almost sad look on his face, taking place over the arrogance. "I work with the scum of this planet, if you saw what I saw... then maybe you wouldn't be the being that you are..." MulderDevil said, accusingly, enviously. He shrugged, "Not that I blame you, it's entirely my fault I am where I am." The storm lightened up a bit. MulderDevil laughed, a deep, throaty, hateful laugh. "See what I mean, Big Boy? Soft, way too soft." He disappeared and the storm abated. "That's him?" Mulder asked as he, Scully and Joneston stood behind the two way mirror looking into the interrogation room where the killer sat. His hands were folded on the table top, a patient and expectant look on his face. "He knows we have nothing on him," Mulder said, "He's not even breaking a sweat." "I'll break more then his sweat," Joneston ground out through clenched teeth. "Easy Jonesy," Mulder said, he snuck a glance at Scully, "This anonymous source of ours might not even be all that accurate." "You said you saw him at the crime scene," Joneston said, "He has already told us that the has no alibi for the time of the murders and, well...just look at him! The guy looks like a whacko if I ever saw one." "Somehow I don't think that looking like a 'whacko' will hold up in front of a judge," Mulder said dryly. "Why don't you go in and question him? Agent Scully and I will join you in a moment." Joneston nodded and grumbled and went into the next room. "So, what's up Scully? I thought after we had the killer in custody the...Devil...would take him back to Hell," Mulder said, turning to her. Scully smiled at the effort she saw in Mulder's expression not to make a face and wondered if she tried that hard when he presented some of his wilder theories to her. She made a mental note to do so in the future. "I don't know," she said honestly. "That's what they told me." "He's not secure," MulderDevil said popping into the room. "He's going to try something. He is not yet under the control of a mortal." "Does this mean he's not...secure?" Mulder asked. MulderDevil did an exaggerated double take. "Maybe he's not half as stupid as I initially thought," he said. MulderAngel stared at him curiously. "Are you wet?" he asked. "No comment," MulderDevil grumbled. "Yes, I guess it is," Scully said with a slight smile. "How do we *make* him secure then?" Mulder asked, doubt in his voice, but at the same time that deep biting curiosity that couldn't help but make him ask. "You're going to have to kill him," MulderDevil said. Scully flinched. "Mulder, why don't you go join ASAC Joneston. I'll be along in a minute, I just need time to think." "Okay, Scully, if that's what you want," Mulder said and gave her one last look before existing the room, seeing her tilt her head again to an invisible person or persons as he turned to close the door. End part 8 My Partner, the Devil II - 9/10 Disclaimers in part 1 "He suspects that we're here you know," MulderAngel said. "He has noticed that you are acting unlike yourself and knows of similar 'xfiles' from the past. It is not good to keep this from him, you have told him everything else." "Forget him," MulderDevil said, "You don't need to tell him, you're not hurting anybody by *not* telling him. It's not as if you're lying to him or anything, just...withholding information." "I don't want to hear this again," Scully said, waving her hand, "Just...just explain what you said a second ago? What do you mean I have to *kill* him, to secure him." "Exactly that Dana my dear," MulderDevil said. "It's not as if you are murdering him, he's already dead. But if he stays in this world, then he will continue to kill. You don't have the evidence to convict him." "I can't just kill someone in cold blood," Scully said. "This is for the greater good!" MulderDevil said, his voice rising and for the first time showing signs of anger. "How can you not see that? How, after all of this, can you still not believe?" "What do you care about the greater good?" Scully asked coldly. "I couldn't give a damn, but I know you do. It is your weakness, like many others of this pitiful thing called the human race. You and your partner both will one day end up dead for your morals and rights." The Devil took a deep calming breath and looked away for a moment. "He belongs in Hell," he finally said, nodding to the man behind the mirror. "And if I have to chase him down for eternity to do so, then so be it. But until I do, I wonder how many more of your precious human lives will be lost." And with another blink of light, he was gone. MulderAngel remained, leaning against the wall and Scully looked at him curiously. "You don't say much," she finally said. "Both of you have been like a second skin to me all day, and he's done most of the talking. I thought God never let the Devil steal the show." "He doesn't," MulderAngel said with a smile. "There is a strength in silence, but I talk when I need to. When there is something to be said, but mostly, I am only here for guidance. He is here to confuse and tempt you," he gestured to the empty space in which the Devil had disappeared. "My counterpart is rash, arrogant, in need to be in the spotlight. I'd like to think that I have overcome those emotions in my enlightenment with God and Heaven and soul. I am not letting him 'steal the show', I am letting him say his piece which is what we must all do. "Dana, it is you who must decide which is the right thing to do," MulderAngel got a distant look. "Temptation often speaks louder then conscience, but it is the end result that is important." "Is he lying to me? Trying to trick me into killing an innocent man?" Scully asked. "If he is lying, then I am too. Because I am telling you that that man in there is evil. And he is dead. He does not belong in this world, and must pass back into his own," MulderAngel said. "So I should kill him?" "That is entirely up to you," MulderAngel said. "You know what is right." Scully remained silent for a moment, and then, coming to a decision, walked out of the room. End part 9 My Partner, the Devil II - 10/10 Disclaimers in part 1 "You little bastard, answer me! Did you kill those people!?" Jonesy had the man by the lapels of his jacket and was shaking him furiously. "Damn it, little piece of shi - " "I think you've done the bad cop thing to the brink Jonesy, let the guy go," Mulder said. When Jonesy didn't comply Mulder walked over and put a hand on the older man's shoulder. "We don't want him getting off on a technicality," Mulder told him calmly. Jonesy shrugged the shoulder off, "He's already off," the man muttered and stormed away, opening the door just as Scully reached for the handle. "Hey Scully," Mulder said tiredly when she walked further into the room, giving Van Zoderic the once over. "It seems that our friend here was rendered a mute when he escaped Hell." Van Zoderic gave Mulder a look that plainly read "You're Crazy" and he snorted distastefully, arms crossed across his chest. "Mulder, I want a moment alone with him," Scully said. "What? Why?" Mulder asked. "Just trust me," Scully said, and looked up at him, stance calm, but eyes struggling. "Scully..." Mulder started. "Trust me," she repeated. Mulder looked from Van Zoderic to his partner silently in debate. "He thinks you've lost it," came the voice in her ear. "That you've snapped. He's seen you talking to us and thinks that you're having some sort of nervous breakdown. He doesn't respect you, he doesn't trust you. You were the little spy that was sent to nose in on his work five years ago. Why should he trust you? He thinks that you made all of this up..." MulderDevil chuckled, "He thinks you're full of shit." Scully flinched again. "No," she whispered. "Scully?" Mulder questioned. "Do you think he cares about you? That he *loves* you? You are just a joke to him. The skeptic that works with him in the basement. He would give you up in a bloody second if it meant seeing his sister for a minute. You mean absolutely nothing to him..." "Scully? Are you okay? You look a little pale..." "He's laughing at you, you know. About how you follow him around like a little lost puppy, doing what he says, doing his little menial tasks. He'll toss you away the first second that he can. Toss you on your ass, and I'll you'll have to show for the last five years is a few dead relatives and a chip in your neck." "No!" Scully said louder, her voice watery, her hands tight over her ears in a vain attempt to block out the taunting voice. "I'm going to get you to the hospital Scully," Mulder said, taking her face in his hands, trying to get her to look at him, but her eyes kept shifting to the left and right, as if looking for somebody. "Scully...who's talking to you? Who are you talking to? Tell me what's going on Scully!" "Poor Dana Scully...been working with Spooky for one year too many.." "Noo...Mulder..." Scully sobbed. "I'm right here Scully, I'm right here. Look at me Scully," Mulder insisted and cupped her face harder until two blue eyes looked his way. "Are they in here Scully?" he asked softly, "The ones that you have been talking to? The ones that you keep referring to? Are they with you now?" Scully nodded numbly and shivered in Mulder's grip. Mulder looked around the room, but saw nothing but plain white walls and the confused face of Van Zoderic. "He won't stop..." she whimpered. "Who?" Mulder prodded, "Who won't stop?" When she didn't answer he held her close to his body, and cradled her head against his chest, "I'm here Scully, don't be scared..." "Ugh, I thought I told you to warn me about the mushy stuff..." Scully's eyes popped open as she caught sight of what sat at the interrogation table. The voice that had spoken was not like her partner's. But it held the wicked sarcasm she had gotten to know well through out the day. MulderDevil sat at the table, only he was different. The horns were real, sharp and dripping with blood, and the hazel eyes had changed to red as well along with the skin. The hair was slicked back and black, the teeth elongated into fangs that were bared in an evil grin. He wore Van Zoderic's clothes. "Hey Dana, are we in Hell yet?" he crooned. Scully let out a sound that was a cross between a scream and a cry and drew her gun before Mulder realized what she was reaching for. "Scully, no!" he screamed, but she was already firing, and two shots ripped from her gun into MulderDevil's chest. He managed to register one final look of surprise before he slumped foreword onto the table top. Then, there was a sudden shimmering in the room, and the body glowed with the red of the skin and it seemed to lift off and evaporate into the air around it. A thick silence settled in the room, with the only sound being the heavy, panting, breaths of Dana Scully. Her arms shook as she gripped the gun tightly, and only loosened when Mulder pried it firmly, but gently out of her grip. "Whew, now was that dramatic, or was that dramatic?!" Scully jumped at the voice and saw MulderDevil, back to looking like he usually did going over to the body with MulderAngel in tow. The body no longer was the one that she had shot, but was now that of Van Zoderic's once again. "Humans," MulderDevil mused, "So easy to manipulate. But I must applaud you Agent Scully, That was quite the show, really, I didn't think you had it in you. But I figured that it was worth a shot," he smirked, and made a gun motion with his hand, "or two," Bending down he picked the body up into his arms. "Now, if you will excuse me, I got to bring this guy back home. Been nice working with you. You know, other then you trying to kill me near the end there. I'll remember that the next time we meet," he walked over to the middle of the room and a familiar looking elevator ascended from the floor. Getting in with minimal effort, MulderDevil hit a button on an out of sight control panel and winked. "See you around Dana," he said and waved as the doors shut on his smirking face. "Are you okay Dana?" MulderAngel asked tentatively. "I - I'm not sure what just happened here," Scully murmured. "I don't know either, where the Hell did the body go?" Mulder asked as he got up and went over to the table. "I saw you aim, and pull the trigger, but no shots were fired. Then the body was gone, just like that. I think I might of blacked out for a while, although I have no idea why." "Just firing your gun at Van Zordic was enough to secure him," MulderAngel said, "But you had to of have the intention to kill or it wouldn't of worked," MulderAngel looked at her in sympathy, "I'm sorry I had to let you go through that Dana, but I had no control. It was another one of those decisions you had to make on your own. I'm just your guide." Scully looked down at the cold, limp weapon in her hands, "I guess I failed, huh?" MulderAngel smiled brightly, "There is no pass or fail in life Dana. It's all a series of happenstance's, you just have to try your best to do the right thing and be happy. That's the only real way to succeed," he looked down at his watch, which Dana noticed had no minute or hour hands, and tapped his forehead lightly with the palm of his hand. "It's late, and you two need to be alone," MulderAngel said gesturing to Mulder. "Keep praying Dana, remember that I'm always listening." As the air shimmered around him, and he disappeared out of her life once again Scully watched as Mulder stood over the spot where Van Zoderic had been, shaking his head. "Did they come and get him?" he asked her. Scully nodded. "Yeah, he's back where he belongs now." "How are we going to explain this to Joneston?" Mulder asked. As if on cue, Joneston walked in the, looking down at a file and seemed to start when he saw the two standing there. "What are you two still doing here?" he demanded. "I thought you went home hours ago." "Why? What time is it?" "It's nearly midnight. Get out of here, both of you, the case is over remember? You can go back to your own beds now," Joneston said, not without kindness. "Over?" Scully asked. "Yeah, over. As in case closed? Remember? Sheriff and I went over to pick the suspect up at his house, he tried to run...bang bang, we killed him? Found the murder weapon in his house." Joneston frowned at the blank looks on the agents' faces and shook his head. "You two *are* weird," he said and left the room without another word. Scully found herself grinning like a wild woman. The way things seemed to turn out never ceased to surprise her. And she had to admit to herself that she had been through a lot more unhappy endings then these. But what was this turning point that the Devil and Angel had kept referring to? "Scully?" Mulder asked tentatively. Scully looked up and let out a breath of shock when Mulder swooped down and captured his mouth with hers, pulling her into a tight embrace. The kiss was soft, and sweet and full of promise, and when it was released Scully found herself in the comfortable position of being in Mulder's arms. "What was that for?" Scully asked numbly. "I don't know.." he admitted, "I guess, I just...I was worried about you Scully. You really had me scared there for a minute...I'm just glad that you're okay," he seemed bashful all of a sudden and Scully pulled him close again for another kiss. "Shut up and kiss me Spooky," she said, and the ground beneath her shook as he did. ********************************************************** Hoped you enjoyed this, I appreciate all feedback, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Please write to me at alyssa@total.net Thank you **********************************************************