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The Wrath of Fate Series I
Peace, Be Still 6-10
By: Jenn Nistor

Peace, be Still 6/? "E.N.D 1/3"

11:21 P.M.

Dana rubbed her eyes and focused on Mulder. He was asleep on her bed with papers resting on his chest. Quietly, she picked up the papers and placed them on the coffee table and then covered Mulder with the blanket that rested at the foot of the bed.

They hadn't found anymore connections, except that ten deaths had followed Jessie and eight had followed Erin. It was all so strange and didn't make any sense. "Are we talking about reincarnation?" Mulder had asked her. She had replied, "It's probably just a coincidence." But she wasn't so sure now.

Glancing back at Mulder she was suddenly very tired. She didn't know how she was going to make it without him, it was hard to imagine being sent off to a place alone. The bed was big enough for two, so she slipped under the covers and curled up on the opposite side.

Mulder could feel Scully getting into bed next to him, but he didn't care. He was to tired to move. "Night Scully." he mumbled.

"Night Mulder." she whispered.

It couldn't have been more than an hour later when Mulder awoke with a start. 'Something's wrong.' he thought. He glanced over at Scully and sighed. She was shaking violently and he could hear her muffled sobs. Reaching out to her, he gently pulled her to his chest. "Scully." he whispered. "What's wrong?"

Dana pushed him away and got out of bed. "I'm going to stay in your room." she said, grabbed his key off the dresser, and left. Once she was in the hall she aloud herself to cry. Her dreams had been haunted by images of her sister and father telling her not to leave Mulder. Their words had cut through her like dagger, she didn't understand why it was so hard to let go.

Glancing down at her key, she noted that Mulder's room was three doors down from hers. "I need some sleep." she mumbled and approached his door. She had been so preoccupied that she hadn't noticed Mulder behind her. He laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on back to bed.....you can tell me what's wrong in the morning." he guided her back to her room. "All right?"

Dana nodded and turned to look at him, "I......"

Mulder silenced her by placing a finger over her lips. "Shhh.....get some sleep."

Nodding, Dana got back into her bed and curled up in the far corner. A few minutes later she could feel Mulder crawling into bed next to her. Even through he did not touch her, she could feel the heat from his body radiating towards her. "G'night." she whispered and drifted off to sleep.

************
August 19, 1996
9:12 A.M.
St. Peters Church

"Nice place." Mulder mumbled jumping out of the car. He glanced up at the church with disgust. The once beautiful stain glass windows were now broken and cracked, the door's had been boarded up along with some of the remaining windows. A few houses that occupied the slots next to the church stood vacant and unwanted.

Dana glanced back at Agent Gordon, "You coming?" she asked.

He nodded, "Yeah I was just thinking about all of those deaths. It's so sad."

Mulder nodded. He and Scully had agreed not to share their revelations with Gordon. He knew that Gordon was new to the FBI and that he hadn't yet heard what kind of work they did, and judging by his attitude, he wasn't ready. "Yeah....," Mulder agreed. "But when you work as much as Agent Scully and I you begin to get used to it, right Scully?"

Dana hadn't been paying any attention to their conversation. She was busy taking photographs of the old church and it's surroundings. As she made her way to the back of the church she noticed a small cemetery. "Hey, Mulder!" she called. "Where were Jessie and Erin found exactly?"

Mulder looked down at his file and then up, "A small cemetery in the back of the church." he yelled then headed back towards her.

Gordon followed, "Which one was Jessie he asked?"

"Jessie was the very first victim." Scully answered.

"I thought that the first victim was Erin." Gordon said.

Mulder and Dana exchanged glances. Gordon obviously didn't know about the first chain of deaths. "No, actually ten years ago a little girl named Jessie Ryan was murdered. It looked like a kidnapping that had gone bad." Scully motioned to the cemetery. "Her body was found here and ten deaths followed hers. They were all found in the exact same spot." she paused.

Mulder continued, "The deaths just stopped suddenly and until January 16th 1996 the town of Cape Verde was clean."

"So these chains of death are connected?" Gordon asked. "The cops didn't mention the connection."

"Yeah," Dana replied, "Well they probably haven't made the connection yet. The only reason we got this case was because of our ability to connect cases that have been forgotten." she shared a secret smile with Mulder.

Mulder cleared his throat, "Lets check out the cemetery." he lifted up the police tape that had just recently been placed to seal off the cemetery and let them pass.

Dana began snapping pictures of the murder scene, while Gordon and Mulder went to examine the church. She stopped when she reached the grave that the victims had died at. It was a child's grave, the head stone was carved out of marble and had gold letter's spelling out the name. Bessy Jessica Erins, born February 17th 1966, died August 9th 1976. Dana gasped as she read the dates, "Mulder!!!" she screamed. "Mulder!!!"
She could feel fear rising in her stomach. What was going on.....all the deaths ended in the exact same place.

"What's wrong?" he asked rushing to her.

She pointed to the grave. "Look."

Mulder squatted down so that he could read it. "Bessy Jessica Erins," he read aloud. "Born February 17th 1966, died August 9th 1976." he glanced up at Scully. "Check this girl out." he mouthed then turned back to Gordon, who looked confused. " I think Scully needs to get some rest." he said, "She always freaks out when she sees a child's grave."

Scully nodded, "Can you get a ride back with Agent Gordon?" she asked deciding to play along. "I'd like to go and get some sleep."

Agent Gordon nodded, "Yeah I'll drop him by after we finish up here." he assured her.

"Thanks." Dana said and jogged off towards her and Mulder's rental car. She drove through the almost deserted section of town towards the public library she had seen the day before.

She entered the library and walked over to the reference desk. "Excuse me." she said to a woman behind the desk behind the counter.

The woman turned around and smiled. "Yes?" she asked. "May I help you?"

"Yes..." she pulled out her badge and flashed it to the woman. "I was wondering if you know anything about a girl who died in 1976. Her name was Bessy Jessica Erins."

The woman's face fell and she just stared at Dana, not saying a word. Dana's eyes fell on a plaque that rested on the woman's desk 'Tammy Erins' she read silently. "She was my sister." the woman whispered. "Why do you want to know about her?"

Dana smiled. "Well, I was just curious to know how she died." she replied. "I was called in to investigate the murders that have just recently begun and I noticed that all of the victims died on Bessy's grave."

The woman turned and continued to sort through the papers she had been working on. "She was murdered." Tammy replied. "If there's anything else you want to know, you'll have to look it up in the old newspapers." she pointed to a far door.

Dana nodded, "Thank you." she said then made her way to the room. There were books of old newspapers stacked up tables and filing cabinets lined the walls. It took her about an hour to find the all the books from 1976, but the time paid off.

"Bessy Erins..." she read aloud. "Daughter of the suspected murderer from the Katie Evans case, was found strangled behind St. Peters Church in Verdes Cape Massachusetts. No reports were made of her disappearance, but when Suspected Murderer, Samuel Erins, found that his daughter did not show up to testify on his behalf a search party was organized. Sheriff Gardner Tompson stated that at approximately 10:35 P.M. on August 9th, little Bessy Erins body was discovered in a shallow grave behind St. Peters church."
Dana paused when she felt a presence behind her.

"Continue." a soft voice said.

She turned to see Mulder, "Fine." she looked back down at the paper and continued. "Bessy was found to have been strangled, the same way Katie Evans had met her fate. Samuel Erins was released and all charges were dropped." she looked back to Mulder. "What do you think?" she asked.

Mulder shook his head, "While you were gone I found Katie's grave. She doesn't fit the dates but it looks like her death is connected."

"How do you mean?" Dana leaned back in her chair.

"Well I talked to the guy who lives down the street from the church. He said that Bessy's father was arrested for Katie's murder, but after his own daughters death they let him go. The police figured that the murderer was some drunk who stumbled into town one night and decided to take two victims." he sighed. "Case closed.....until Jessie's murder."

Dana gasped, "Bessy *Jessica* *Erins*!" she cried. "Jessie's real name was Jessica and Erin, well that was Bessy's last name.

Mulder nodded, "I was waiting or you to make that connection. It looks like we're looking at some kind of reincarnation." he laughed, "Admit it! This isn't a coincidence."

Dana smiled, "OK....." she said, "Let's get all of the information we can on these kids and we'll see if something strange is going on."

"It's to bad this is our last case together." Mulder said sadly. "I'll miss having you for partner. I know that it didn't work with us romantically, but do you think that we could stay friends?"

"Yeah." Dana whispered. "By the way did I mention that Bessy's sister is the woman behind the desk?"

Mulder shook his head, "Are you serious?" he asked.

Dana nodded, "Yeah, she acted really strange when I asked her about it.....I'm sure she knows more than she's letting on."

"I'll go talk to her." Mulder said. "I can be very persuasive." he wagged his eyebrows at her then headed out the door. "Ms. Erins?" he asked stepping up behind the counter. "Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions about your sisters murder?" he pulled out his badge. "I'm agent Mulder.....I believe you talked to my partner, earlier."

Tammy nodded, "I don't know what the big deal is she was murdered over twenty years ago."

Mulder nodded, "I know, but we think that her murder is connected to the recent murders as well as the murders ten years ago."

"That's impossible." Tammy mumbled then looked down, "I'm only going to tell you this once so that you'll leave me alone." she looked him in the eye and Mulder nodded. "Bessy was disturbed...... there was the guy, Jamison Dupree, who lived in the woods behind the church and he used to tell everyone that she was possessed by the spirit of his daughter Alexandra. Alex had died the day Bessy was born and since Bessy grew up to look like his daughter people were scared of her."

"So your saying that......" Mulder rolled his eyes, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that someone killed her, fearing that she was really the reincarnation of Alex." Tammy handed him a book. "Alex was evil, they say that she killed ten people behind the church, but no one could prove it because the victims were all strangled and she was to little to strangle them."

Mulder glanced down at the book, it was a book on reincarnation written by Tammy. "Do you believe that your sister was the reincarnation of Alex?"

Tammy nodded, "Yeah, but you probably think that's crazy, don't you?" she gave him a sheepish smile.

Mulder laughed, "No not at all...." he decided to tell her the truth. "Agent Scully and I work in a division called the *X-Files* it deals with unexplained phenomena and things like this."

"How many murders have there been?" she asked.

"If ten deaths followed your sisters." Mulder began. "Then there have been twenty eight, that's not counting those ten Alex murdered."

Tammy nodded, "I'll help in anyway I can." she said. "Just call me." she gave him her phone number.

Peace, Be Still 7/? "E.N.D 2/3"

3:35 P.M.

"OK.." Mulder began. "Lets say that Alex was some kind of demon or something. She killed ten people before someone, maybe her father, decided to kill her. Then when Bessy was born the spirit possessed her. Alex knowing that the body she possessed could only hold for ten years, she rid herself of it by strangling the body. The deaths that follow Bessy could possibly be a charge of some sort."

Scully nodded but had an idea of her own. "Yeah, but lets say that the spirit has only a couple of day out of the body to survive. Maybe each death gives it another day to live and after the tenth death it has to find a baby that was born on the day that it's host died so that it can recharge it's self."

Mulder laughed, "Are you starting to believe in the paranormal, Dr. Scully?" he asked taking a bite of his sandwich. "What ever happened to 'Miss Everything can be explained through the realms of science.'? Your still her aren't you? Or has that spirit possessed you too?"

"Working with you Agent Mulder has scared me for life." she joked.

"Oh, that hurt." he said gripping his chest. "I think my heart is broken."

"Deep Throat told me." Dana said suddenly.

"Huh?" Mulder asked. "He told you what?"

"He told me about the case and about why the X-files was being closed. Skinner didn't." she sighed. "I was beginning to think I was crazy until you said that he talks to you too."

"I'm not sure if he actually appears before me or in dreams." Mulder shook his head, "Maybe we've seen to much and are going crazy." he put his hand on hers. "What ever it is, we'll find out together, as a team."

Dana shook her head, "No...not for long. We're about to be separated and sent clear across country. I know that this is what we wanted, but I feel safe with you as my partner, I can't break in a new partner." She smiled.

Mulder laughed, "Hey, I finally broke you in as my partner and now we're being separated. It took me three years to get you to believe in things that cannot be explained. The answers are out there, they always will be, and we just have to keep searching."

"We have two more deaths to stop the spirit from possessing another baby." Dana said changing the subject, "What do you suggest we do?"

"How do you stop a possession from happening?" Mulder questioned. "We've seen things like this before, but this is so much different from what we've seen. Who knows how long this sprit has been possessing little girls. It could be some ancient evil or curse that was brought on and can't be fixed."

Dana nodded in agreement, "What are we going to tell Gordon?" she asked motioning to the younger man in the corner. "We can't just leave him here, but we can't take him with. What if he's a spy or something."

"We could send him on a wild goose chase." Mulder suggested. "We could tell him that we've got a lead for him to check out and we can send him to Frohike. He and Langly could distract him."

Scully laughed, "We can't do that to the poor guy." she joked. The thought of Frohike made her sick. He was nice, but he had this slight fixation with her and it made her uncomfortable.

"Scully, they are my friends....do you have to put them down?" Mulder's expression showed hurt.

"Hey..." Scully said defensively, "They're my friends too. I was just kidding...." she was just kidding. They had helped her and Mulder many times. The Lone Gunman they called themselves; Byers, Langly and Frohike. "Give them a call."

Mulder handed her his phone, "You give them a call." he was grinning.

Dana laughed and threw a french fry and him playfully, "You better pray that Byers or Langly picks up." she said and pushed the speed dial button that had their number on it. "Or your going to be sor...." she stopped when someone picked up. "Frohike hi!" she said sending Mulder a warning glance.

Mulder laughed, he laughed so hard that he was afraid that he might pee in his pants. He watched as his partner struggled to talk against Frohike's babbling. He knew that Frohike must have been hitting on her by the way Scully kept clearing her throat.

"Here! Talk to Mulder." she said and threw him the phone.

Mulder laughed and put it to his ear, "Hey Frohike!! Yeah, yeah I agree." he rolled his eyes at Scully, "Yeah I'll tell her." he put his hand over the mouth piece and said, "Frohike thinks that your wasting your time on me."

"Yeah, well don't tell him we're not together anymore or he'll think that I'm available." Dana mumbled and stood up. "I'm going back to my room, I'll see you later."

"You all right?" he asked.

Dana nodded, "Yeah, I'm just tired. I'll see you later." she walked out the door and left.

"Yeah, I'm still here." Mulder said into the receiver. "I need a favor."

************
8:15 pm
St. Peters Church

"Mulder, this could take all night." Dana mumbled. "I don't see what we can do even if something does happen."

Mulder took her hand in his, "You can sleep if you want to Scully....I'll wake you if anything happens."

Dana shook her head, "No, that wouldn't be fair, I'm fine." she leaned back against the tree they were staked out at, "I just wish we had some idea of who gave birth on August 9th. This spirit or what ever it is only has two more victims."

Mulder nodded and handed her a folder, "Already taken care of." he said. "I had Tammy check into it."

"Great!" she turned on her flash light and skimmed the paper. "How do we know that this thing won't possess a baby boy?" she asked. "All Tammy got was the names of little girls."

"Well, we figured that since this spirit has never possessed a little boy that....you know..." his voice trailed off as Tammy approached.

"Sorry I'm late." Tammy said sitting down next to Mulder. "I had to convince myself to come back here." she gave Mulder a flirtatious smile. "But I knew that you'd protect me."

Mulder glanced over at Dana but she turned away. 'What's with her?' he thought. 'She's acting like a jealous girlfriend.' He cleared his throat and turned to Tammy, "Tell me a little more about your sister."

"I was two years younger than her. She was cruel and.....she was the one who killed Katie." her voice became shallow and empty. "My father took the blame trying to protect us, but then she disappeared. I couldn't find her, I guess that I didn't want to find her, only she found in that grave." Mulder noticed tears streaming down her cheeks as she spoke. "People talked, they said that Alexandra's father killed her trying to stop the evil that penetrated her. Then there was Jessie, she was strange and looked like my sister and Alex. I....." she was cut of by a scream.

Dana jumped up, "Mulder, look." she pointed to a woman running through the cemetery. "What's....."

There was a loud explosion and lights began to swirl around the woman. She was picked up of the ground by some unknown force and was sent flying on top of Bessy's grave. Dana began to run forward. There was know way she was going to watch this woman die, she had to stop what was going to happen.

"Scully! Scully no!" she heard Mulder scream. She paid no attention. Why was it so important to her? She ran towards the light, stopping at nothing. The woman's screams were drowned out by the sounds of the explosion. Reaching out Dana grabbed at the woman's arm, but something, something stronger, swatted her away. She fell to her knee's, "Noooooooooo!" she screamed.

The woman began to grip at something around her neck. After what seemed like hours she crumpled to the ground. The light widened and threw Dana back cracking her head on a grave stone, and then there was silence and darkness.

Mulder rushed forward, "Scully!" he screamed. "Dana!" he fell to her side. There was a thin stream of blood running from her temple. "Call and ambulance." he yelled to Tammy who was examining the woman. "Call an ambulance."

He turned back to Dana and gently ran a hand over her cheek, "Your going to be OK." he whispered. "I promise, your going to be all right."

************
"Daddy!" Dana screamed. "Daddy, where did you go." Darkness surrounded her and footsteps sounded in her ears.

"You must go back and face the music." a voice said. "There isn't much time left."

Dana's eyes widened, "Melissa!" she whispered. "What can I do?"

Her sister kneeled down beside her, "The pain will be with always if you let him go now. You must fight your separation even if it means quitting your job at the FBI." she placed a hand on her sisters cheek. "Dana you have to stop fearing Fox. He loves you and by going along with this separation your driving a stake through his heart."

"What about mine?" Dana cried. "Don't you think that this is hurting me just as much as it's hurting him." tears streamed down her cheeks. "God, I've tried to hold onto him, but it just doesn't work, we're not made for one another. It's not meant to be."

Melissa slapped her sister, "How can you say that!" she screamed. "Are you so blind that you can't see how much he loves you, can't you see the death that lies with in his eyes." Melissa pulled her sister up angrily, "Look!" she screamed.

A small pool of light appeared and in it was Mulder crouched down next to a woman's lifeless form. "Don't you see what your doing to him right now?" Melissa asked. "Or do you only care about yourself and your pain."

Dana couldn't believe the harshness of her sisters words, "Why are you doing this?" she asked. "Why, Missy?"

"I'm warning you!" Melissa replied. "If you continue this uneven path you will lose him and won't just be across the country, but ten feet down. You'll lose him forever." she through up her hands, "Is that what you want sis? Is that what you want?"

Dana did not reply. The information that Melissa had given her was to much. "I can't do anything." she whispered.

Melissa just laughed. She didn't understand how her sister could be so blind. Hadn't she realized that Deep Throats warnings were meant to spare Fox's life and nothing else. How could she be so blind not to see Fox's love for her. This weak, pale, and sickly woman before her could not be her sister, she did not want to believe that it was her sister. "Fine Dana." she whispered. "Then you will see." she laughed, "And by the time you see, it will be to late."

Dana tried to reach out to her sister but she was gone, "Missy forgive me!" she screamed. "Please forgive me."

Bright light's began to surround her and she could feel herself being lifted. 'Where am I?' she thought. All memories of her meeting with her sister were forgotten. "Mulder!" she mumbled. "Mulder."

She felt a strong hand close around hers. "I'm here." a soft voice said, calling her back to the present. "Your going to be all right."

Dana forced her eyes open. "I feel like there's something I'm supposed to say." she whispered. "But I can't think of anything." she tried to smile but it hurt to much.

Mulder ran a hand over her cheek, "You don't have to say anything." he assured her. "They're going to take you to the hospital and check you out." he smiled. "I'll be there after I finish giving my statement."

Dana nodded and drifted back into unconsciousness.

***************
Cape Verdes Hospital
11:45 P.M.

Dana woke up to find Mulder quietly reading in the chair across from her bed. "I feel a lot better." she said leaning up on one elbow.

Mulder jumped up and approached her bed, "You had me so worried." he whispered. "But the doctor's said that your main problem was lack of sleep and the bump on your temple was nothing to worry about."

"So when do I get out of here?" she asked.

Mulder glanced at his watch, "Anytime you want." he smiled. "Get dresses and I'll go sign you out."Dana nodded and sat up, "Great. I'll meet you in the lobby." She got up and went to the closet next to her bed. Something was bothering her, she couldn't put her finger on it, but it was there.

'The pain will be with always if you let him go now. You must fight your separation.....' The words swam through her head. 'Dana you have to stop fearing Fox. He loves you and by going along with this separation your driving a stake through his heart.' Shaking off the words she quickly got dressed and met Mulder in the lobby.

"Ready?" he asked draping an arm casually over her shoulder.

Dana nodded, "Yeah, but I don't want to go back to the hotel." she grinned at him mischievously. "I have another idea."

*************
March 14, 2000

"I should have listen to Missy." Dana whispered. "But I didn't remember any of it until it was to late." she wiped away a tear that rested on her cheek, "Everyone I've ever loved was taken away from me."

Dana stood up, "Skinner called me this morning, he want's to reopen the X-Files." she laughed. "Who would have thought that after all this time he still remembered me. Like we saw written on the mirror of Alexandra Dupree's bathroom......Evil Never Dies."

Peace, Be Still... 8/? "E.N.D. 3/3"

*************
March 14, 2000

"I should have listen to Missy." Dana whispered. "But I didn't remember any of it until it was to late." she wiped away a tear that rested on her cheek, "Everyone I've ever loved was taken away from me."

Dana stood up, "Skinner called me this morning, he want's to reopen the X-Files." she laughed. "Who would have thought that after all this time he would still remember me, after all your the one who was interested in the X-files." her expression turned more serious as she remembered the last time she'd really talked to Skinner.

"Every time I close my eyes I see those words written on the mirror of Alexandra Dupree's bedroom......" she whispered, " The words written in her father's blood. 'Evil Never Dies'."
*************
August 20, 1996
1:04 A.M.
DuPree Woods

"So what are we doing in these woods?" Tammy asked. "I mean Mr. DuPree hasn't been seen in close to thirty years." she shuttered at the thought of running into him.

Dana nodded, "I know, we're not looking for him. We're looking for his daughter's grave." the beam of her flash light hit an old cabin. "Is that is place?"

Tammy nodded, "I haven't been here since I was a little girl and was out looking for my sister." she laid a hand on Mulder's shoulder. "It look's like no one's been here in years. I wonder what happened to Mr. DuPree."

Mulder glanced over at Scully, "You all right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "Let's go." she pushed the door to the cabin open. Tammy was right, it looked as though no one had been there in years. Spider webs covered every square inch of the cabin. There was one plate left on the kitchen table along with a pitcher and glass. "Mulder check the bedroom." she said pointing to a door in the corner. "Tammy you check the other room."

Tammy shook her head, "I think I'll stay with Mulder." she said. "This place is kind of creepy."

Dana nodded and headed off towards the room opposite Mulder's. The room was a little girls room decorated with pink. White sheet's covered a chair and what seemed to be a doll house on the far wall and off to the left she noticed a small dresser. It too had been covered, but the sheet that had covered it was pulled free exposing a mirror. The mirror had been cracked and seemed to be dirty, but taking a closer look Dana saw that it had writing on it. ::::E.N.D.:::

"E.N.D." Dana mumbled. "What the hell does that mean?" She reached up and as she touched the letters a bit of the writing caked off. Dana shuttered, "Blood." she whispered. Just as she was about to back up she stumbled over something and fell. Glancing down to see what had tripped her she screamed.

Mulder and Tammy rushed in, "What's wrong?" Mulder cried kneeling down next to her.

Dana pointed to what looked like a stick, "It's Mr. DuPree." she choked.

Tammy pulled up the corner of the sheet to expose a human Skeleton. The flesh was nearly all gone, but some still clung the neck area and lower region of the body. "Yep, it looks like he's been dead a while." Tammy said then dropped the sheet.

Mulder laughed, "I think that was an understatement." he glanced up at the mirror, "E, period, N, period, D, period." he said. What does that mean?"

Tammy motioned around the room, "*E* means *evil*." she replied. "*N* mean *never* and *D* means *dies*. *Evil Never Dies*. He obviously was trying to tell us something."

Mulder nodded, "How'd you know that?"

Tammy laughed, "Like I said, he used to tell us that my sister was a demon. I heard all kinds of things."

"Now what do we do Scully......?" Mulder asked but when he turned to face her she was gone. "Scully?"

Dana had made her way into what seemed to be the living room and was looking at bunch of books when she heard Mulder calling her. "Mulder I think I found something else." she said examining one of the books. "This guy was obsessed exorcism, look." she handed him a book. "He's got to have at least ten books."

"Do you think that there's away to stop this?" Tammy asked peering over Mulder's shoulder.

Mulder shrugged, "I don't know....we have one more victim and if we miss our chance, we may end up waiting ten years."

Dana shook her head, "We can find the child that the spirit possessed and try to exorcise it. The only problem with that would be to convince the mother that we're not completely insane."

Mulder laughed, "Your starting to sound like me." he glanced at Tammy. "When she first started working with me she thought I was completely insane. She was sent to debunk all of my theories and well we disagreed on everything. Until now." he smiled at her.

"So you two have never been involved physically?" Tammy asked hopefully.

Dana laughed, "I don't think that was the subject, but yes we did. It didn't work out." she turned and headed off towards the front door, "I need some air. I'll meet you at the car." with that she left.

"Did I say something wrong?" Tammy asked.

Mulder shook his head, "No, it's just that this is our last case together. They've closed down the X-Files and they're going to separate us." he sighed. "Neither of us have very many friends in the agency and I guess that being partnered up with me hasn't helped he make many."

"Why?"

"Well, I obtained the nick name 'Spooky' Mulder in the academy and she got the name 'Ice Queen' I guess that she couldn't quit lose it hanging out with me. I have the worst reputation and it just didn't help." he laughed. He had just talked himself into a circle. His instincts told him to go after Dana, but he figured that it was no use. She was already to far gone in his life, there was no getting her back.

"Let's go find Scully and get out of here." Tammy suggested and made her way out the door.

*************
2:09 A.M.
Cape Verdes Inn

"You OK, Scully?" Mulder asked seeing how tired she looked.

Dana looked up at him and nodded, "Yeah, I just have a headache, no big deal." she tried to smile but the was nothing to smile at.

Mulder laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Come on, I'll walk you to your room." he led her to the elevator and pushed the button for the 2nd floor. "Maybe you should have stayed at the hospital."

"I hate hospitals." Dana said surprising a laugh. She knew that sounded terrible but it was the truth. "Sounds funny, huh?" she looked up at him.

Mulder laughed, "Not really. Just because you don't like being in the hospital, doesn't mean that you don't like working in one." he pushed her door open and led her in. "Your a great doctor, Dr. Scully."

Dana sat down on her bed and glanced around, "Thanks for your help. I think I'll turn in." she smiled. "Your welcome to stay, just turn the lights out when you leave."

"I'm not really tired." he said, "I think I'm going to go for a run." he started to head out, but Dana stopped him.

"Mulder?" she called.

He turned, "Yeah?" he asked.

"I....I..." she gave him a sad smile. "What if we don't stop this possession?" she asked. "It's kind of scary to think about, I mean look at what might happen if we don't stop it."

Mulder sighed and sat down next to her, "We have to talk about this separation." he said. "We haven't and I'm starting to get worried." he laid a gentle hand on hers.
Dana sighed, "Listen," she began. "When we get back let's just say our good-byes and be on our way. It'll be a lot easier for the both of us."

"We can't stay friends?" asked Mulder. "I don't think your being fair. Why does it always have to be all or nothing?"

Dana stood up and faced him, "I just think that it'd would be better for the both of us." She didn't want to have to explain it to him. "Please, let's just let it rest. Let's let it rest where it is now and remember what we had."

"Fine!" Mulder screamed, "If that's the way you want it, then that's the way we'll have it." he stood up and left with out another word.

"I'm not going to cry." Dana whispered to herself. "I'm not going to cry.....I refuse to cry." she grabbed her purse and left. "We'll see who has all and who has nothing." she muttered and headed towards the elevator.

**************
3:35 AM.
St. Peters Cemetery

"Would you like to tell me what we're doing here?" Tammy asked as she and Dana crept towards the cemetery.

"I want to see what is drawing everyone to your little sisters grave." Dana replied and handed her a shovel. "Help me dig."

"Your digging up my sister?" Tammy asked in shock. "No way! I'm going back." she started to leave but Dana gripped her shoulder.

"No you don't." she said. "I need your help."

"Why isn't your partner helping you?"

"Because." Dana cried. "He's not my partner anymore. Besides, he doesn't know that I'm here. If he did he'd kill me." she smiled. "We had a fight and I stormed off."

Tammy sighed, "Fine, let's get this over with." she jammed the shovel into the ground and dug.

After an hour of endless digging they gave up. "Are you sure she's buried here?" Dana asked leaning back. "We've dug at least ten feet."

Tammy shook her head, "I didn't go to the funeral." she sighed thinking back to all that had happened. "No one did. My dad told them to bury her and mark it with a head stone. I don't know what they did with the body."

"Didn't your dad go to the funeral?" asked Dana.

"No....he wasn't proud to have Bessy for a daughter. Mr. DuPree was one of the people that buried her. He could have done something with her body." she suggested. "Maybe he burned it or something."

"Maybe." Dana agreed. "But I think that there's something else. There's something about this spot that draws the spirit to it." she glanced around. "Something......bad happened here."

"There were some witch trials held here." Tammy said suddenly. "I remember my dad telling me about them." she thought a minute. "I think that there is a book about them back in the library. If I remember right, there was a little girl accused of witch craft....." she glanced at Dana. "I don't believe in this stuff."

**************
4:30 A.M.
Relation Library

"Here read this." Tammy said handing a book to Dana.

Dana took it and read, "On January16th 1692 the daughter of Daniel Verdes was tried, convicted, and burned a stake for practicing witchcraft. Not more than ten years old, the little girl, Sarah, vowed that she would avenge her killers. Legend has it that she was burned in the location of the now present St. Peters Cemetery, her ashes were stored in a brass urn and stored in her fathers house." Dana groaned, "Please don't tell me we're working on a curse."

Tammy sighed, "Listen, go back to the hotel....I'll find more information and get back to you."

Dana nodded, "Thanks Tammy." she said then left.

******************
8:35 A.M.

"Dana!!" Mulder yelled pounding on her door. "Scully!! Open up!" he was just about to break it down when she answered.

"What?" she asked groggily. She didn't appreciate being woken up from a sound sleep.

Mulder pushed his way in, "Get packed." he yelled. "Tammy was killed last night and Skinner pulled us off the case." he gripped her arm. "You were the last one to see her alive. I know that you were with her last night."

Dana sunk into her bed. Had she heard him right? Was Tammy truly dead? "you...You don't think that I killed her." she cried suddenly. "God Mulder! We had just figured out the origin of the spirit."

"Yeah, well....I guess you two got to close, because Skinner pulled us." he laughed. "This is it Scully...we're finished." he through up his hand and left. "Have a nice life." he though over his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's over." she thought. "It's all over."

**************

Peace, Be Still 9/16 "Last Chance"

"Twas a wise man who gave me my wisdom, twas a blind man who gave me my sight, twas a lover who gave me my love, twas God who gave me me. So I say to you life gives us our courage and death gives us our strength, while peace gives us one last chance at each of these." (E.C. Aarons)

November 10, 1996
J. Edgar Hoover Building
12:31 P.M.

"Ahh, Agent Mulder......I just the man I wanted to see." Assistant Director Walter Skinner cried standing up to meet the younger man.

Mulder smiled, "You wanted to see me sir?" he asked. "I figured that you would never want to see me again after sending me all the way to New York City." he sat down across from the directors desk.

"I have just recently received word that there has been a series of murders up in Boston." Skinner began. "I originally sent Agent Hamming and Agent Fryer to investigate, but they were injured and I want you and Agent Cramer to go up and investigate."

Mulder nodded, "Sir, if you don't mind my asking. Why isn't the Boston bureau investigating?"

"They are, but I got word from above that they wanted only the best men on this and as much as I hate to admit it your one of them."

"And agent Scully?" Mulder asked. He hadn't heard from her in three months, not since the day he'd stormed out of her room in Cape Verdes. "Will she be investigating, I heard that she had been transferred to the Boston Bureau."

Skinner shook his head, "She has been a little..." he didn't know how to put it.

"A little bit what?" questioned Mulder. It wasn't that he really cared, but he was curious to see what she was doing.

"Well..."Skinner cleared his throat, "I don't know, but you wont have to worry about running into her." he quickly changed the subject and handed Mulder a folder, "This is all you need to know about the case you will be working on."

Mulder took it and nodded, "Thank you sir. I won't let you down."

Skinner chuckled, "I know you won't agent Mulder, I know you wont."

****************
1:30 P.M.
Boston
FBI Headquarters

"Agent Scully, may I see you a moment." Agent Crawford asked stepping into her office.

Dana looked up and nodded, "Yes." she said. "But can we make this quick, I need to get to the hospital to check on my partner."

Agent Crawford nodded, "It seems that Agent Dalton was injured in a shoot out with Gram Framton. He is unable to continue the McNulty case and you have been assigned to assist a group of agents flying in from DC."

"Sir?" she asked. "My partner was just shot....Is absolutely necessary for me to continue my work this quickly?"

"Are you hurt Flame?" Crawford asked calling her by the nick-name his brother had given her. Dana shook her head. "Then I see know reason for you not to do what you have been assigned to do. Don't you agree." he gave her a smug smile.

"I guess not." she mumbled. "When do I begin."

"Now." Crawford replied. "You may go see your partner in the hospital, but I want you back here by 5:00 for a briefing with the other Agents."

Dana nodded, "Yes sir." she said and picked up her purse. "Is there anything you'd like me to tell your brother?" she asked sweetly. "I mean I figured that since you've been to busy to go and see him that you'd have a message."

Crawford glared at her, "You stay out of my family affairs agent Scully......I ask that you at least show me that much respect." he turned around and stormed out leaving Dana staring after him.

"We'll see about that." she whispered.

***************
Logan International Airport
Boston
4:30 PM

"Agent Mulder, Agent Cramer?" Agent Crawford asked greeting the two men at the gates.

Mulder smiled, "Yes, It's nice to be working with you." he said. "I hope that we can be of some assistance."

Crawford laughed, "I'm sure that you will be." he said. "Two of my best agent's were just taken off this case due to an accident and now I found that I have to be the follow up."

Agent Cramer stepped forward, "An accident?" he asked. "It seems that a lot of agents have been experiencing similar accidents, is that correct or am I mistaken?"

Crawford nodded, "You are not mistaken Agent Cramer. I'm afraid that my brother was one of those agents who suffered from one of those terrible accidents." he said the added. "His partner will be assisting us on this case."

"If you don't mind sir." Mulder said. "Agent Cramer and I would like to check into the hotel before the briefing. Is that all right?"

"Yes, quite all right." Crawford agreed and led the way to his car.

*******************
5:45 P.M.
FBI Headquarters
Boston

Crawford looked at his watch impatiently. "I'm really sorry Agent Mulder, Agent Cramer." he apologized. "It seems that Flame has decided not to join us."

"Flame?" Mulder asked.

Crawford nodded, "Agent Scu......" he was cut off when the door flung open.

"Sorry I'm late." Dana cried rushing in. "Peter wouldn't let me go....he kept....." she stopped when she saw who was seated next to Agent Crawford. "Well, well, well,....." she said smugly. "If it isn't *Spooky* Mulder."

Mulder groaned and smiled, "Hello, Scully......I didn't expect to be working with you."

Crawford looked at them questionably, "You two know one another?" he asked.

Dana nodded, "Yeah, we were partners back in DC." she turned back to Mulder, "Let's hope we solve this case quickly."

Cramer cleared his throat, "Before we get into this little war that these two have been having." he said to Crawford. "Maybe we could go over the case. Then with the extra time we have we can play referee and make sure that they don't kill one another."

Dana laughed, "I can see that Mulder still talks about me." she said.

Cramer looked away in embarrassment, "Actually." he said. "Mulder hasn't mentioned you. Thing's kind of get around. The only thing I've heard about for the last three months is how *Spooky* Mulder and the *Ice Queen* Scully managed to bring......."

Crawford held up his hand, "I don't want to hear it!" he cried. "Agent Scully you are dismissed. Tell Agent Peterson that I'd like her to join us on this briefing."

Dana glanced from Mulder to Crawford, to Cramer then back to Mulder, "No problem Sir. I'm sure that Peterson will be very happy to work with three sexist men like you." she laughed, "After all, she's not a flame or an ice queen is she."

"You are way out of line, Agent Scully!" Crawford yelled. "I expect that you will show me a little more courtesy next time."

Dana took one last look at Mulder, then left. There was no way that she was going to let them push her around, no way in hell. "Peterson!" she yelled.

A pretty blond in her late twenties turned around, "Yes Agent Scully?" she asked.

"Crawford wants to see you." Dana replied. "He wants you to take my place in the McNulty case." With that Dana picked up her purse and headed outside. If she ever saw Fox Mulder again it would be too soon.

**************
Boston Commons Hotel
8:30 P.M.

"So what'd you think of Agent Crawford?" Cramer asked sitting down across from Mulder.

"Hmmm?" Mulder looked up from the menu he was reading. "What did you say?"

Cramer laughed, "You've been so preoccupied since your old partner, Scully, showed up." he sighed. "You can't tell me that you didn't expect to see her here."

Mulder smiled, "Skinner said that she wouldn't be around." he leaned back. "Actually, he acted really strange. It almost sounded like there was something wrong with her."

"Didn't Crawford say that his brother was shot?" Cramer asked. "His brother is Dana's partner, right?"

Mulder nodded, "Yeah, I wonder what happened. I doubt that was what Skinner was referring to though."

"Do you want some advise?" Cramer asked knowing that Mulder didn't want to hear his opinions. "Because I've got some great advise for you." he smiled.

"Maybe." Mulder said thoughtfully. "Do I want to hear it?"

Cramer shrugged, "I don't know, probably not, but your going to hear it anyway." Mulder nodded and Cramer continued. "I suggest that you talk to the *Ice Queen* before you leave. It looks like you two have a lot to talk about and if something is going on with her it'd be a nice time to ask."

Mulder stood up angrily, "For one thing, Cramer!" he yelled. "Dana is not an *Ice Queen*! And secondly, Dana and I have nothing to talk about! Nothing!" he through down his napkin and left, leaving an opened mouth Cramer behind.

********************
Dana's Apartment
9:00 P.M.

"You have to tell him, honey." Margaret Scully said leaning over her daughters shoulder. "If you were him wouldn't you want to know?" she gave her daughter a stern look.

Dana shook her head. "No mom! We're history, my life means nothing to him anymore." she hander her mother a plate. "He won't care that I'm leaving the FBI......and no one can change my mind about it."

"Dana, honey." Margaret said reaching out to her daughter. "I don't want you to make the biggest mistake of your life. You love the FBI and I know that you still love Fox."

"No mom!" Dana whispered. "I don't love *Mulder* and I don't love the FBI." she sat down. "I'm sick of watching people die, I'm sick of taking all of the blame for other peoples mistakes. It's time for me to go back to what I originally set out to do."

"Which is?" Margaret questioned.

"I want to go back to being a doctor." she replied. "I don't feel like I'm getting enough out of the bureau." she ran a hand through her silky hair. "Please, I've already turned in my resignation."

"Fine, Dana." Margaret stood up. "It's your life, and if you want to live it alone, here in this apartment, that's fine with me. Just don't expect any sympathy from me. I'll see you in the morning Dana."

Dana watched her mother leave. Why was it so hard for her to understand that she just wanted to forget about Mulder, to forget about the X-Files, to forget about everything but what she wanted to do. "Damn you Mulder!" she mumbled. "Damn you."

******************
9:15 P.M.
Boston Commons Hotel

Margaret Scully got off the elevator and headed towards her room. She didn't understand why Dana was so stubborn. "It obviously comes from her fathers side." she mumbled under her breath. "My side is nothing like this."

She was about to enter her room when someone caught her eye. The back of a man's black trench coat. Approaching the man she said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't the legendary Fox Mulder."

Mulder turned and smiled, "Mrs. Scully!" he cryed with a note o surprise in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Margaret smiled, "Dana wouldn't let me stay at her apartment so I got stuck here." she laughed. "You should talk to her Fox, she needs your support."

"My support?" Mulder asked. "She seemed to be doing fine when I saw her earlier."

Margaret nodded, "It may appear that way, but she's going through a terrible ordeal." she sighed deciding to tell him the truth. "She's quitting the FBI, Fox. The bureau blamed her for the shooting of her partner."

"She can't quit." Mulder cried. "She's one of the best agent's in the whole bureau."

"Then tell her that Fox. She won't listen to me, but I know that she will listen to you....it's your last chance."

"No." Mulder shook his head. "It's over. If she want's to quit that 's fine, but she can leave me out of it. There's nothing more that can be done, so let it rest Margaret." he turned to walk away, but he felt her hand close over his shoulder.

"I just hope you two know what your doing." she said then let him go. "Don't be a stranger Fox, come and see me or call me anytime."

Mulder nodded, "Thanks." he said then watched her walk off.

*********************
March 14, 2000

"Bye, Fox." Dana whispered, "I'll be back." she headed towards her car, but stopped when she saw a man approaching. He looked familiar, but over the past three years she had pretty much blocked out all the faces of her past.

"Agent Scully." the man said. "It's been a while." he took a long slow drag off the cigarette he held in his hand. "Has it been three years already?"

Dana watched in mock horror as the man came to a stop not more than three feet away from her. "It hasn't been long enough." she whispered.

Peace, Be Still 10/16 "Cancer Speaks"

March 14, 2000

"Agent Scully." the man said. "It's been a while." he took a long slow drag off the cigarette he held in his hand. "Has it been three years already?"

Dana watched in mock horror as the man came to a stop not more than three feet away from her. "It hasn't been long enough." she whispered.

The man laughed, "Ahh, come now Agent Scully. We had our times." he took another drag of his cigarette. "You and Agent Mulder were always the best Agents in the whole bureau. I often wondered what would have happened if I hadn't had Walter close down the, what were the called....?" he paused. "The X-Files."

"You killed him." Dana cried. "You drove him to his death!" tears streamed down her face. "You took him away from me, I almost had him back and you took him away from me" she shook her head. "Your going to pay for it."

The man laughed. "I have, believe me." he said. "You see this." he held out his cigarette. "It's already given me a death sentence, but I refuse to give in. I'll have to live with it."

"Cancer?" Dana asked. "You should have been more careful. Those thing'll kill you."

The man laughed again. "I did not kill your partner." he replied. "I always protected him from the truth as a matter of fact." he said. "I took care of the man who killed Agent Mulder."

"No....!" Dana cried. "You hid him from the truth."

"No, I protected him from it." the man opened the passenger side door of his car for her. "Get in......I'll explain it all to you."

Dana nodded and sat down, "Tell me." she said. "What were you protecting him from ?"

The cancer man coughed and turned to her. "His father and I were good friends, we worked together." Dana nodded. "I was protecting him from the truth about his sister. If he had found out the truth you two would have been dead along time ago."

"What truth? Tell me where she is."

"I'm afraid I can't do that Agent Scully, but I will tell you one thing." he said, a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I suggest that you go back to work on the X-Files. This time it is not I who will try to stop you, I am behind you one-hundred percent."

Dana laughed, "Why would I go back to the X-Files after all this time?" she asked. "It wasn't me who wanted to find the truth....it was Mulder and you killed him."

The Cancer Man grabbed her arm. "No! I did not kill him. Check that black hole that you call a memory."

Dana sighed, "I have been. I know that you didn't kill him......," she admitted, "I killed him long before that."

***************
November 10, 1996
11:21 P.M.
Scully's Apartment

Dana flipped off the lights in her kitchen and began to head back to her room when she heard a knock at the door. "Just a sec." she called and quickly opened the door. 'Why does he keep doing this to me?' she thought opening the door wider so that Mulder could enter. "What can I do for you Agent Mulder?"

Mulder sighed. "Scully, please....can we talk?" he sat down on her couch. "This won't take to long."

Dana nodded and sat down across from him, "All right, let's talk...." she smiled. "I hope you enjoy working with Crawford, he's a pain in the ass."

"What did you do to him?" Mulder was almost afraid to ask.

"I shot his brother." she replied. "Haven't you heard?" her expression turned stone cold as she spoke. "They seem to think that I'm the one who pulled the trigger, only I wasn't even there that night. Now they're sure that I did it since I'm quitting the FBI." she laughed. Her laugh wasn't the same sweet soft laugh that he remembered, it was now cold and shallow.

"Why quit then?" he asked. "I would stick around to prove that I was innocent."

"Well, I'm not you and I don't care what people think of me." Dana stood up. "Do you want something to drink?" she headed towards the kitchen.

"Sure...." he replied . "Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Sure, what?" she called from the kitchen.

He stood up and glanced around her apartment, "How did you get the nickname *Flame*?" he heard her laugh. "You don't have to answer." he said suddenly aware of her presence behind him.

Dana laughed again. "Peter, Crawford's brother, just started calling me that. He said it was because my hair was as bright as a flame from a candle." she handed him a coke. "I hope a Coke is all right. I don't have anything else. I haven't had time to go shopping."

Mulder nodded, "That's fine, thanks." he sat back down on the couch. "Are you sure you want to quit?"

Dana nodded, "Yeah, I'm not into it anymore.....I lost interests along time ago." she sighed. "I've requested residency, here, in Boston. I'm going back to being a doctor....I miss it to much."

"Well, if your happy, I'm happy." he smiled. "I have a confession to make."

"What's that?" Dana asked.

"I ran into your mom at the hotel. Her room's down the hall from mine.....She told me I should come and talk to you." he laughed. "I was going to, but I thought you'd kick me out."

"I would have, but I wanted to talk to somebody and since you were here....., I figured that it might as well be you." she turned to look out her large picture window. "I guess I must be really lonely."

Her words stung him. She seemed so depressed and her words had just proven it to him. 'Did I do this to her?' he thought. Deciding that he better find out, he asked, "Did I hurt you that badly?"

Dana turned to face him, "No....," she replied. "I don't have very many friends. My reputation got out and the other agents have pretty much stayed clear of me."

"Then that's my fault." Mulder mumbled. "By being paired up with me caused you nothing but trouble."

"No." Dana said softly. "It wasn't the X-Files or you that they heard about....it was.." she paused. "It was my rep from the academy.....*Ice Queen*."
Mulder instantly felt sorry for her. She had been through so much in the last three months. As for him, he hadn't done anything since he was pulled from the X-Files. Why couldn't she just understand that he would always love her. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and spend the rest of his life with her, but he couldn't. "You know, you can ask for a transfer." he suggested. "Maybe to New York."

"New York?" she asked. "Why, so that you can protect me?" she shook her head. "I don't need protection."

"That's not what I meant." Mulder said softly. "I just miss you. You were the best partner I ever had." he laughed. "Hell, your the only partner I ever had. The other's were all assholes!" he reached out and touched her arm. "Forgive me."

Dana pulled away, "No more Mulder." she whispered. "It hurts. God it hurts." she could feel a lump rising in her throat. Trying to regain her self composer, she turned back to face the window. "Go..." she choked..."God, please go." She couldn't hold back the tears any longer, so she let them flow.

Mulder watched Dana's shoulders sag, he could hear her sobs, but knew that he could do nothing. What was there to do? If he were to hold her, he knew that he'd never want to leave her and if were to leave, he knew that he would probably never see her again. 'Go Mulder.' his head told him. 'No Stay! If you don't you'll be sorry.' his heart argued.

Shaking his head slightly, he headed toward the door. 'Go....' the voice said again. 'Go! She doesn't want you here.' Taking one last glance at her, he closed the door and left. Once he was outside he aloud himself to cry. He cried not for himself or for the love he had lost, but for Dana and her unhappiness.

Dana stared out her window and watched Mulder drive off. She hadn't really expected him to go, she had expected him to pull her into his arms and hold her. "Why?" she cried. "Why can't I forget about him." she fell to her knees. Rocking back and forth, she stared off into the distance. "Let me forget." she prayed. "Let me forget."

*****************
March 14, 2000

Dana turned away from the Cancer Man, "I should go." she whispered reaching out to open the door. "I was supposed to meet Skinner an hour ago."

The Cancer Man nodded, "Fine Agent Scully, but I'll be seeing you around." he smiled.

"Who are you?" she asked suddenly. "Who are you and who do you work for?"

The man laughed, "You'll find out someday, Dana." he coughed again. "You have no reason to fear me.....I'm closer to you than you'll ever know and understand. If you continue to the look for the truth, you'll find it....you'll find all the answers you've ever wanted."

Dana nodded and got out of the car. "Thanks." she said. She wasn't sure why, but she felt drawn to the man. He had caused her nothing but pain and loneliness, but there was something about him that seemed familiar.

**************
November 11, 1996
Boston FBI Headquarters
9:16 A.M.

Mulder knocked on Agent Crawford's office door. "Come in!" he heard someone call. Mulder pushed the door open and walked in. "Agent Crawford?" he asked.

Crawford faced him, "Yes, Agent Mulder?" he asked.

"Sir, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to take myself off of this case." he said. "I don't think that I can handle it right now.....I've been having some personal problems and I feel that I'd be to distracted to do my work properly. I don't want a careless accident to happen."

Crawford nodded, "I understand, Agent Mulder." he stood up and extended his hand. "It was nice to meet you....If there is ever anything you need don't hesitate to call."

"Thank you sir." Mulder said. "I'll be sure to do that." he turned to leave.

"Agent Mulder?" Crawford called.

Mulder turned. "Yes?" he asked.

"Does agent Scully have something to do this?" he asked. "Because if she does, she won't be around here much longer. She's a great agent, but she doesn't seem to have what it takes."

Mulder shook his head, "That's where your wrong, Sir." he said. "Agent Scully happens to have more than what it takes, she's got more stamina and willpower and courage than anyone I know." he sighed. "And if you would give her half the chance that she deserves, you'll see it. She did not shoot your brother." he shook his head. "Give her a chance, sir. That's all she want's." With that he left.

******************
9:41 A.M.

"Agent Scully." Crawford said letting himself into her small office. "May I speak to you for a moment."

Dana looked up and nodded, "Yes." she replied. "What can I do for you?"

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I would like you to reconsider your resignation." he said. "I'm sorry, I've obviously misjudged you and I was wondering if you'd give me a second chance."

Dana was surprised that Crawford was actually apologizing. "I don't know sir." she said. "I mean, I feel like I'm not getting anything done."

"Agent Mulder and I talked this morning before he left." Crawford began. "I respect his opinion and I believe that I have misjudged your ability. He seemed to have a strong opinion of you."

Dana smiled slightly, "We didn't part on good terms." she admitted. "I would like to stay, here, if you'll let me." she said. "I didn't shoot Peter......I promise that I didn't."

Crawford nodded, "I know....I was just angry. I never meant to blame you."

"All right." Dana replied. "It looks like you've got yourself another agent." she smiled. "But now, if you'll excuse me. I need to go speak to Peter. the hospital called this morning and said that he's awake."

"Great!" Crawford cried. "I'll drive you!"

Dana nodded, "OK,." she grabbed her jacket. "Let's go."

*****************
March 14, 2000
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington DC
3:35 P.M.

Skinner began to pace impatiently. 'What'd she do?' he thought. 'Walk from Boston?' He picked up his phone, "Jenn!" he yelled into the receiver. "Has Agent Scully called yet?"

"She just arrived Sir." Jenn said and a couple of second later Dana walked through the doors.

"Hello Walter." Dana said smiling. "Sorry, I'm late....I ran into an...." she paused. "An old friend"

TO BE CONTINUED................

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