By Rae
(DANAxFOX@aol.com)

I would love to hear from you all but only praise or constructive criticism please. I am a "virgin"
poster. This is my first fanfic post so go easy.

Rating: R (some graphic images and bad words)

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully and Skinner do not belong to me. I hope FOX, Chris and 1013
Productions don't mind me taking liberties with them. Just consider this endeavor as the
harmless fantasies of a bored housewife. Much thanks to my friends in "crime" - Barb ("The
Editor") and Margo ("The Romantic") I owe you both big time.

Summary: Mulder and Scully are detoured to Aspen to try and help solve the kidnapping of a
young girl. There Mulder is taken hostage by a deranged man who sees Mulder as his savior.
Scully races against time to try and save her partner... from the present and the past.

Spoilers (minor): "Grotesque", "Emily/Christmas Carol", X-Files: Fight the Future
 

Editor's note: I am just posting this first part of the story for Rae. It is not completed and you
will have to bug her (as I have) to finish it and not leave us hanging!!!

Scarecrows

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.
And when you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you."
Friedrick Neitzsche

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
May 31, 1998
6:01 PM

He recognized them immediately as they disembarked from the plane, The descriptions he was
given: Male; tall and dark, Female; short and red, were right on the mark. They were scheduled
for a two hour layover in Denver before completing the rest of their flight back to Washington
DC. The plane from Seattle had arrived earlier than scheduled and he was afraid he had missed
them. He hurried up to them.

"Agent Mulder. Agent Scully." They turned in unison.

"Agent Williams." He extended his hand out, first to Scully then to Mulder. "I was afraid I had
missed you." He reached into his jacket for his ID badge and displayed it for both to see. His
voice rose and fell as if out of breath, but Mulder suspected it was more with what the man was
about to tell them.

"You both have been redirected to Aspen per Assistant Director Skinner's instructions. If you
will follow me we have a plane ready to fly you there immediately."

Neither moved. "In regards to what?" Mulder asked suspiciously.

"A kidnapping. Five year old girl. We desperately need your help and expertise. We don't have
much time."

"What kind of kidnapping?"

"Kind? Stranger. Non-custodial. Happened in the mall right under the mother's nose."

"Are you sure they want me?" questioned Mulder. "It's not what I do..."

Agent Williams cut him off. Irritation creeping into his voice. "Listen. I'm only doing what I
was told to do. The Aspen PD needs a profiler. I called Washington. They told me you and
your partner were out West and would be able to help quicker than anyone. Any questions, call
AD Skinner. Please, we need to hurry. I can brief you on the plane. Your bags should already
be on board."

Scully cast a questioning look at Mulder, who shrugged his shoulders and started to follow
after Agent Williams. Scully's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Mulder..."

He sighed and looked at her hand. Mulder raised his eyes to meet hers.

"I'll be okay, Scully." he said, trying to reassure her. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

She looked hard into his hazel eyes. Her face tight, conveying her unhappiness and concern.

"Remember the Mostow case... I don't like this, Mulder." she said in a hoarse whisper.

Agent Willliams stopped a distance away. Waiting, annoyed. He could not hear what they were
saying to each other but, judging from Agent Scully's body language, he could tell she was not
happy.

"Scully, what could go wrong? You'll be right by my side. Remember..." he said, giving her a
quick smile and a wink. "I've got you, Babe." he said, mimicking the Sonny and Cher song.

His humor wasn't working on her. She wasn't amused.

They stared at each other for several long moments before Mulder turned away. "Let's get this
over with."

She reluctantly followed after him.

_______________________

After they were safely airborne, Agent Williams quickly opened a manila envelope he had in his
briefcase. "The urgency of this will become apparent." He laid out several color 8"x10"s in
front of them. Scully carefully watched Mulder's face as he closed is eyes and drew in a long
breath before slowly opening them to view the photos.

"I thought you said the girl was five?" said Scully, peering over Mulder's shoulder. The photos
were of an older girl. Approximately twelve to fourteen, she had long, straight hair neatly parted
on the side and blue eyes. She was a very beautiful girl with a slender, athletic build. Agent
Williams covered the photo with a picture of the same girl; dead. Mulder's eyes hardened. He
leaned over the photos, reviewing each one carefully.

"Kaitlin Henderson. Local soccer star. Made All-State last year. Quite a write-up in the papers.
Age thirteen. Disappeared on her way home from practice. She turned up three days later by the
side of a popular hiking trail- nude, wrapped in a bed sheet. No sign of rape or other sexual
abuse. There were some abrasions around her wrists and ankles that her killer had oddly
covered with bandages. Death was by suffocation. The body had been washed. Her hair was
still wet when the hiker found her. Must have just missed the guy."

Mulder took the manila envelope from Agent Williams and spilled out all the rest of the photos
and reports. He handed the autopsy report to Scully to review while he quickly flipped through
the other reports.

"This happened in September?" Mulder asked.

"Yes."

"No arrests? Suspects?"

Agent Williams shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "There... there was a man arrested after he
confessed. He is currently in prison in Canyon City. The man was a transient. Aspen has a big
transient population during the summer months..."

Mulder cut him off with an irritated shake of his head. "This was not done by a transient." He
looked hard at Agent Williams' face. Mulder's look telling him what he had always suspected.
The wrong man was in prison. Mulder quickly turned towards Scully. "When was she killed?
My guess is she was murdered shortly before she was dumped. Right?"

Scully nodded. "Approximately hour before her body was found."

Mulder continued, "Your UNSUB is a local. Very familiar with the area. Definitely a white
male. Older, probably 40's, with a higher than average intelligence but an underachiever. He
stalked her. When you find him, you'll find everything that was ever written about her in his
house. I would say he owns his own home. At least a two-story with a basement. Sits off the
street with a long drive or a well treed lot. Drives a van, older but well-maintained. Not married.
Possibly lived with his mother or an older sister. He's alone now. I'm sure he's had prior
arrests. Nothing as serious as murder. Fondling, flashing, Peeping Tom."

Both Scully and Agent Williams stared at Mulder, speechless.

"It's all here." he said, nodding his head towards the photos. "He grabs an older girl in broad
daylight. To me this shows comfort in his surroundings. He lives here and knows the area well.
He would need something big to transport her in. He keeps her alive for three days. His own
house with no roommates or family. He knew exactly what he wanted. I imagine he fantasized
about her. He believed he loved her. Look at the care he took of the body. Its placement shows
that. On a popular hiking trail where she would be quickly found. Why not the woods? Or a
grave in the mountains? Plus he covered her and bandaged the damage he did to her body. If he
didn't care he would have dumped her naked body wherever was convenient. The bastard was
probably at her funeral. I believe she was washed, not only to hide evidence because he's
terrified of getting caught, but in it's own sick way it shows remorse. It was not supposed to end
like this. She was supposed to feel the same about him as he did about her. When he realized
she did not, he felt he had no choice but to kill her. What's the connection with the current
missing girl?" Mulder asked as he pushed the pictures and reports aside.

Agent Williams pulled out another envelope and drew out pictures of the latest victim. He held
them in his hand, facing away from Mulder and Scully. Before he laid them out he said, "Let
me explain, there are people out there who don't want to make the connection and admit that the
wrong man was arrested and convicted for the murder of Kaitlin Henderson. The public was so
outraged they just wanted someone arrested."

He placed the photos face up in front of Mulder. "Bryanne Jarman- age five. Grabbed from the
mall while her mother went in to get her paycheck. Thought the girl had wandered off to use the
restroom. Prior to disappearing she had complained about needing to go."

Scully moved so she could get a better look at the pictures. Mulder heard her gasp. Except for
her hair, the little girl looked very much like Emily. Mulder's eyes met Scully's briefly before
she turned away. He saw her shoulders sag and her head bow.

"Agent Williams, could you please get us something to drink?" Mulder asked quietly.

Agent Williams nodded. "Coffee okay?"

"Good."

As Agent Williams turned to retrieve the drinks, Mulder quickly slid his hand off the armrest
and laid it on Scully's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He leaned close and whispered
in her ear. "Are you okay?" His tone was soft and concerned.

Scully raised her head and nodded slowly. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the
handkerchief he had pressed into her hand.

"It's hard."

Agent Williams placed the coffee in front of them. Before he turned his attention back to the
photos he addressed Scully. He had not missed her reaction, especially to the younger girl.

"Kids are the worst. I have two daughters at home. Do you have children, Agent Scully?"

Mulder quickly redirected the conversation. "Why do you think these cases are connected?"

Scully looked into Mulder's eyes, grateful.

"We think they are related because of the similarities of the two victims. Long straight blonde
hair, parted on the side. Blue eyes. Taken in daylight. Kind of confused by the age difference
and the length of time between the two abductions."

"But it makes sense." Mulder said. "He was almost caught. His biggest fear almost became a
reality. The hiker that found Kaitlin did just miss him. It scared him. He was too afraid to try
anything again. But his urge became too great. Or maybe he was incarcerated on a minor
offense. It's something that needs to be looked at. I agree one man is responsible. I'm afraid he
will become bolder with Bryanne. His fear has subsided to some degree. He has a younger
victim that can be more easily controlled. I have no doubt that he will kill her when he's done
with her. I am almost certain that both victims knew the man. You need to start rechecking your
suspects using the criteria I've outlined."

Every available man was called in to help expedite the search for the killer/kidnapper. Using
Mulder's profile on the killer they began reviewing people who were questioned in connection
with Kaitlin Henderson's kidnapping and murder. Mulder and Scully rented a car and went to
the Comfort Inn several miles from the airport. Agent Williams would contact them with the list
of suspects once it had been narrowed down. Mulder hadn't wanted to go to the motel but
Scully reminded him that he had been up for 36 hours straight and she insisted. Her tone
leaving no room for argument.

__________________________

Scully stepped out of the bathroom, disappointed to hear the TV on in Mulder's room. She
gently tapped on the connecting door.

"Mulder?"

He slowly opened the door. His jacket and tie were off, his white shirt unbuttoned.

"Mulder...please... you need to get some sleep."

"I can't, Scully." He turned away from her, leaving the door open. An invitation for her to enter.

Scully stepped inside as Mulder flopped onto the bed. He tucked one hand behind his head and
picked up the remote control with the other. She took a seat in one of the chairs and looked at
him, amazed how alert he looked with no sleep. She had at least gotten some sleep on the flight
from Seattle. He flipped through the channels. Finally, in frustration, he turned off the TV and
tossed the remote aside.

"Mulder, how do you do it?" she asked quietly.

He turned his head and looked at her, puzzled.

"With only a couple pictures..." she shook her head in wonder.

Mulder placed his other hand behind his head and stared at the ceiling.

"It's not hard when you know what to look for." His voice took on a detached quality. "The
crime scene... why that victim... how the victim died... the body placement... all clues to the
killer or killers. No matter how smart killers think they are... no matter how careful they try to
be, they always leave clues. You just need to be able to see what you're looking at. All killers
have their own special "signature". Something their sick mind thinks they need to do for
emotional satisfaction. Taking body parts, clothing... whatever. To be a good profiler you just
can't look into their minds, you have to be able to go to the edge and not be afraid to look over
it. That's the only way you can stop them. It's not just anticipating their next move, you have to
*know* it."

Scully knew Mulder had been heavily recruited for the Violent Crimes Unit by VICAP
founders Robert Ressler, Pierce Brooks and Bill Patterson. They had carefully watched his
career since his acceptance to Quantico in 1986 after his graduation from Oxford. In 1988 he
entered the Violent Crimes Unit, serving in the new Behavioral Science Unit. "Brilliant" was the
word they all used to describe him. Even "spooky" the way he could, with the barest of
evidence, give a complete profile of the person or persons. He was rarely wrong, an then, only
on the smallest of details. But after only three years he surprised and disappointed everyone by
resigning to start the X-Files. Scully suspected that his supervisors allowed him to open the
X-Files trying to "humor" him until he returned to his senses and came back to VCU. After a
year of "indulging" him, their patience had worn thin. On March 6, 1992, she walked into his
basement office with Section Chief Blevins' blessings and desires that she debunk Mulder's
work. She smiled at the irony.

Mulder rolled onto his left side and propped his head on his hand to look at her.

"Believe me, Scully. It's not my idea of a swell time. Ed Kemper- remember him?"

Scully thought for a moment. "The 'Co-ed Killer'. He killed and decapitated fourteen people
including his grandparents and mother in northern California."

Mulder nodded, "Ed was once asked, 'What do you think of when you see a pretty girl walking
down the street?' You know what his answer was?"

Scully cautiously shook her head no.

" 'One side of me says, I'd like to talk to her, to date her. The other side of me says, I wonder
what her head looks like on a stick'"

"Oh my God, Mulder."

She looked at him in horror. Scully leaned forward, moving to the edge of the chair as she tried
to close the distance between herself and Mulder. She wished she could go to him and wrap her
arms around him.

"That's the kind of minds we were asked... required to look into everyday. You had to throw
away your morality... your sanity... your humanity... learn to think like they did. Every time I
stopped to eat, to sleep... time was running out for the next victim. You don't think I have a life
now..." He laughed a small, humorless laugh. "I had *no* life.
I was nothing more than a conduit between the sane and the insane. It's not hard to get lost in
the darkness. And if you don't have someone to help you find your way out... Someone who
truly cares..." <not like Diana, he bitterly thought>

His eyes were filled with a sadness and pain that evaporated once they met hers. She saw
gratitude mixed with something else. Something she had seen many times in his eyes.
Something that was reserved just for her. She knew what it was. Maybe one day he would be
able to verbalize it.

___________________

She didn't remember falling asleep, but the shrill ring of the phone woke her with a start. It was
just as well. The nightmares that had invaded her sleep were cast away the minute her eyes
snapped open. She was still in the chair in Mulder's room. He had taken a blanket off his bed
and wrapped her in it. Mulder was sitting on the bed talking on the phone, wiping the last of the
shaving cream off his face with a towel. His eyes flicked to hers. She looked anxiously at him.
He nodded then returned his attention back to the caller.

"Directions." He scribbled them on the pad of paper by the phone. "Give us twenty minutes."

He hung up the phone as Scully untangled herself from the blanket, stood and stretched. She
glanced at her watch, shocked by the lateness. It was almost noon.

"They've narrowed the list down to four possibles." He rebuttoned his shirt and reached for his
tie. There was no time to change. Before Scully disappeared into her room she paused and
turned towards Mulder.

"Mulder... just know I'm here." She turned before he could respond and slipped into her room.

______________________

When they entered the conference room at the Aspen Police Department, the four suspect
profiles were laid out with photographs. Besides Agent Williams, two uniformed Aspen PD
officers were seated at the table. Agent William's made the introductions. The two officers were
the investigating officers on both cases- Officer Beattie and Officer Willetts.

Mulder nodded at the photos, "This all of them?"

"Yes." Agent Williams responded. " Other suspects...dead... jail... out-of-state."

Mulder pulled off his overcoat and took a seat at the table. Scully took a seat beside him. The
first photo Mulder picked up, Officer Willetts started to protest.

"I think you're wasting your time on that one."

Scully saw a flash of anger in Officer Beattie's eyes. "Rob, we've been over this..." He turned to
Mulder and Scully. "He knows the guy. The guy's mother lived next door to his parents for
years. Personally... I don't know... he was too helpful... seemed to be trying too hard." He
looked up to check his partner's response. Officer Willett's eyes were dark with anger.

"I've known the Lehmans..."

Agent Williams stopped him. "Enough. I think it would be better if you both waited outside
until Agent Mulder and Agent Scully have had time to review the evidence before them."

Both officers started out the door when Mulder motioned for Officer Beattie to stay. "I'd like to
ask you a couple more questions." Beattie gave his partner a brief triumphant look.

"How long have you been with the Aspen PD?" Mulder questioned the officer.

"I came on about a year and a half ago from Staten Island. Vacationed here and liked it. It was
nine months after I got here that the Henderson girl was kidnapped and killed. No offense to
my fellow officers..." his eyes flicked to the closed door, "... but out East you see this kind of
stuff on a daily basis. It's one of the reasons I left. I think I have more insight and experience
with this. The only notoriety Aspen has ever had is with the murder of skier Spider Savage and
Ted Bundy escaping out the second story court house window."

"Why do you like this guy..." Mulder said, pushing the profile of Douglas Clayton Lehman
toward the officer, "... and not..." he reached for another man's profile and read the name, "...
James Marcus Downey?"

"Downey... he could be ... but..." Officer Beattie looked Mulder in the eye. "This sounds kind
of strange... but my gut feeling is that Lehman is the one. When you meet him you'll see. He
had opportunity. He fits your profile the best. The guy who did this is local. I had a real
problem with the conviction of Ramon Martinez for Kaitlin's murder." He looked around
nervously and lowered his voice. "They're appealing Martinez's conviction and his lawyer even
contacted me about testifying for them. The guy could barely speak English. Plus he was a
transient. Where did he stash the girl "alive" for three days? No house, no car, no witnesses.
She would not have willingly gone with him. It has to be someone known in the community.
Someone no one suspects."

Mulder was nodding in agreement. "You said Lehman was too helpful. Explain that."

"When we were investigating the Henderson case, he was constantly underfoot. Asking all
these questions. Volunteering information. 'He saw Kaitlin with such and such on this day and
that day.' My partner ate it up. I wasn't buying it and still don't. To me he was trying to take the
heat off himself."

"I see Mr. Lehman works for a janitorial service that rotates from area businesses to schools."

Officer Beattie nodded, "He has access to these kids. In fact, he was working at the mall the day
Bryanne disappeared and at the school the day Kaitlin disappeared, too. If you look at the map
of the mall..." His fingers dug through a stack of papers and pulled out the map showing the
layout of the mall. He showed the agents the location of the public restrooms in relation to one
of the outside exits. They were side by side.

"Lehman could have parked the company van right outside the back door. It would have been
so easy for him to grab her. Nobody would have heard or seen a thing. I requested a search
warrant yesterday. As of ...," he pushed back the sleeve of his uniform, "12:43 no response.
Maybe you could speed things up, being feds and all."

Mulder looked at Scully who stood up, "I'll take care of it."

He watched her leave the room then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
His finger quickly moved down the sheet on Lehman until it located his work number. He
rapidly dialed it.

"I'm trying to contact Mr. Douglas Lehman. I see... he called in sick today." Mulder was out of
is chair before he clicked off the phone and grabbed his overcoat. Both Agent Willliams and
Officer Beattie were on their feet.

"I'll get the car," shouted Officer Beattie as he sprinted out the door. Mulder heard Officer
Beattie yell at his partner to follow.

Mulder shouted at Scully who was standing at a desk with a phone pressed to her ear. She
looked up startled by the sudden commotion.

"There's no time, Scully." He quickly turned to Agent Williams, "Wait for her." He hit through
the double doors at a run.

_______________________

Mulder and the two officers sat in Officer Beattie's personal car in front of the Lehman house.
They did not want to spook Lehman into hurting Bryanne if he saw a marked patrol car pull up.
The house was an older two story with a basement. As Mulder predicted, it sat far off the road
on a well treed large lot. There was a newly erected wooden privacy fence that obscured part of
the drive and the garage.

"You're familiar with the house Officer Willetts. We need a quick layout. Doors, windows."
Mulder said. "Any dogs..?"

Officer Willetts shook his head no.

"So what's with the fence?"

"But... but we don't have a search warrant," stammered Officer Willetts. He looked ill.

"Fuck the warrant," snapped Mulder, "I'm sure the courts will be understanding considering a
child's life is in danger. We don't have time to dick around here."

Officer Willetts quickly diagrammed the entrances and exits to the house.

"I want you to go to the front door, Officer Willetts, since he knows you. Officer Beattie, you're
younger than me, take the rear door over the fence. I'll take the door off the balcony. Let's go."

The trees provided cover as Mulder and Officer Beattie moved into position. A big elm with
large spreading limbs allowed Mulder to climb up to the balcony door with little difficulty. He
heard Officer Willetts knocking on the door.

"Mr. Lehman? Mr. Lehman?"

From inside the house Mulder heard footsteps running toward him. He pressed his body
against the side of the house. He saw the curtains on the door move back and a frightened face
peer out. Before the man had time to turn, Mulder pressed his gun against the door pane and
swung into view.

"FBI! FREEZE!"

The man startled and stumbled back away from the door. He tripped and fell on his back as
Mulder broke through the door, "I said FREEZE!"

The man was whimpering and crying while he tried to push himself across the floor on his
back.

Mulder leaned over the man and grabbed him roughly by his wet shirt front, lifting him towards
him. Mulder noticed with disgust and rage that the man's zipper was unzipped.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Mulder screamed.

The man continued to babble and cry.

Mulder heard two sets of footsteps racing up the stairs toward them. Both officers appeared in
the doorway breathing hard.

"Did you see her?" The officers shook their heads no.

"Here," Mulder practically lifted Lehman off the ground with one hand. He pushed him
towards Officer Willetts. "You talk to him."

"I'll take the basement," Officer Beattie quickly turned and ran down the stairs.

Mulder searched from room to room. In one of the bedrooms a piece of bright colored cloth
sticking out from under the bed caught his eye. He grabbed it. It was a little girl's flowered
jumper. Mulder flung himself on the floor and peered under the bed. No Bryanne. He quickly
ran his eyes around the room. A wet trail led from what appeared to be a bathroom to the closet
door. He yanked the door open with both hands and looked in. In the darkness he almost
missed her under the clothes that had been hastily thrown on top of her. He threw the clothes
aside and quickly gathered her naked, wet body in his arms. He laid her limp body on the bed,
carefully wrapping her in a blanket. He felt for a pulse while his hand dug into his pocket for
his cell phone. He pounded out 911.

"This is Special Agent Mulder from the FBI. I need an ambulance sent to 822 Bleeker Street
immediately. I have a five year old female victim. Not breathing. No pulse. Pale skin.
Bluish-gray around the mouth. Possible drowning victim. I'm starting CPR now."

Officer Beattie appeared in the doorway. Frightened and angry eyes watched as Mulder
frantically tried to revive the little girl. In the distance, the reassuring sound of the sirens could
be heard. Once Mulder got a faint pulse he gathered Bryanne in his arms and rushed down the
stairs and out of the house to meet the approaching ambulance.

______________________

Nothing could have prepared Mulder for the spectacle that was unfolding in front of the
Lehman house. The news crew was already waiting. Cameras were rolling as he rushed toward
the ambulance. The paramedics met him halfway, taking the girl from Mulder's arms and
rushing her through the open ambulance doors. A split second later the ambulance sped away,
sirens wailing. A car screeched to a stop in the spot vacated by the ambulance. The car door
flung open and Scully bounded from the vehicle, running toward Mulder. She was stopped as a
reporter cut in front of her and shoved a microphone at Mulder. Scully pushed the reporter
aside and took Mulder's arm, leading him away. On the porch of the Lehman house, Officer
Beattie and Officer Willetts appeared escorting Douglas Lehman out. His hands were cuffed
and each officer tightly gripped an arm. Lehman cringed when he saw the reporters and started
backing toward the house. The reporters attention was now fully directed towards him and the
officers. They swarmed toward the porch giving Scully time to lead Mulder toward the car.
Scully opened the door for him and gave him a gentle push into the passenger seat of the
vehicle. She caught Agent Williams attention, pointed at Mulder and mouthed the word "motel".
She slid into the driver's seat and drove quickly away from the Lehman house. She cast a quick
look at Mulder. His eyes were staring straight ahead while his jaw clenched and unclenched.
She could almost feel the adrenaline radiating from his body.

"Mulder, it's over," she said gently.

He swallowed hard and looked at her. He seemed to deflate in front of her. Whatever reserve
energy he was running on was gone. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the head
rest.

Scully helped him from the car into his motel room, pulling off his overcoat and jacket before
he fell face first onto the bed. She took off his shoes and covered him with a blanket. She
watched him sleep for several minutes, reassured that he would not wake until she returned
from the Lehman house.

__________________________

The man hunched in front of the small color television set. His large frame spilled over the
small wooden stool he sat on. Because of the mountains the reception was poor, but he had
learned to live with it for a long time. White lines cut across the screen. The color faded in and
out and at times the static roared so loud it drowned out the sound. He held his plate balanced
on one hand, chin resting on the edge, and slowly shoveled food into his mouth. He chewed
carefully, more interested in what was being played out on the television than the bland food he
was eating. He reached out and turned up the volume.

"Credited with saving the life of little Bryanne Jarman is Special Agent Fox Mulder from the
F.B.I."

They cut away from the petite brunette reporter to a clip of a tall, dark-haired handsome man
carrying a small girl held protectively in his arms. The camera followed him out the door of the
house, as the man's long legs carried the child quickly to the waiting arms of the paramedics.

What struck the man watching was the coat the man was wearing. The long dark overcoat
flowed behind him like a cape. Just like Superman. Just like Batman.

He had finally found his savior.

_____________________________

Mulder woke with a groan and flipped onto his back. He looked at his watch. It was 10:30.

"Night?" he asked Scully who was seated by his bed.

She shook her head no, "Day."

"Which day?" he asked cautiously.

"Mulder, you've been asleep for about 19 hours."

Mulder pushed himself into a sitting position and rested his back against the headboard.

"Nineteen hours. Damn, Scully, I must be good-looking after all that beauty rest."

She smiled then her eyes grew serious, "There's a press conference scheduled for 4:00 today.
They would like us to be there. Mulder, only if you're feeling up for it. The Jarmans want to
meet you."

"How's the little girl?"

"She'll... she'll be okay. Mulder, you saved her life." There was pride and respect in her voice.

Mulder got off the bed and slowly headed for the bathroom.

Scully waited until she heard the shower shut off. She crossed the room to the closed door and
knocked on it lightly.

"Mulder? Are you hungry? Do you want me to call room ser..."

The door jerked open. She was hit in the face by a blast of hot, moist air, her nose inches from
Mulder's bare chest. The clean fresh smell of soap mixed faintly with his scent filled her
nostrils. A white towel was wrapped low around his hips. She took a step backward.

"What did you say?" He was fiercely rubbing a smaller towel in his wet hair.

"Food, Mulder. Are you hungry?"

He dropped the smaller towel on the floor then stepped around her. He picked up his suitcase,
threw it on the bed and flipped it open.

"Yeah, I could eat."

She retreated to the safety of her chair. He pulled out several shirts, sniffing them then tossing
them aside. "When do we leave? I'm running out of clean clothes."

"Our flight leaves tomorrow night. 'Red eye' into DC."

Mulder continued to sort through his clothes until he had a small pile. He turned toward his
partner, "Scully, you can either turn away or see the biggest disappointment of your life. It's
kind of cold in here." he smiled sheepishly.

Mulder saw her face redden before she turned away. He didn't try to hide his smile.

____________________________

"Pull in here." Mulder pointed to a parking space. "Let's walk."

Scully noticed Mulder frequently looking at his watch. She knew he didn't want to attend the
press conference. Mulder preferred to keep a low profile. He did his work and he did a good
job. He thought that should be enough.

Mulder had dismissed every restaurant Scully had pointed out as they walked through the
streets of Aspen. Finally he grabbed Scully's arm and quickly looked in both directions before
he dragged her across the street and headed for a fifties theme restaurant sitting on a corner.
She should have known. The life-sized Elvis in the window was a dead give away. Mulder's
eyes lit up when he entered the restaurant. There was black and white tile on the floor. Poodle
skirts, leather jackets, photos of James Dean and other memorabilia decorated the walls. He slid
into a booth. Each booth had mini jukeboxes on the table.

"Quarters, Scully. Do you have any quarters?"

She smiled. He could be such a little boy. She picked out the quarters and slid them over to
him.

"Any preference? Big Bopper? Buddy Holly? Little Richard? 'The King'?"

"How about the Big Bopper? 'Chantilly Lace'?"

He leaned across the table and purred, "Oh Baby, you know what I like."

Mulder tapped his fingers to the song while he looked over the menu.

After they ordered he continued to play song after song, entertaining Scully with his best Jerry
Lee Lewis imitation during "Great Balls of Fire." She couldn't remember the last time she had
laughed so hard. It felt good. Especially after the two long grueling weeks they had spent in
Seattle and now in Aspen. This was a nice respite from work and the restraint they were
required to conform to while working. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Mulder's eyes were
sparkling. He smiled at Scully. The smile, genuine and conveying something more... almost a
gratitude for being there... for caring... for staying.

The waitress looked at them as she placed the food on the table. She paused and started to say
something to Mulder as if she recognized him. Instead she gave him a quick smile and left.
After they finished eating and all the quarters were gone. Mulder picked up the check.

"Too bad the prices aren't from the fifties." He looked at his watch and sighed. "It's almost
time. Do you mind if we walk?"

Scully shook her head no.

They had walked several blocks when he said, "I need to know it all, Scully." He stepped in
front of her and stopped so he could see her face. "I need to know what he did to her."

The smile that Scully carried from the restaurant faded. She lowered her eyes and swallowed.
"Fortunately..." her eyes found Mulder's, "when I spoke to the Jarmans briefly at the hospital
they told me Bryanne couldn't remember anything." She continued wistfully, "For her sake, I
hope it remains that way."

__________________________

Mulder's introduction to the press was followed by loud and enthusiastic applause. He took a
step to the podium, looking slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable. With a quick, subtle hand
gesture he motioned Scully to his side. It was nice to see Mulder get the recognition he
deserved instead of ridicule. He fielded a number of questions from the press before turning
them over to Officer Beattie, giving him most of the credit for the arrest and underplaying the
FBI's involvement.

He took Scully by the elbow and slowly moved her toward the door.

"Let's get out of here," he whispered in Scully's ear.

Mulder placed one hand on the exit door and the other hand at the small of Scully's back,
starting to guide her out the door, when a voice stopped him.

"Agent Mulder. Agent Scully. Please wait."

Scully immediately recognized the voice as Susan Jarman's.

Mrs. Jarman smiled a tight, strained smile at Scully then looked at Mulder and introduced
herself. "Susan Jarman." She took his hand. "My husband and I can't thank you enough. If it
weren't for you..." Her voice caught, "that monster would have killed her. My husband wanted
to be here and thank you himself, but he's at the hospital with Bryanne." She glanced fearfully
back at the open door of the press conference. "Do you mind if we step outside? I don't want
the press around. They don't know I'm here. I only came here to meet you and thank you in
person."

Mulder held the door open for her and Scully. "She still doesn't remember anything," Mrs.
Jarman said in a hushed whisper. Her eyes were wide with fright. Terrified of the idea that one
day her daughter would remember and have to relive what Douglas Lehman had done to her.
Once again she felt like she could not protect her daughter. She felt like a failure.

"Will she remember, Agent Mulder? Do you think... do victims..."

Mulder was shaking his head, "Mrs. Jarman...", he said gently.

"I'm sorry. How could you possibly know."

"Mrs. Jarman, I'm sure there are some excellent Victims Support Groups that could help..."
said Scully.

Mrs. Jarman started to shake. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her face. "Why us?
Why my little girl? Does that bastard realize what he has done to her life? To our lives?
Nothing will ever be the same. Ever." Her sorrow quickly turned to anger. "I don't mean to
sound selfish. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. If these bastards had any sense of decency
they'd do everyone a favor and kill themselves before they harmed another person."

A glint of sunlight caught the gold cross on Scully's neck.

"I'm sorry, Agent Scully, that was not a very Christian thing to say." Mrs. Jarman said, "but I
don't feel very Christian at the moment." She glance at her watch, "I need to get back to the
hospital."

She paused to hug each agent hard. "Thank you so much. Will you be back for the trial?"

"If need be." Scully answered. Mrs. Jarman nodded. "If not, I will let you know how Bryanne
is doing."

"Please."

Scully and Mulder stood frozen in place for several moments after Mrs. Jarman left. Mulder
sighed and looked at Scully.

"Ready?"

She could only nod.

________________________

Scully awoke with a start.

"Sorry" said Mulder as he finished pulling the report from her hand.

She rubbed her eyes and stretched with a small groan. She looked at her watch. It was 2:00 am.
Mulder took a seat back on the bed. He sat cross-legged on it as he began typing furiously
again.

"Go on, Scully. Go get some sleep."

She shook her head. "No, Mulder. Let's wrap this up today and have a day to ourselves."

He stopped typing. A smile touched his lips as he mused, " A day to ourselves. What a concept.
Should I mark it on the calendar as a 'first'? Call Ripley's Believe it or Not... You have anything
in mind?"

Scully ignored his lecherous grin.

"As a matter of fact I do. Maroon Bells. I want to go there. I remember seeing it as a child when
we moved to San Diego." Her eyes sparkled, "It's an amazing place. Have you ever been there?"

Mulder shook his head."Nope. I remember vacations like seeing the three-legged, two-headed
calf.... largest ball of string..."

"Mulder..." she said, stopping his lies.

"Okay, okay. Those were the vacations *I* wanted to go on, but I was always outvoted three to
one."

He stopped typing. "Done." He closed up the laptop. "Sounds good to me, Scully." He got off
the bed and crossed to her. He took one of her hands, pulled her out of the chair and led her to
the connecting door. "You plan the day. We can call it 'Dana and Fox's Most Excellent
Adventure'."

She laughed. "Good night, Mulder."

"Good night, Scully."
____________________________

Scully woke late. It was almost 10:00. Too late for breakfast but still too early for lunch. She
knocked on Mulder's door. No answer. After she had finished showering and dressing she
heard his door open and close. Scully knocked on the connecting door again.

"Mulder?"

He opened it, red-faced and out of breath. Sweat rolled off his face. His gray T-shirt was
stained around the collar, under his arms and across the front and back. He motioned her into
his room, then bent over and hung onto his jogging shorts. She looked at him concerned.

"Are you...?"

"Al... altitude." He gasped, then dramatically collapsed spread-eagle on the bed and closed his
eyes.

"Altitude... Are you sure it's not age?"

One eye popped open and looked at her, then closed. "Don't make me come over there and hurt
you, Scully."

She stood up and crossed to his bed. "Mulder, we have only seven hours before our plane
leaves. And I would really like to see the sights before we leave. Do you want me...?"

"No... Scully." He pushed to the edge of the bed and started pulling off his shoes and socks.
"At least let me shower."

Mulder stood and slowly headed for the bathroom, pulling his sweaty T-shirt over his head.
When he reached for his shorts he heard the door to Scully's room quickly close.
____________________________

They dropped off their reports at the Aspen Police Department, then slowly walked through the
streets of Aspen. Scully ducked in to several stores while Mulder found a place to sit and enjoy
the Colorado afternoon.

When Scully returned with sandwiches and drinks, she found Mulder sitting on a park bench.
His arms were stretched out along the back of the bench, his head tilted back, eyes closed. His
overcoat lay draped beside him. His eyes slowly opened when he heard her approach. Mulder
sighed. The weather was beautiful. Sunny. Warm. He sat up, making room for her to slide in
next to him. Scully took out the sandwiches and drinks.

She passed Mulder his sandwich, "Corned beef on rye..."

And then his drink, "Root beer, right?"

His head jerked up.

"Relax, it's an ice tea. Mulder, did I just see your panic face?"

He smiled, remembering one of their first times on a stakeout together. Scully had never made
that mistake again.

While eating, Mulder nodded his head toward an old brick building sitting on the corner.

He swallowed. "See that building?"

Scully looked in the direction he indicated. The outside sign proclaimed it to be the Pitkin
County Courthouse. She nodded and looked at Mulder to continue.

Mulder pointed toward a second story window.

"On June 6, 1977, Theodore Robert Bundy jumped from that window to five days of freedom.
When his defense lawyer heard of the escape he exclaimed, 'Never have I ever had a client show
so little faith in my argument.'"

Mulder paused to take a drink, before he continued.

"Because of his escape, Bundy became an instant Aspen celebrity. One Aspenite even named
her horse after him saying, 'I know he'll know how to run.' Ted even joined in the fun by joking,
'Did anyone see who it was that pushed me out the window?' T-shirts were sold..."

Mulder shook his head. "I'm not sure what's more frightening, Scully, a man who appears to
have everything going for him ... intelligence, looks... who can rape and kill women and
children with no remorse, or the seemingly sane people who buy the T-shirts, joke about the
horror or send love letters to a man who could have slaughtered over fifty people."

Scully stared long and hard at Mulder before saying, "Mulder, you really know how to make a
girl feel special."

She rewrapped her half-eaten sandwich and threw it in the trash can. "Come on. You promised
we could see Maroon Bells before we left." She looked at her watch. "We can make the next
shuttle bus if we hurry." She turned and started walking toward the car. Mulder looked from
her to his unfinished food.

"Wait, Scully!" he called out to her. "I'm not taking you up there in those shoes. With all these
stores you couldn't find anything practical..."

His voice trailed off as she disappeared around the corner.
____________________________

Mulder and Scully picked up the shuttle bus from Rubey Park and settled in their seats for the
short trip to Maroon Bells. There were only a couple other people on the bus, leaving Mulder
room enough to sprawl out in a row of seats.

"Are you tired, Mulder? Sure you want to do this?"

He nodded, "I'm okay, Scully. Just getting ready for the thin air. I'd hate for you to have to
carry me back."

After a quick fifteen minute ride they arrived. The bus pulled into a large paved parking lot. As
they exited the bus, the driver handed Mulder a map.

"Here's a map of the area. It shows all the trails, including their distances and length of time for
each hike. Please keep track of the time. The last shuttle bus will leave here at 6:00."

Mulder started to open the map when Scully snatched it from his hand. Watching Mulder
refold a map was just too painful to watch. She finished opening the map and pointed to a
well-marked trail.

"Let's start here." She refolded the map and slipped it into her pocket.

They started down the trail when almost immediately they had an elevated view of Maroon Bells
and the Maroon Bells Peaks reflected in the water. Scully reached into her coat pocket and
pulled out a camera. Mulder looked at her in amazement.

"A camera? Scully, you really are serious about playing tourist."

"Here," she took him by the arm and positioned him with the mountains in the background. She
stepped back. "Come on, Mulder. Smile."

He was shaking is head no. He had his hands pushed deep into his pockets, shifting his weight
from foot to foot like an impatient child. "Scully, it's too frightening. I look like I'm constipated
when I smile."

"Well, pretend you just drank a whole bottle of mineral oil."

She took the picture just as he laughed.

"Okay. Your turn, Scully. No, wait..."

A man had just appeared on the trail. Mulder held out the camera. "Would you mind?"

The man smiled and took the camera from Mulder's hand. Mulder stepped back and took his
place beside Scully. He opened his coat up for her to slip an arm around him then placed his
arm across her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Just push the black button on top." Scully instructed the man.

"Could you take two?" Mulder asked.

For the second picture, Mulder moved his hand off her shoulders and placed two fingers
behind her head. The old rabbit ears trick. The man laughed and handed the camera back to
Mulder. Scully looked suspiciously from the man to Mulder as she quickly ran her fingers
through her hair, feeling for any foreign objects.

"Thanks." Mulder said to the man.

"My pleasure." The man replied before heading down the trail.

"Okay, Scout..." Mulder said, turning his attention back to Scully. "Where do we go now? Sure
you don't want me to leave bread crumbs ... or maybe sunflower seeds so we can find out way
back?"

She made a face at him, "We stay north."

They both stopped to take another look at the view.

"That's Pyramid Peak," Mulder said, pointing to one peak. "South Maroon Peak and North
Maroon Peak." His finger pointed out each spectacular peak.

Scully pulled out the map and looked from the map to the peaks. "You're right, Mulder. Have
you ever thought about going on 'Jeopardy'? You could make a fortune."

"Depends on how you like your men, Scully. Smart and rich or paranoid and poor?"

"I'll take paranoid and poor every time."

Mulder smiled and nodded. "Good girl."

Scully and Mulder started down the steps, taking the trail along the north shore of the lake.
They continued along the path until they reached the footbridge over Maroon Creek. After they
crossed the creek and headed upstream to a second footbridge they came upon a beautiful
waterfall. They took turns taking each others picture on the bridge. They paused side by side to
look at the view before continuing on.

"It's hard to imagine, but I bet it's even more beautiful in the fall when the aspens are changing
colors." Scully said.

"Then we should come back."

She looked at him. "I'd like that," she said quietly.

" I would, too." He answered, then surprised her by placing his hand over hers. She looked
from her covered hand to his face, but he was focused on the view. Finally his eyes met hers.
His eyes were clear, his face unlined. He gave her hand a light squeeze before removing it off of
hers.

"Better keep going before it starts getting dark. Looks like something's blowing in, too."

After crossing the bridge, Mulder and Scully took the left trail upstream. Taking the left branch
they circled the pond and returned back to the bridge and waterfall. They headed right to the far
end of the meadow. The trail continued on through an aspen forest and past the head of
Maroon Lake to another trail. Taking the right fork they continued on up the
Maroon-Snowmass Trail. They picked their way through a boulder field then, after a short
distance, had a view overlooking Crater Lake.

They sat together on a rocky outcropping overlooking Crater Lake with the high colorful peaks
mirrored in the lake. Mulder had his long legs drawn up to his chin. He casually picked up
rocks and lobbed them into the lake. This was heaven. Sitting before, and with, the most
beautiful sights God had ever created.

Scully glanced at her watch, "Better head back." Her voice sounded sad and disappointed.

Mulder reached for her hand to help her up. "Don't worry, Scully. We can always come back."
He said as he brushed the dirt from his overcoat.

She smiled a sad knowing smile. When? There never seemed to be time for personal things.
Work consumed both their lives completely.
__________________________

"Mulder, we're going to miss our flight."

"Scully, the airport is only four miles away." He stopped to place both hands on her shoulders.
"Relax. We have plenty of time. Besides, I put the bags in the trunk earlier."

She frowned. How many times had she heard that from Mulder as they dashed through airport
after airport with Mulder urging her to to "get her little legs moving."

"I'm going to go check out. You go get the car."

"Yes, Dear." Mulder said.

Scully stopped to look at him. It was going to be good to get home.

Mulder dashed from the overhang of the motel to the rental car. The rain was coming down in
sheets. With the temperature rapidly dropping, it would not be long before it changed to sleet
then snow. Thankfully the airport was close.

The light was out in the parking lot causing him to fumble in the dark for the door lock. He
distinctly remembered parking in this particular space because of the light. He turned the key
and grabbed the handle. The door was locked. Damn. He must have turned the key the wrong
way. After all the Taurus cars they had rented... He slid into the driver's seat and bent forward
to put the key in the ignition. Where were the interior lights?

Mulder paused. There was a sick, sweet smell in the car. Suddenly things clicked... the lights...
the door. His hand instinctively reached for his weapon, pulling his gun out of the holster in
one fluid motion. But he was a split second too late. The butt of a gun caught him on the corner
of the jaw, slamming his head against the driver's side window with a thud. Lights danced in
front of his eyes. He felt a weight press against the back of his seat, leaning over his body. His
gun was pulled from his limp hand and thrown into the back seat. A heavy gauge wire was
looped around his neck, jerking him upright. Mulder gagged as the wire pulled tight, his hands
reaching for his throat, frantically trying to work his fingers under the wire.

His knees banged hard against the steering wheel as he struggled to free himself. The headrest
had been pushed to its highest position. The man wrapped the wire around the headrest,
snubbing Mulder to it. The edges of Mulder's vision started to darken; he was going to pass
out. Blood; warm and sticky, started to seep out where the wire bit into his tender flesh. It
trickled down his neck, staining his collar. The man's unshaven face leaned so close it scratched
against Mulder's face.

"Don't pass out or I'll kill you here." He whispered. His voice low and dangerous. The man's
breath was rancid. It smelled of decayed and decaying teeth. The man leaned back slightly and
placed his gun against Mulder's temple. Mulder blinked hard and tried to swallow but the wire
was too tight. He ran a quick tongue over his suddenly dry lips.

"Hands... on... the ... steering... wheel." With each word he tapped the gun barrel hard against
Mulder's head. Mulder flinched with each blow. He obediently placed his hands on the steering
wheel, his hands clenching and unclenching on it. Mulder stiffened as the man leaned across
the back seat to retrieve the dropped keys and put them into the ignition. Mulder was breathing
hard. His body was wired with adrenaline, fear and anger. His heart was pounding, sending
waves of pain radiating from his jaw and head.

"Drive."

Mulder paused, then slid a hand off the wheel to start the car.

"Where?" Mulder choked out. His throat hurt.

"Drive." The man gestured with the gun toward the rear entrance.

Scully stood inside the manager's office. She impatiently looked at her watch. Where the hell
was Mulder? It was taking too long for him to bring the car around. She stepped outside and
walked close to the outside wall, under the safety of the overhang. Her pace started to quicken,
until she was running. Something was wrong. If she had been a step quicker, she would have
seen the tail lights of their rental car driving out of the back entrance.

Scully skidded around the corner and ran out into the lot. Her shoes splashed water high onto
her pants. She stood in the middle of the lot, turning a full 360 degree circle. Her hair was
plastered flat on her head. Water ran off her coat in small streams. Her eyes frantically searched
through the darkness and rain for any sign of her partner. He was gone.

"MULDER!" She screamed.
_________________________________

Mulder was having a difficult time driving. Besides the rain that was turning to sleet, the
darkness and a pounding headache that threatened to cause him to lose consciousness at any
minute, the roads were unfamiliar and winding as they climbed higher into the mountains.

As they passed a well-lit convenience store, Mulder ventured a quick glance in the rear view
mirror. He did not recognize him nor could he understand why he had been taken. If the man
had wanted to kill him, he could have easily done that back in the motel parking lot. He
obviously wanted something from Mulder. The man caught Mulder looking at him and stared
back with eyes that had long since lost any trace of reason or rational thought. Thank God he
had gotten the man away from the motel and Scully. At least she was safe. He saw traces of
exhaustion, desperation and a rage that caused him to shiver.

"Why?" Mulder asked.

"Because..." the man's voice starting out wearily but growing louder and angrier. "Because you
saved her. Now it's my turn. It's been my turn for twenty eight years and no one came to help. I
had to come to them and they still wouldn't help. But they paid. They all were made to pay for
not listening. For not hearing. For not caring. The fools. If they didn't care about me why in the
hell did they think I would give a damn about them and their families."

The man's next sentence turned Mulder's blood to ice.

"Begging for their lives... as if *I* cared."

The man's voice lowered until Mulder couldn't make out his words. Maybe it was for the better.
The man was clearly insane. Mulder shifted his weight in the seat trying to get comfortable. The
wire pinched his neck with the slightest movement. His shoulders and back ached from not
being able to move. The smell in the car was making him nauseous. He needed some air. His
fingers crawled along the door panel and pushed the window button. Mulder heard the man
quickly move forward as the window rolled down.

"I just need some air to stay awake."

Satisfied, the man leaned back in his seat.

How in the hell was he going to get out of this?
_________________________

As Mulder tried to readjust his position he felt something in his coat pocket. His cell phone.
The man hadn't searched his overcoat. Mulder's left hand slowly slid off the steering wheel and
carefully found his phone. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest it hurt. Timing was
everything. The higher they went into the mountains the less chance of phone reception,
especially with the storm moving in.

He pulled the phone half way out of his pocket and speed-dialed Scully's number, turning the
ringer as low as it would go. With the rain changed to sleet, wipers on high, and the heater
blowing, he doubted the man could hear from the back seat. Mulder checked the man in the rear
view mirror. He was slumped to one side and appeared to be trying to sleep. Mulder moved his
hand back onto the steering wheel and rested it on the horn. He faintly heard Scully answer the
phone on the second ring and hit the horn hard, drowning out Scully's voice. The sound startled
the man and he come over the seat punching and screaming at Mulder.

"DAMN YOU! YOU BASTARD! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO
BE QUIET WHEN I 'M TRYING TO SLEEP??!!"

Blows struck Mulder on the right side of his head, shoulder and arm. The car swerved wildly
on the slick pavement. He fought to maintain control of the car. Mulder quickly pulled his foot
off the accelerator and hit the brakes. The brakes screeched as he hit them too hard. He gently
steered and braked until he had the car under control on the side of the road.

"A deer," Mulder gasped. He had to give Scully some kind of idea where he was. "There are a
lot of deer in the mountains. Ever since we started up Independence Pass I've seen several. I
have to stop." Blood dripped down his face and off his chin from a cut above his eye and a split
lip. He could feel sweat roll down his sides. His hands were shaking not only form the fear of
realizing how close they came to going over the edge, but his anger was becoming more
difficult to keep in check.

"NO! We're almost there. Keep driving."

Mulder opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it and placed his foot back on the
accelerator. They slowly crept up the pass. It was now snowing and coming down harder by the
minute.
_______________________

Scully grabbed her phone and answered. A horn blared in her ear followed by a man screaming
"Damn you! You bastard! How many times..." She waved her free arm at the surrounding
officers motioning them to be quiet. She listened in horror as she heard a struggle punctuated
with cries of pain. They were Mulder's. In the background, she could hear brakes squealing on
the slick pavement, and Mulder's curses as he fought to regain control of the vehicle. Scully
heard his breaths coming fast and hard. Then his voice telling her they were on Independence
Pass. Pain, fear and anger were evident in his voice. The anger scared her most of all. She had
heard the man's voice. She had heard the insanity and fury in his words. She knew the man
would kill Mulder without a moments hesitation. He needed to be careful.

Scully covered the phone. "Independence Pass. Hurry! Get every man up there now!"

"I'm coming," Scully whispered to him.
__________________

"WHAT IS HE DOING?" Scully screamed as she opened the car door, before the vehicle had
stopped, and stumbled toward the snow plow operator who was tugging the heavy orange 'Road
Closed' gates closed.

"Agent Scully..." Agent Williams called out to her, trying to stop her.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Her feet slipped on the slick pavement.

"The pass is closed." The man said as he pulled the other half of the gate and padlocked it.

Scully grabbed her ID and badge and shoved them at the man.

"OPEN THE GATES! OPEN THEM NOW!"

The man looked from her to Agent Williams who now stood next to Scully. A number of police
cruisers had pulled in behind Agent Williams' car. Their blue and red lights flashed against the
rocks and snow covered pavement. Smoke curled from the tailpipes as their wipers slapped
loudly in the night as they waited.

"Listen..." the man looked fearfully from Scully and Agent Williams to the police cars. "I don't
know what's going on here but FBI or not, there is no way you're getting up that pass. I just
came up over it. Barely made it."

Her hand shot out and grabbed the man's arm, startling him. "Did you see anyone? A car?"

The man was fiercely shaking his head 'no' as he tried to pull away from her. "There's no one
up there. I didn't see anything. No vehicles. No tracks. Nothing. Who in the hell would be
crazy enough to try and drive the pass while it's snowing?"
Scully's hand fell off the man's arm. She turned toward Agent Williams. "Then we'll wait here
until the storm breaks."

"Agent Scully, not being from this area, you don't understand..." He shifted uncomfortably
from one foot to another. "Independence Pass is only open four or five months out of the
whole year. If the wind starts blowing... we're not talking about waiting days or even weeks but
months."

"Months?!" Scully placed her hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew wide with horror. She
quickly withdrew her hand. "There has to be another way." Her eyes hardened with
determination. "I can't... I will not accept that. Mulder... my partner's up there. I can't sit back...
I won't."

"You have no choice." He turned away from her and approached the line of police cars. He
spoke briefly to each driver and then stepped back as they all turned their car around and
headed back toward Aspen. Tears stung her eyes as she watched each car leave. She walked
over to the closed gates and placed both hands on the barricade looking up toward the dark
looming pass.

<Oh God, Mulder>

She said squeezing her eyes shut. Her hair started to dance around her face as the wind started
to blow.
_______________________

Mulder stopped the car. They could go no further. Visibility was too poor to continue.

"Keep it running." The man instructed Mulder. "Pull it right to the edge." He cut Mulder loose
from the headrest. Mulder's hand started to reach for his throat.

"Dammit! Did I tell you you could move your hand? Did I?!" He shoved the gun against the
back of Mulder's head, forcing it down, pinning it against the steering wheel.

As his forehead was pushed into the steering wheel Mulder clenched his teeth. This guy was
really starting to piss him off.

"Open your door slowly and step out." He released the gun off Mulder's head.

Mulder slowly turned his head and looked out the window into the snowy night. There was
nothing out there. Nowhere to run.
 
 

=============================================================
 

Part 2

"STOP! Go back.."

Scully lowered her cell phone and pointed back to the convenience store
they had just passed as they returned to Aspen. After Mulder's call she had
lost contact with him. Static followed by dead air. Silence. Agent Williams
obediently backed the car up and turned into the parking lot. There were
two employees standing behind the counter watching television. Scully
stepped up to the counter and flashed her ID and badge to the woman who had
stepped up to wait on her. The woman reached her hand out and tugged on her
fellow worker's sleeve.

"Did either of you see a car drive by within the last thirty to forty-five
minutes? A green Ford Taurus with at least two people in it, heading up the
Pass?"

"Not me," the woman said shaking her head. I just got here.

"I did." The young man said eager to help. "It was around 8:30. Wendy and I
couldn't believe anyone would be trying the Pass in this weather. We kind
of watched to see if it came back. Never saw it. Dumb ass must gone off the
road and gotten stuck."

"Man or woman driving?"

He shook his head, "Couldn't say for sure but thought it was a man. Looked
to be too tall for a woman. Didn't see anyone else in the car. Couldn't
even tell you the make of car or if it was American or foreign. They're all
starting to look alike but it was green."

As Scully reached into her pocket for something to write with, her hand
touched two small plastic containers. She fingered the objects. It was the
undeveloped film from her and Mulder's trip to Maroon Bells. She found her
pen and pulled it out and wrote down all the information the man could
provide.

"The woman that was on-duty with you. Is there anyway I can reach her?"

The man shook his head. "Not tonight. She said she was going to stay with
friends because of the weather. Not sure which friends she was talking
about. But she'll be in tomorrow morning. I think at 11:00."

Scully thanked them and headed for the door. She paused and withdrew the
film from her pocket. "Do you do film developing?"

The woman nodded.

"How fast can I get these back?"

"If you want to pay extra we could have them back by lunch tomorrow."

Agent Williams called the owner of the Hertz Rental Car Agency at the
airport and talked him into opening up so Scully could get another rental
car. The man did not look happy about coming in after closing, especially
in the bad weather.

"I hope I get this one back, " the man muttered under his breath as they left.

ONE HOUR PRIOR...

"Reach in and release the brake."

Mulder leaned back in the car and pulled the brake release.

The man waved the gun at Mulder, motioning him to the rear of the car.

"Get behind it and push."

Mulder laid both hands on the trunk and paused, "You realize this is
taxpayer's money..." The man leveled the gun at Mulder. Mulder shrugged his
shoulders then started pushing, once slipping on the slick pavement, almost
knocking his chin on the trunk. He strained until he felt the front wheels
jump the edge of the pavement and then ever so slowly angled down, until
gravity caught it and pulled it over the edge. Mulder bent over with his
hands on his knees, breathing hard. The cold air stung his lungs. He
listened as the car crashed through the trees and finally stopped.

<Damn. His favorite Knicks t-shirt was packed inside his suitcase in the
trunk.>

He started to straighten up when the man suddenly slammed Mulder in the
back, knocking him to his knees and
then face, down into the cold snowy ground.

"Dammit!" Mulder yelled out, his cries muffled by the snow. The man drove a
knee into his back and roughly pulled each arm behind his back and retied
Mulder's hands. He dragged Mulder to his feet and drove the barrel of the
gun into his back. Taking his free hand he grabbed Mulder's shoulder and
directed him up the Pass.

"Move."

Mulder had his head down, trying to protect his face from the wind and
blowing snow. His head suddenly jerked up. He heard a sound. A low rumbling
sound. The man caught Mulder's bound hands and yanked him back hard enough
to almost pull him off his feet. Mulder took a quick step back, catching
himself before he fell. The man continued to drag him backwards until he
was stopped by the rocky side of the pass. He pulled Mulder close and
wrapped a tight arm around his neck, pressing the barrel of the gun into
his ear. The rumbling grew louder and louder. Finally bright lights cut
through the snowy haze. A large orange snowplow loomed across the road like
a surreal monster. it's huge V plow on the front almost taking up both
sides of the narrow pass. Snow flew off the edges of the blade, throwing
snow like a white fountain onto both sides of the road. As it passed, the
noise was so loud it hurt Mulder's teeth and ears. It threw snow on them,
covering them from head to toe with the frigid, white powder. Mulder tried
to rub the snow off his face his shoulder. The man shook like a wet dog,
then brushed the remainder of the snow off with hands. Mulder didn't have
that luxury.

"A little help here."

The man ignored Mulder and pushed him back towards the road.

They walked in the whiteness for... to Mulder it felt like forever. The
snow that had blown into his shirt by the plow had melted leaving him wet
and cold. His teeth began to chatter. He couldn't feel his nose or ears. It
felt like his cheeks were frozen solid. They seemed heavy and hard on his
face. Almost leaden. His shoes slipped repeatedly on the slick rocks as
they climbed down a well hidden trail that lead down the side of the pass.
His legs were bruised and cut. The only good thing about the cold, it
helped deaden the pain. Through the whiteness, a small cabin suddenly
materialized in front of them. All the windows were boarded shut. The man
shouldered the door open, dragging Mulder through the door into the
blinding light. Lights were on everywhere. Mulder lowered his head and
tried to bury his face into his overcoat. The light burned his eyes. He
slowly raised his head and squinted through the brightness. The room was a
mess. It stunk of spoiled food and dirty clothes. The room was sparsely
furnished with broken and torn furniture. The walls were decorated with
ripped and creased posters of comic book heroes. Batman. Superman. Spiderman.

Mulder was roughly pushed towards a door leading to a darkened basement.
Mulder was drawing a line. There was no way he was going down there without
a fight. Every instinct was telling him he was dead if he went through that
door. The basement reeked of things decaying and dead. Death had a
unforgettable smell. Mulder hesitated then took a step through the doorway
before back pedaling as hard and fast as he could. He drove his body into
the man's chest, throwing his head back and catching the man on the jaw.
The blow staggered the man, knocking him backwards but not before he
grabbed Mulder by the overcoat and pulled him to the floor on top of
himself. Mulder twisted, so he now faced the man and drove a knee hard into
the man's groin. He quickly rolled off the man who was doubled up on the
floor screaming. Tears of pain and anger rolled off the man's face. The gun.
Where was the gun? Mulder's eyes frantically searched the room as he tried
to maneuver his bound hands from behind his back. He didn't have time. He
raced to the door, turning so he could grab the doorknob with both hands.
The door swung open and a burst of cold air hit Mulder squarely in the
face. He started to take a step through the doorway when two large arms
wrapped themselves around him, crushing him in a vise-like grip. Mulder
threw back his head and cried out in pain.

The man hissed, "I should kill you now, but I like fight in a person.
Believe me before this is over with, you'll need it."

He lifted Mulder off his feet as he kicked and struggled and carried him
forcibly to the edge of the stairs. With his hands tied tightly behind his
back, there was no way for him to reach out and feel into the darkness for
support.

"Welcome home." said the man pushing Mulder hard in the back with both hands.

Mulder's feet slid off the first step and he was suddenly airborne as he
fell the rest of the way to the hard concrete floor below. Mulder did his
best to land on his side trying to protect his head, but without his hands
free to brace himself he landed on his hip and shoulder. Damn! The
sickening crunch told him the phone was gone. The impact bounced his head
off the hard surface. He fought to stay conscious, but finally gave himself
to the darkness.
__________

Scully closed her hands into tight fists and pressed them to her eyes.

<Please God. Make this a dream. Please.>

She sighed a heavy sigh and reopened her eyes. She looked at her watch. The
plane to DC would have landed a half an hour ago. They should be standing
side-by-side at the luggage carousel in Dulles waiting for their bags. She
closed her eyes again and pictured Mulder by her side, casually popping
sunflower seeds in his mouth as they waited... just like a hundred times
before.

<God why did you make this time different?>

She brushed tears from her eyes. It was a struggle to stay focused and not
let the panic consume and paralyze her.

<Think... Dana think... Lehman! What if Mulder was wrong... What if he had
had an accomplice?>

__________

Scully burst through the doors of the Pitkin County Jail at a run almost
colliding with the paramedics that were working on a man strapped to a
stretcher. They hurried past Scully towards a waiting ambulance, but not
before she got a look at the man's face. It was Douglas Lehman. She grabbed
an officer's arm.

"What the hell's going on here?"

"He tried to kill himself. Broke his glasses and slit his wrists. Doesn't
look good. Pity," the officer added with a smile.

She ran out catching the ambulance before it pulled away from the curb. She
pressed her badge and ID to the driver's window. The driver quickly rolled
down the window.

"What's his condition? I need to try and speak with him."

The driver was shaking his head. "The man's dead. Just need to get him to
the hospital to have a doctor call it and make it official."

"Dammit," she cursed loudly.

"Sorry" the driver said as he put the ambulance into gear and backed up.
Scully's head dropped and her shoulders sagged as she stepped away.

<Back to square one.>

Time. She knew she was running out of time.

__________

Mulder woke slowly. He was stretched out full length on the floor. His
cheek pressed against the cold surface. Grit and dirt, plus the coppery
taste of blood coated his mouth. With his tongue he gently probed the
inside of his mouth and ran it across his split swollen lip. His muscles
were knotted and cramped, not only from his injuries but also from the
cold. He was freezing. Mulder drew his knees up and rocked into a sitting
position. He hung his head and tried not to take deep breaths. The smell
was making him sick to his stomach. He worked his tied ands under his butt
so now they were in front of him giving him more mobility. With his hands
in front of his body it gave him a small degree of comfort, but it was so
dark he couldn't see them in front of his face. Mulder stood up carefully.
He swayed, unsteady on his feet for several long moments. He fumbled his
joined hands into his coat pocket to confirm what he already suspected, the
cell phone was destroyed.

<Shit! Shit! Shit!>

He held his hands out in front of him and slowly inched forward. After
several feet his toe bumped into something soft that gave to the pressure
of his foot. He poked it again with his foot.

The man heard Mulder moving around downstairs in the darkness. He moved to
the basement door and placed his hand on the light switch. He would wait a
minute or two; let him stumble around a little bit longer before he showed
him exactly what and with whom he spent the night with. He put a hand over
his mouth to stifle his laughter. He didn't want Mulder to hear. He didn't
want him to be forewarned. He wanted everything to be a complete surprise.
This was one of his favorite parts. Really showed who was worthy and who
was not. Showed him when and how they should die

The man pressed his ear to the closed door and flipped the light switch on.
He heard feet quickly scraping across the gritty floor but nothing else.
No screams. No crying. No begging. The man was impressed.

Using his toe, Mulder tried to inch around the object. The lights came on
startling him and he tripped backwards into another object. The light
revealed everything. The "object" and all the other "objects". The reason
for the smell. He looked around the room in horror. The basement was
littered with bodies. Every one in various stages of decomposition. Not all
were human. There were some that looked like dogs. Some of the corpses were
old. The skin long dried and brown, eyes gone, white bone poking out from
torn flesh. The freshest corpse was the one that he had been poking with
his foot. Being in the profession he was in, he had seen plenty of dead
bodies. Human and non. But it was never easy for Mulder. Corpses ranked
right up there with insects. He hated to go into the autopsy rooms. He
hated the smells. He hated having to get that near the dead. Mulder always
marveled how Scully could, with her cool professionalism, detach herself
and remain focused on what needed to be done. He backed carefully to the
steps, took a seat on the highest step and closed his eyes.
__________

Scully drove to the Lehman house. Wide yellow crime scene tape cordoned off
the property.

She turned off the engine and stepped out into the cool morning air,
slipping beneath the tape and walking up to the front door. A light was on
in the house. A car was parked in the drive. It was from the Crime Scene
Unit. They were still there collecting evidence. She tried the door. It was
unlocked. She poked her head in.

"Ma'am... Oh, it's you Agent Scully. l heard about your... Can I help you?"
She entered the house, looking lost.

"You heard the news?"

The man nodded, "Lehman's dead. I just got the call."

"I was there." She looked around the room. "Did you find any evidence that
there was someone else involved? An accomplice?"

"No. None." the man's voice lowered, "Do you think this is related to your
partner 's abduction?"

"I don't know," she said exasperated, " I don't know where to start." She
was on the verge of tears.
"It snows one day," she said bitterly, "and just like that we lose a week.
A snowstorm in June. For God's sake it's June."

"Unfortunately that's Colorado. If I turn up anything you'll be the first
person to know. How can I reach you?"

"Let me give you my cell phone number. It's 555-0113. Thank you." She
opened the door and stepped outside.

Now it was raining....

__________

Mulder had no idea how long he had been down in the basement, in the
darkness. He had no way to measure time. No way he could even read his
watch pressed in front of his face. He began to wonder if the man was ever
coming back. His teeth chattered. His clothes were still damp. There was no
heat in the dank, dark basement. His ribs still hurt where the man had
grabbed him. He reached under his overcoat and jacket and pressed each rib
individually. They were sore but none felt broken. He continued to run his
hands over his body, making a mental inventory of his injuries. None were
life-threatening. Yet.
__________

Scully returned to the convenience store to interview the woman to see if
she had anything else to add. Unfortunately, there was nothing more she
could tell Scully. Scully thanked her and turned to leave. The pictures.
She had almost forgotten the photos. They were ready as promised. She
returned to the car and held them in her hand, unsure whether to open them.

<Not now. Not here.> she told herself.

__________

COMFORT INN
Aspen

Scully set the pictures down on the bed beside the shopping bags of new
clothes she had purchased. She walked into the bathroom and started the
shower. She felt so miserable and alone as she stood naked under the water.
The only sound was the running water and her heart pounding.

The shower hadn't made her feel better. It actually made her feel worse.
The room was too hot, filled with the steamy, thick moisture. She started
to wipe the mirror with a smaller towel when she stopped. She felt the
horror, she didn't need to look at it reflected in her eyes or face.

She stepped out of the bathroom with a towel tightly wrapped around
herself, another wrapped around her wet hair. Her eyes were immediately
drawn to the photos. She stared at them for several long minutes. Finally
she took a seat on the bed and picked up one of the envelopes and slowly
opened it. She knew it was a mistake when she looked at the first photo. It
was him. He was laughing into the camera, Maroon Bells rising behind him in
the background. The next one was them together. She looked so small wrapped
in his overcoat.

<Was she really that short?>

She flipped to the following picture and froze. Again, it was them
together. Mulder had the most mischievous grin on his face. He held two
fingers behind her head like a naughty child. She started laughing but her
laughter quickly turned into heart-wrenching sobs. She pulled a pillow free
from the covers and wrapped herself tightly around it, pressing her face
deep into it to muffle her sobs.

The phone was ringing. She had cried herself to sleep with the the picture
clutched in her hand. She sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes before
answering the phone.

"Agent Scully, this is Officer Sanders from the Aspen PD. I just got a call
from Susan Jarman. She seemed anxious to talk to you. I didn't want to give
out your number at the motel. If you have something to write with I'll give
you her number."

Scully held the phone between her cheek and shoulder as she tried to dress.
She had placed the picture face down on the bed. Too afraid to look at it
again. The phone rang and rang until a recorder picked up announcing that
this was the Jarman residence and to please leave a message.

"This is Agent Dana Scully..."

The phone was immediately answered. Scully couldn't blame them for screening
their calls. It was Susan.

"Agent Scully." There was a long pause. "I just heard the news. About
Agent Mulder. Oh my God is it true?"

"Yes.... It is." Scully couldn't hide the pain in her voice, tears
threatening to fall again.

"Please... If there is anything we can do for you. How can we help?"

"I appreciate your offer but what I would like, need you to do is just be
with your daughter. I can only hope for the best for my partner, but...,"
There was a catch in her voice as her eyes fell on the photo, "but if
things don't work out...at least some good will have come out of this."

Susan began to cry, "You and your partner will be in our prayers."

Scully slowly hung up the phone and finished dressing. She looked at her
watch. She was scheduled for a press conference in an hour and a half.
Hopefully someone had seen something, because right now they had nothing.
__________

The lights suddenly came on, startling Mulder who almost dropped the last
of his sunflower seeds as he sat perched on the top step. Mulder quickly
squeezed his eyes shut then slowly opened them. He moved to the door and
waited, clasping his bound hands together ready to swing them. He waited.
Nothing. He quietly moved down the stairs and looked around the room,
searching for something that could be used as a weapon. There were only
bones and dead bodies. He paused. There was a small skeleton propped
against the far wall. Judging by the width of the pelvis it had been a
small woman. He grabbed one of the femur bones, pulling it free from the
hip socket and slid it into one of his deep overcoat pockets before
returning to the top of the stairs to wait.
Mulder looked at his watch. An hour had passed since the lights had come
on. He readied himself as he heard the basement door latch being lifted.
The door slowly and cautiously opened.
The man stood framed in the doorway. The gun was clutched in his right hand.

"If you're ready to behave, you can come out."

The man motioned Mulder to step out. With each step Mulder took towards
him, the man took one step back. The gun never leaving Mulder.

He waved Mulder to a chair, where he took a seat. His eyes never left the
man's face. The man smiled at Mulder. He was glad to see anger on his face,
in his eyes and not a trace of fear. If looks could kill, he would be a
dead man. The man had been right when he kidnapped Mulder. He knew if there
was any hope for himself, it was with Mulder.

"Put your hands on the table."

Mulder paused before slowly placing his tied hands on the table. The man
placed the gun on the table with the barrel pointed at Mulder. Mulder's
eyes flicked to the gun and back to the man's face. The man smiled again.

"You're quick, but not that quick.", he said reading Mulder's thoughts. The
man reached behind his back and drew out a knife.

Hungry?"

Mulder remained silent. His eyes watched the knife. As the man took a step
towards Mulder, he saw him straighten in his chair. He cut the rope,
freeing Mulder's hands. Then picked up the gun and backed towards the
stove. He picked up a plate filled with food and slid it across the table
towards Mulder.

"I hope I can trust you with a fork." he said as he flipped it to Mulder
who caught it with one hand. The man placed his plate down and took a seat
at the end of the table. He laid the gun close to his plate, hoping to
discourage any thoughts Mulder might have of trying to escape.

"You'd better eat. We have a lot of work to do." The man started shoveling
food into his mouth.

Mulder looked down at his plate, then slowly forked food into his mouth. He
was starving.

"Look Agent Mulder. You're famous.' He pointed his fork at the TV set. There
was a fuzzy picture of Mulder on TV.

"Fox? Really your first name is Fox? I guess your mother hated you too."

Suddenly Scully was on giving a brief progress report on the search for her
partner. Mulder's heart ached. There were dark circles around her eyes. She
looked exhausted. When she spoke there was sadness and pain in her voice
that filled her eyes.

"She's pretty."

Mulder's head whipped around. He opened his mouth to respond but closed it
and turned his attention back to the TV. She was gone. He closed his eyes
holding the picture of her in his mind.

"What's she like in the sack? She looks tasty..." The man stopped when he
saw Mulder's expression. It was pure hatred. Now he understood why Mulder
had allowed him to take him without much of a struggle. He was protecting her.

He laughed, "Don't worry. I don't like women and they don't like me. Only
had one. Unless your mother doesn't count."

Mulder stared at him, horrified.

"Needless to say she was not a willing participant." The man's voice took
on a detached dreamy quality," Believe me I let her see what it was like.
What they did to me while she stood there. Her own son. Never saying a word."
His eyes misted with tears. He wiped a big hand over his eyes.

"You can have seconds if you're still hungry. There's plenty. You know what
they say about us humans, we taste a lot like chicken. What do you think?"

Mulder's hand froze. He let the fork fall from his fingers. It loudly
clattered on the table. He quickly spit out the bite of food he had in his
mouth and wiped his hand over it. He felt bile and food racing up his throat.

"YOU SICK BASTARD!" Mulder screamed, pushing back from the table. He
doubled over and threw up. He finally looked up at the man; his eyes
watery, the look on his face murderous.

The man picked up the gun and shook his head. Sit down. If you're going to
waste food, pass me your plate. But I'm warning you, that's all you're
going to get to eat. Sorry no grocery stores in the neighborhood. Just the
"Dahmer Deli"' He roared at his joke, then quickly his eyes darkened. He
leaned threateningly towards Mulder

"Just wait... When it comes to survival, I've learned people will do
anything. And I mean anything to survive. Before you pass judgement on
other people, let's see what you'll do Agent Mulder."

Mulder glared at the man while he finished cleaning both plates.

"Last one. Sure you don't want it?" he laughed and wagged the fork back and
forth with the last bite on it before placing it in his mouth and chewing
it with relish. He slowly licked the fork.

"I guess it's an acquired taste. Well if you're done eating, it's time to
go back," he said nodding his head towards the basement door. He picked up
the gun and stepped closer to Mulder. "Hands on the table."
Mulder didn't move.

"Hands on the table."

Nothing.

The man angrily reached for one of Mulder's arms just as Mulder grabbed the
bone from his pocket and swung it with one hand with all his might. It
missed the man's head by inches. With a loud crack it landed against the
man's shoulder. Mulder saw the gun barrel raise towards his head. He threw
himself backwards and kicked his legs out, catching the gun and knocking it
offline. He heard the loud retort of the gun and felt a burning pain as the
bullet grazed his temple. He hit the floor hard enough to see stars. The
man was suddenly on top of him, his face looming over his. The man was
screaming, but it was hard for Mulder to make out the words. His ears
still ringing from the gun shot. Spittle flew from the man's mouth in rage.
He felt the gun press against his forehead. Everything seemed to be
happening in slow motion. Mulder slowly closed his eyes. He felt the gun
being lifted off his forehead. He reopened his eyes in time to see the
gun's handle coming down fast towards his face, then a sharp pain and
darkness.
__________

He woke tied to a bed. His arms and legs were bond so tightly it felt like
his circulation was being cut off. One look at the man and Mulder knew the
pain was going to be unbearable. The man was ranting and raving as he paced
around the room. His anger and madness driving his steps faster and faster,
until he finally stopped and turned his attention to Mulder. His hands
clenched and unclenched at his sides. His chest heaved. Perspiration
glistened off his flushed face. Mulder tried to brace himself for what he
knew was coming. The man's eyes were glazed over. He knew there was no
reasoning with him. There was no humanity or compassion to reach. Instead,
Mulder mentally started to run to his one and only safe place. A place to
hide from the pain he knew was inevitable. He ran to her as fast as his
legs would carry him. But he wasn't fast enough and the first wave of pain
hit him as he was reaching for her. It knocked him to his knees, pulling
him to the ground. He struggled to his feet and with a herculean effort
made it up and into her waiting arms. He took her hand and slowly started
walking through the shared memories of their relationship. From the first
day she walked into his office and into his life. She had given him his
life back and he needed her to do it for him again. He tried to hang onto
her as long as he could, but the memories were being interrupted with
flashes of darkness and intense pain.

<Oh God. Not my fingers!>

From far off he heard his own screams. He felt Scully release his hand.

"Go. It's okay. I'll find you."

With relief he walked into the darkness.
__________

Scully woke and bolted upright in her motel bed. She was bathed in cold
sweat. Her breaths coming fast and hard. Her pulse was racing.The dream had
been so vivid. It was about Mulder. He had been with her. They were
together, holding hands as they talked. His grip tightening the longer they
talked. Starting at the "beginning" when she first walked into his basement
office, then slowly reliving the past in detail. But Mulder began to have
trouble remembering. He began to speak in halting sentences. Several times
he doubled over in pain. She tenderly rubbed his back and tried to reassure
him everything would be okay. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves
rolled up. Blood slowly started to stain the shirt. Long cuts appeared on
his arms. He looked from her to the darkness. She felt his hand start to
slip her from hers. She tightened her grip but he screamed out in pain. She
looked as his hand. Several of the fingers were misshapen and broken. She
quickly released his hand. "Go. It's okay go. I'll find you." He nodded,
then disappeared into the darkness.

Scully threw back the covers and walked to the window. She opened the
curtains and looked up towards Independence Pass. If the weather reports
were correct and this unseasonably warm weather continued, by the first of
the week there was a possibility that could get up the pass.

<Hold on , Mulder> She silently pleaded.

Her shoulders began to shake. What if she was too late? Scully buried her
face in her hands and cried.
__________

Mulder couldn't think. His thoughts were all jumbled up. Everything that he
had ever feared in his life was there. Between the pain and the darkness he
was lost. He fell, crawling on his knees, as he pulled himself with his one
good hand, until he could drag himself to his feet. He circled but there
was nowhere to go. The fear was almost paralyzing. He could feel everything
that went bump in the night, hid in a child's closet or dwelled under their
little beds. He began to shake with fear. He could feel the heat of the
fire circling him, while insects moved over him... in his hair... nose...
ears... even his eyes. He tried not to scream for fear they would climb in
his mouth. From the corner of his frightened eyes he caught the faint
glowing ember of someone inhaling on a cigarette. Never once offering to
help him. Watching. Waiting. Where was she? He couldn't find her. He was
alone. He knew there would be no help.

Just like before.

Just like when Samantha was taken.

"Don't Daddy. No more. No more. No more.' His cries slowly faded into
incoherent sobs. Mulder's head rolled to the side as he fell into
unconsciousness. Tears slid down his cheeks, mixed with blood and fell onto
the bed.
__________

Mulder's frightened cries stopped the man with his fists raised in the air.
Slowly the man's eyes cleared. He was frozen by the sight of his bloodied
hands and Mulder's pleas sounding so childlike. He watched Mulder's head
slowly roll to one side. A heavy shuttering sigh escaped through his open
mouth, then he lay silent. Too still.
I
<Not again! Dammit not again! It was not supposed to end like this! Mulder
was not supposed to die.>

The man quickly turned away from Mulder's limp body and balled his bloodied
hands into tight fists. He pressed them to his temples, smearing blood
across them and his forehead. He tried to calm himself.

<You don't know if he's dead. Go look.>

He turned and took two halting steps towards Mulder.

<How could he be alive? With all that blood?>

He didn't want to know. He couldn't face the truth, that he had killed his
only hope.

<No. I don't want to.> The man whimpered to himself like a spoiled child,
taking two steps back.

<Do it now!>

He inched his way towards Mulder. When he was beside the bed, he poked a
finger at Mulder and pushed one of his shoulders. No reaction.

"I've killed him! " The man started to wail, but a moan from Mulder stopped
his cries.

<Hurry there's not much time. You have to fix what you've broken>

The voice inside his head turned into his mother's. <You clumsy stupid
Bastard! Can't you do anything right! Everything you touch you break!>

He could feel her hand on his. Digging her nails into it as she opened his
small fist. Spreading his fingers wide and holding them on the table as she
brought the heavy metal jar down again... and again. Mulder groaned. The
man frozen by the memory of his mother's abuse quickly blinked his eyes
then moved rapidly through the cabin gathering supplies; towels, bandages
and from under the bed a cigar box filled with sewing supplies. He cut
Mulder free from the bed, then carefully pulled Mulder's clothes off and
threw them into a pile. He filled a large bowl with warm soapy water, then
dipped a towel into it and carefully began to clean off the blood. He lost
count of the number of times he was forced to refill the bowl with clean
water. He apologized to Mulder as he cleaned his wounds.

"I'm sorry. I just needed you to understand about me...about my life. You
have to know so you can protect me. You're my only hope." He laughed a
small laugh, "Just like that Princess with the funny hair in Star Wars says
to the old guy. My only hope."
__________

The only thing Mulder was conscious of was the pain. It told him he was
alive, but that's all. He didn't know who he was or where he was. It was
relentless. The tiniest movement set off waves and waves of excruciating
pain until he screamed and wished he would just die.

"Soon." He heard a voice say from far away.

He went into the darkness content that it would be over with. Soon.

__________

COLORADO HIGHWAY 82

He knew when he didn't find her at the motel, there was only one place she
would be. It looked like the car had been parked there most of the night.
The bumper of the car was almost resting on the orange barricade as if she
were afraid someone would push in front of her and be first up the Pass
once the gates opened. The rain from the previous night still glistened off
the car. He saw the wipers come on and push the wet droplets off the
windshield. He pulled in behind her and grabbed the thermos and two cups.
Scully looked up surprised to see him when he knocked on her window. She
had her cell phone pressed to her ear. She motioned him to the passenger
side of the car while she gathered up the maps she had spread out on the seat.

"That's the most current report...okay," she said into the phone. "Clearing
this morning with sunshine in the afternoon. Back to unseasonably warm
weather into the beginning of next week. Thank you," she said and clicked
off her phone. Agent Williams handed her a cup of steaming coffee. She
looked at him gratefully and managed a tired smile.

"Agent Scully we have a search plane ready to go up around 10:30. Hopefully
the plows can start up the Pass this afternoon. Tomorrow morning at the
latest. We have a dog team ready once the plows have been up and cleared
the pass.''

Scully wiped a tired hand over her face and rubbed her eyes. "You said
10:30?" she said as she looked at her watch. She had three more hours to
wait. Scully would call Skinner during that time and give him her daily
report. It would be nice to give him some good news instead of the usual...
'nothing' no progress." She took a yellow legal pad off the dash and
pulled out one of the maps. Several photos fell out. Scully avoided Agent
Williams' eyes as she quickly picked them up and carefully placed them into
her purse. Agent Williams noticed they were pictures of her and Mulder.

"I've gone, through every written detail, especially the times. I'm sure he
is somewhere on the pass. We canvassed all the surrounding businesses and
residences and no one saw anything to the contrary. I know you know all this
but it helps me to say it out loud, to hear it. The employees from the
convenience store remembered seeing car lights heading up the pass around
8:30. The woman specifically remembered the time because her replacement
was late. She said the other employee was getting ready to go outside to
start clearing snow off the walk. Both commented about the car and wondered
who in their right mind would be trying the pass in this weather. Thought
the driver was a male. Didn't know the make of the vehicle, but remembered
it being green. Both employees thought it was odd that the lights didn't
return. I got my phone call from Mulder around 8:45. 8:49 to be exact. He
told me he was on the pass..." She paused, "but the snow plow operator
didn't see anyone," she said out loud. She looked at Agent Williams,
realizing what she was saying. The logical explanation was the car had gone
off the road.
__________

There were loud noises coming from below him. Hammering. Sawing. He wished
all the noise would stop. Even the hum of the generator hurt his head. He
heard heavy steps moving across the room towards him then felt the blanket
being pulled away from his face. A large hand slipped under his head and
lifted it off the pillow. Mulder tried to fight.

<Don't touch me! Don't!>

He tried to raise his arms, but they fell to the bed useless.A glass was
pressed to his lips. Some of the water made it into his mouth, but most
rolled off his chin, down his neck, onto his chest and the bed.
Someone was sitting beside his bed, talking. At first they were just sounds
making no sense. Finally they became words.

"... the only person that cared about me. He had a ranch out on the east
plains. It was a town with a funny name. Fort something I think. I remember
going with him to the garden every day. He always allowed me to help him.
Never cursing me, never telling me how stupid or clumsy I was, even when I
made mistakes. The first time I saw it. I was scared. So scared I think ...
okay I know. I wet myself. Peed my pants like a little snot-nosed baby. And
even then he didn't get mad. He said it was only a scarecrow. He held me up
so I could touch it and prove that there wasn't nothing to be afraid of.
Said it kept the birds out of the corn. It kept the bad things away. I told
him I had dreams...bad dreams. It made him sad... so sad. l remembered he
even cried. So he helped me make my own scarecrow. A little one made out of
an old clothes pin. You might not believe this, but it helped. It really
helped. I'd set it by my bed and be able to sleep until morning. But then
she took me away and the dreams came back. I never forgot the scarecrows.
You rest." he said patting Mulder's hand. "It's almost time. Just a couple
more days and then it'll be over with. For both of us. No more nightmares.
You'll see."

Mulder heard the man straining up the stairs, time after time. Each trip,
the man's breathing more labored. The door banged open and close. Open and
close, until Mulder thought he would scream.

<IN OR OUT! he heard his father's voice. DAMMIT! IN OR OUT!>
__________

It became a nightly ritual. It was the only way Mulder knew it was night.
That another day was almost over. It really didn't matter to him, he wished
it would all end. The pain was no better. He never imagined a body could
hurt in so many places, especially his fingers. They throbbed until he
thought he was going to be sick. Both arms burned from his wrist to his
elbow, the heat growing with each passing day. He could feel something
sharp sticking out of them. His chest hurt with every breath. A fever had
set in days ago adding to his misery.
He heard a chair being dragged to the side of his bed. It hurt too much to
even open his eyes.

"Here." The man said and slid his hand under Mulder's head raising it off
the pillow. He tipped the glass to his lips.

After Mulder managed to get some of the water down, the man lowered his
head and placed a cold cloth onto his forehead.

"Trust me it's almost over. But you have to listen. I have to finish my
story. Let's see where did I leave off..."

Mulder caught bits and pieces of what the man was saying as he floated in
and out of consciousness.
..... locked in closets overnight while my mother went out. Alone. In the
dark... Beaten until I pissed blood for a week... Beaten... Beaten by
Bob... by Raymond..."

By the endless string of boyfriends his mother brought home on any given
night.
__________

If there had been any other reason for being there in the skies over
Independence Pass, she would have enjoyed the view. She had the binoculars
pressed to her eyes searching for any sign of Mulder. She couldn't believe;
wouldn't believe that he was dead. He was hurt but she knew he was still
alive. He had told her that in her dream. After flying a quick pass over
and finding nothing, they concentrated on the area Scully had marked on the
map. They slowly circled in the sky. On the third pass something caught her
eye. Something flashed in the bright sunlight. She quickly pointed it out
to the pilot.

"Can you get closer?"

He nodded and dropped the plane for a better look.

It was the twisted bumper of a car, half buried in the snow. On the second
pass she could make out the Hertz rental sticker with her binoculars.

Scully lowered the binoculars and turned towards the pilot as her face
slowly drained of color.
__________

Scully was quiet on the short trip back to the Aspen airport, lost in her
thoughts of what she knew to be true versus what she didn't know. Was he in
the car? Was the dream nothing more than that? Had he been killed that night?

Killed. Mulder killed.

Dead. Mulder dead.

She covered her ears with her hands. She refused to believe that her
partner wasn't alive. That was the only way she could continue without
completely losing it. Until she saw his body with her own eyes, only then
would she believe he was gone.

The first snow plows made it up and over the pass that night. A team of
climbers were assembled to be taken to the crash site after lunch the
following day.

They stopped at the motel to pick Scully up. She squeezed into the 4x4,
sandwiched between two tanned, athletically built men. There were a total
of five climbers in the truck. She acknowledged them with a nod of her
head. They all smiled politely then looked away from her. She suspected
they didn't want to reveal through their eyes and faces, that in all
probability they would be pulling the dead body of her partner out of the car.
As they traveled up the pass, the remaining snow on the pavement had turned
to slush. One more pass with the snow plows and the snow storm would be
just a memory.

"Steve it's hotter than hell back here. Give us some air before we all pass
out." The man looked at the other climbers who all nodded in agreement.
Scully didn't respond. Her eyes were closed as she silently counted the
minutes until they reached the crash site. The moment of truth.
__________

Scully peered over the edge. The climbers had reached the car.

"Can you hear me okay?"

"Yes," Scully answered speaking into the headphones.

"Most of the snow has melted away from the windows. Or what's left of them.
A lot of snow in the vehicle... Hang on I'm going to try to do some
digging... CAREFUL! It's starting to slide.... Let's try that again. Be
careful. Use the Poles."

Scully held her breath and closed her eyes.

"No one in the car Agent Scully."

She let out a sigh of relief.

"Wait."

She caught her breath.

"Need to check the trunk."

She waited several long minutes; finally, "Nothing. Only suitcases. I'm
sending them up. "Do you think they could have been thrown from the vehicle?"

"No. Don't see any blood around the windows or windshield. I'm sure there
was no one in the car when it went over the edge."

Scully opened one of Mulder's suitcases. Folded on top was his Knick's
t-shirt. She reached out and touched the cloth. It was cold. Her mind
flashed to him in Seattle, as he jogged up to her red-faced and sweaty
after an early morning run. She remembered remarking that it was time for a
new shirt. Mulder had smiled and shook his head. "Nope. This one has
character. Besides it's just getting worn in." "Worn through," she had
remarked.
She sighed. It seemed like a lifetime ago instead of a mere three weeks.
__________

They had brought the dogs up. Three bloodhounds with their handlers. They
were a search and rescue team from Grand Junction.

"Agent Scully. We need a new scent article. Some piece of clothing with
your partner's scent.

She picked up the t-shirt and held it out. "Is this okay?'.

The lead handler nodded, "Would anyone else have handled this besides you
or Agent Mulder?"

"No."

"We're going to have the dogs smell you first, so they know what scent we
are looking for."
Scully looked dubiously at the dogs. "But he's been gone almost a week.
There's been snow and rain. Won't his scent be washed away?"

"Dogs are amazing animals. Did you know a dog's sense of smell is 100,000
times greater than ours? And for the Bloodhound... Don't let their ugly
exterior fool you." The man shook his head in wonder, "they are designed as
the perfect tracking machine. Those long droopy ears actually cup and trap
the scent bringing it up to the dog's nose. Looks like we've picked up
something here."

All three dogs, after smelling the t-shirt immediately started tracking up
the Pass. Their pace was brisk and confident, signaling a strong scent.
After several miles, the dogs detoured to the side of the pass and paused to
sniff around in a small secluded area.

"It appears as if your partner stopped here.

The dogs took off again moving away from the wall all of the pass.

"The snow plow..." Scully muttered to herself. Unknown to the driver he had
passed within 15 feet of the kidnapped agent.

They continued to travel up the pass. As the afternoon wore on the weather
got hotter and hotter. It was hard to believe that days before there had
been a snowstorm.

"We're going to have to stop. The dogs are getting hot. Time to take a
break. Can't believe they got much further than this in that weather, but
it looks like the dogs still want to go on. Scully looked impatient. It was
hard not to push. She felt time slipping away.

After a thirty minute break they continued on, tracking until the sun began
to go down. The dogs crossed to the edge of the pass and stopped in unison.
They stood frozen, side-by-side, then one by one, each dog let out one of
the most mournful sounds Scully had ever heard. Their cries almost sounded
human.

"What are they doing?"

All three handlers suddenly looked uncomfortable, "They're alerting The
lead handler said then paused," All three of these dogs are trained for
cadaver detection." The man swallowed hard, "There's something dead down
there."

"But. ..but it could be an animal. Couldn't it just be a dead animal?,"
Scully stammered. Her eyes pleading.

"No. These dogs are specifically trained to disregard animals. It
definitely human... and it's definitely not alive."

"I'm sorry Agent Scully but we're losing our light. We will have to come
back first thing in the morning and try to get down the side of the
mountain. It's too wet and dangerous without the proper equipment."
__________

He heard the dogs. He knew they were near and he was running out of time.
The only thing he had left to do was to get Mulder ready.

"You're going to have to try and help." he said as he urgently pulled
Mulder up to a sitting position by one arm.

"We don't have much time. They'll be here soon. I only have one chance to
get this right." The man had managed to get most of Mulder's clothes on
while he lay unconscious but he needed his help with the rest. With one
hand he held Mulder upright and with the other he slapped Mulder on his
cheek. Mulder's eyes slowly started to open. He began to list to one side
as he tried to lay back down to get away from the pain. The man jerked him
up causing Mulder's eyes to snap open. He yelped in pain. He tried to move
his hands up to push the man away. They floated harmlessly in front of the
man, he had no strength. Being forced to sit made the pain unbearable. The
room was spinning, faster and faster while bright lights flashed in front
of his eyes. The man continued to struggle as he tried to dress Mulder.
Mulder resisted.

"Stop.. .it hurts," Mulder panted. Fevered eyes pleaded with the man to stop.

"Don't you understand," The man was getting angry and frustrated with
Mulder. "Don't you want this all to end? For once and for all? Peace...I'm
talking about eternal peace."

The man had half of Mulder's shirt on. He roughly pulled up the left sleeve
catching the crude splint that covered Mulder's two broken fingers on the
cuff and pushed them back. Mulder didn't even have time to scream, he just
passed out, slumping forward over the man's shoulder. The man pushed him
back onto the bed and finished buttoning his shirt. He fingered one of the
blood stains on his shirt. He had cleaned his clothes as best as he could.
He tried to retie his tie but gave up and threw it angrily aside. "Ugly ass
tie anyway." He put Mulder's jacket on. It was time to go. He lifted Mulder
up and placed him over a shoulder, surprised how light Mulder felt. With
his free hand he picked up Mulder's overcoat and walked out the door.

It was probably best that Mulder was still unconscious. He didn't think
Mulder would understand or appreciate that this part needed to be done. It
was the final and most important piece. He opened Mulder's shirt and pants
and started stuffing straw into them. When he was done he retightened his
belt then wound the wire around his chest and the cross and pulled it
tight. He lifted Mulder's head and placed the burlap bag over it and tied
it around his neck with another piece of wire. He bound his feet and hands
and secured them to the cross then draped the overcoat over Mulder's
shoulders and buttoned the top button, then tipped the cross up. It hung
like a cape. Just the effect he wanted. To the bottom of the cross he
nailed Mulder's ID, driver's license and other items he found in Mulder's
wallet. A picture of a little girl with long dark braids and a picture of
his partner. From far off he heard them coming, but he knew they would be
too late.
__________

Before he was fully conscious, Mulder knew he had a decision to make. One
easy. One hard. Either one could end in the same result. But he wanted it
to be his choice. It would be so easy to just let go, to free himself from
the relentless pain. The hard one was to hang on and fight with every ounce
of strength he had left. Before he had wanted to die; screamed to die. But
now standing on the threshold of it, teetering between life and death, he
looked at it from a different perspective. He never had chosen the easy
path. His instinct to survive was great. His will stronger than most.

At first he wasn't sure whether he was conscious or not. He was surrounded
by darkness. His long lashes brushed against the fabric of the hood and he
knew he was awake. There was pain, so much pain. And the heat, that
incredible suffocating heat. He was having a hard time breathing. The man
knew Mulder had come to as he heard him start to struggle.

Mulder heard a voice from below him plead. "Stop. Save your strength for me."

The man watched the front of the hood suck in and out as Mulder tried to
get air. Every breath drew bits of straw into Mulder's mouth making it more
and more difficult for him to breathe. Mulder fought to calm himself. He
was wasting what valuable air he had. He felt something crawl through the
straw across his face. It was an insect. Suddenly he had the sensation of
them crawling all over his body. What control he managed to gather quickly
evaporated into fear and revulsion. He knew he was losing it. He
desperately fought and strained against the wire trying to free himself. As
he pulled the wire cut deeper and deeper into his already injured wrists.
As the wounds reopened, Mulder could feel the blood start to run down his
arms. The sharp ends of the straw scratched and cut his battered and tender
flesh.

Mulder smelled death all around him. He heard the insects. Maybe it was
nature's way of telling him that it was over. There was a break in the
darkness as the hood shifted revealing a small tear in the fabric. With one
eye he peered out at the corpses. He knew in a few minutes he would be
joining the rotting bodies that surrounded him. Rotting flesh covered with
insects, for eternity. He felt what sanity he had left start to slip away.
He made one last frantic search to try to find his safe place, to save the
bit of sanity and life he clung to, but he knew it was futile.
He began banging his head against the cross in anger, frustration and fear.

"Don't fight it," he heard a voice say, "It's time. See you soon." He heard
the gunshot and the sound of someone falling to the ground.

Mulder continued to struggle until the suffocating darkness began to
overwhelm him. His mind flashed to when he was a young boy. He was
underwater, drowning. He remembered the angry words that followed him to
the bottom of the pool as he slowly sank.

"If you think I'm going to jump in and save you...

His father's words.

He closed his eyes. First letting go of his sanity and then his life. His
last thought was wondering if his father would be there. He hoped not.
__________

"Oh my God... Do you smell that. What in the hell is it?"

At first the odor had been faint until suddenly, it struck them like a
wave. Everyone quickly pressed a hand over their noses and mouths. Some
drew out bandanas and handkerchiefs and tied them over their faces.

The sound was becoming deafening. The constant, monotonous buzzing of
thousands of flies. The smell was overwhelming. As Scully quickly and
urgently moved through the trees shoulder to shoulder with the other
officers, the terrain suddenly cleared. Everyone stopped in unison, frozen
by the sight. Bodies were everywhere. Some hung from the trees like sick
Christmas ornaments. Others were stuck in the ground on crosses, displayed
as casually as someone's pink lawn flamingos. All were dressed as
scarecrows. Burlap sacks over their heads with crude cartoonish faces
painted on them. The victim's clothes were stuffed with straw, emphasizing
their already bloated bodies. Some bodies had been decimated by animals,
limbs missing, clothes shredded. In front of the human bodies, placed in a
protective semi-circle, were the carcasses and skeletal remains of dogs.
Looked like German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Dobermans. All guard type
breeds.

"I..." one of the officers started, then turned towards Scully speechless.

"Hurry. We have to find him. Don't touch the bodies without using your
gloves," Scully pleaded
urging the officers into action.

She scrambled from body to body. Concentrating on the ones that looked
fresh. The ones with the most insects hovering around them, with the least
tattered clothes and fresher stains. From her left came the loud retort of
a single gunshot. It vibrated through the trees. She froze, then quickly
raced towards the sound.

Scully saw it and knew it was him. His overcoat had been buttoned with only
the top button. It had been draped over his shoulders like a cape rather
than a coat. Like the others, a burlap bag covered his face. Straw poked
out from under it. His head, tilted to one side. A man's body was crumbled
by the base of the cross. Blood ran out of the fresh gunshot wound to his
temple. The gun in his limp dead hand.

"MULDER!" She screamed. "HERE! OVER HERE! I NEED HELP!"

She was breathing hard as she pulled the man away from Mulder. Scully tore
frantically at the wire that bound his feet.

"Mulder I'm here. Hang on."

She freed his feet just as several officers ran up. They pulled Mulder and
the cross to the ground. As they worked on freeing his hands, Scully untied
the wire then ripped the hood off and cleared the straw away from his face.
She gasped when she saw his battered face. He was barely recognizable as
her partner. His eyes were closed. A faint blue tinge colored his cut and
swollen lips. Once the officers had removed the wire around his chest she
tore open his shirt, throwing handfuls of straw aside. Scully placed an
ear to his chest. Nothing. Scully opened his mouth and with a finger
cleared the debris from it. She bent her head close and pressed an ear
close to his nose and mouth trying to locate any signs of breathing, of
life. There was no pulse. Tears streamed down her face.

"Dammit! Breathe Mulder, Breathe!"

Scully pinched Mulder's nose shut, and drawing in a deep breath, sealed her
lips around his and blew. One of the officers knelt beside Mulder and
began chest compressions while Scully continued mouth- to-mouth resuscitation.

The officer counted out every compression. "One!. Two!.. Three!. Four!...
Five!.. Blow!"

They worked feverishly on him.

"Paramedics are on their way up Agent Scully." Another officer announced.

She nodded quickly.

Two medics broke through the trees running as hard as they could with the
weight and awkwardness of the gurney. They quickly knelt beside Mulder.
Scully reluctantly let them take over. She watched them work. Her eyes were
wide, arms hugging herself tight as she rocked back and forth. Tears
continued to roll off her face leaving clean paths through the dirt. She
was too afraid to close her eyes to pray.

"Got it," One of the paramedics said triumphantly. "Let's get him out of
here."

Scully took her place beside the gurney as they hurried to the waiting
ambulance. She cast one final glance at the bodies and shuddered.

Mulder's eyes blinked open.

Scully quickly leaned forward and laid a hand on his arm.

Gently, "Mulder. Mulder. It's me."

His eyes looked past her unseeing. Vacant. Lost. There wasn't a hint
recognition.
 
 

=================================
 
 

SCARECROWS (part 3)

"Oh, God." she cried out.

Both paramedics looked quickly up at her, then back to Mulder who was starting to struggle.
They didn't have time to question her on what she had seen.

Scully had seen a similar look during the Mostow case. Mulder had completely immersed
himself in it, until Killer and Mulder had become one. She knew she had come close to losing
him. She had hoped it was her presence that had managed to hold his head " above water" so he
hadn't gone completely under. But this time he had been gone almost a week. Alone, without
her.

"Once we have him stabilized , we have a chopper ready to airlift to Denver."

Mulder grew still and then suddenly exploded as one of the paramedics tried to fit the oxygen
mask over his face. He fought to get away from it as he struggled to an upright position. His
mouth hung open as he gulped in air. As the paramedics forced him back down Mulder began
to scream.

"NO!NO!NO!NO!" His words ran together into one long, frantic cry.

The paramedics refitted the mask over his mouth and nose, muffling his cries under the mask.
He still fought, as he threw his head violently up and down, side to side, as he desperately tried
to rub it off. His eyes were dark and wild. Scully moved toward his head and stroked his face.
He fought her touch as hard as he fought the mask.

"Mulder, stop. Please stop," she pleaded.

Scully was frightened. She was not getting through to him. She continued to talk and touch
him.

One of the paramedics turned to Scully. "We're going to have to knock him out."

She didn't want him going under alone. She wanted Mulder to know and understand she was
there before he entered the darkness.

________________________

An Airlife helicopter was waiting at the Aspen Airport to fly Mulder to Denver. It was a big red
and white Bell LongRanger III. The paramedics quickly and expertly moved Mulder from the
ambulance into the helicopter, securing him into a separate cockpit reserved and designed for
patients. Scully waited anxiously outside the helicopter door, ready to enter and accompany
Mulder to Denver.

"Agent Scully," one of the paramedics screamed over the roar of the engine and rotors. "We
don't have room for you. We're taking another paramedic and flight nurse on board. We need
someone to monitor his vitals while we get him cleaned up and can better evaluate the extent of
his injuries so University Hospital knows what we are dealing with when we arrive."

He pointed behind her. "We have a Cessna fueling up right now to take you. With a speed of
120 miles per hour we're looking at ETA in an hour and a half. With a good tail wind... less."

Scully reluctantly stepped back away from the helicopter and watched it lift into the skies, then
disappear. She heard someone calling her name. A man was motioning her to the Cessna. It
was ready.

________________________

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Denver
Scully sat watching the door. Waiting. He was already in surgery when she arrived. On the
flight to Denver, massive amounts of fluids and antibiotics had been pumped into him. Several
of the long cuts on his arms were red with infection. Two fingers on his left hand were badly
broken. He had contusions over most of his body.

She called Skinner telling him Mulder had been found... alive. She would give him a progress
report once he was out of surgery and she had the opportunity to speak to the attending
physician.

________________________

Scully felt a hand gently shaking her. A doctor dressed in surgical scrubs stood over her.

"Agent Scully?"

She sat up quickly. "Mulder?" Her eyes searched his face for any sign of bad news. The doctor
slid in next to her.

"I'm Dr. Maifeld. I understand you are a doctor."

Scully nodded impatiently. "My partner..."

"We have Agent Mulder in ICU. He appears to be resting as comfortably as can be expected.
He is under heavy sedation. He seems to be a bit delusional. I'm not sure if it was caused by the
severe dehydration, substantial head injuries or a combination of both."

"Delusional? How so?"

"He doesn't appear to know who he is or who we are. He doesn't recognize us as doctors. He
truly believes we are trying to kill him. Judging from the extent of his injuries..." The doctor
slowly shook his head. "I don't know what happened to him or who caused these injuries. It's
obvious that they were done intentionally."

Scully closed her eyes then slowly reopened them, "Can I see him now?"

"He won't be conscious but you're more than welcome to see him." He looked down at her dirty
clothes. "Gloved and gowned, of course. If you like I'm sure we could find a pair of scrubs
your size. We've started him on some oxygen therapy, too. It looks like he aspirated some type
of foreign object."

"Straw," Scully said.

"Straw? Really? We'll keep a close watch on that so it doesn't progress into full-blow