Blood Ties III: A Nice Trip to the Forest (5 of 8)
(Blood Ties Series)
By Dawn


Nantahala National Forest
Monday
12:02 a.m.


She never could say exactly what prompted her to wake up. Later, when
events had played themselves out and she had time for reflection, Scully
attempted to discern just what yanked her from a deep sleep to total
consciousness with the force of a slap. Her scientist's mind could evoke
no logical explanation. Which left the slightly preposterous, definitely
embarrassing, but probably accurate answer. Something tripped her Mulder
Panic Button -- the small, insistent voice in her head that warned her
every time he was in danger.

Scully woke sitting bolt upright in her sleeping bag, eyes roaming the
camp while her hand slipped unerringly around her gun. She suffered none
of the typical side effects of waking abruptly -- her thoughts were
clear and her senses sharply attuned for any indication of trouble. Grey
was sleeping soundly a few feet away, and the night was still save for
the soft crackling and popping of the fire. Her gaze tracked past the
flames and she stiffened, unwilling to accept the empty space beside
Mulder's backpack. Her partner was nowhere in sight.

"Grey, wake up! Trouble," she hissed, on her feet and over to the pack
before the words had left her lips.

Grey was at her side just seconds later, his own weapon ready. "Where's
Fox?"

"Gone. I don't know where or how long." Scully's words were clipped,
both to economize on speech and to hide the tremor lurking just beneath
the surface.

"Hang on a moment." He moved quickly to his own pack and returned with a
large halogen flashlight that he methodically panned across the ground.

Scully watched him a moment before kneeling down and placing her left
hand on the slippery nylon. "It's still warm. He's only been gone for a
few minutes."

Grey cursed softly. "I don't see any tracks -- other than our own,
anyway. How can that be?"

Scully frowned. "Bring that over here and see if you can find Mulder's
footprints. The ground is pretty soft and we might just be able to
follow his movements."

Grey complied, his own brow furrowed with confusion. "Why would he..."
He suddenly stopped speaking and Scully looked up questioningly.

"What?"

The hand gripping the flashlight dropped uselessly to Grey's side and he
raised horrified eyes to hers. "How could we be so *stupid*? We just
assumed this thing came into Patel's camp and took him. What if it
didn't need to? Fox said Patel had been exposed to some form of
hypnosis. What if this creature doesn't hunt in the classic sense? What
if it uses some kind of mind control to *call* the victim to itself?"

Scully stared at him for only a moment before her mouth flattened into a
grim line of determination. "Then we don't have much time. Find Mulder's
tracks. *Now*."

After several frustrating attempts Grey locked onto the correct set of
footprints and traced them until they disappeared into the trees. He
pulled up suddenly so that Scully, hot on his heels, nearly collided
with him.

"Why are you stopping?"

"I just want you to understand that it's risky to follow the trail off
the path like this. Putting aside the fact that we have no idea where
this thing is right now, if we're not very careful we could blunder
right off the side of a cliff in the dark," he warned.

Scully saw that his disclaimer was for her own benefit. Grey's body
fairly twitched with the need to keep moving. The Mulder warning voice
in her own head had risen from a murmur to a shriek, and she set her jaw
stubbornly.

"If you can risk it, then so can I. Cut the chivalrous bullshit and stop
wasting time," she growled.

Grey's mouth dropped open but he recovered enough to press a compass
into her hand. "Keep track of the direction or we'll still be wandering
these woods long after Fox's little gray men have come and gone." He
walked slowly into the trees, the flashlight carefully sweeping the
ground. Tightening fingers around her weapon, Scully shadowed him.

Whether by divine intervention or just plain luck, the terrain was level
and the groundcover a mixture of plants that had flattened with Mulder's
passage and not yet sprung back. Darkness quickly swallowed both the
cheery glow from the fire and Scully's forced bravado. She couldn't help
feeling that invisible eyes categorized her every move, and each soft
rustle of leaves or snap of a twig stretched her nerves closer to the
breaking point.

Grey moved quickly and quietly, following the meager trail with uncanny
precision. Scully realized for the first time that he was good at this
-- good enough that he'd probably had some formal survival training.
Making a mental note to ask him about it later, she gratefully followed
his lead.

This time when he pulled up short she was watching. He trained the light
on a large area of trampled foliage, kneeling down for a closer look. As
Scully crouched beside him her eye lit on a leaf mottled with several
dark spots. Catching her lip between her teeth she gingerly swiped the
surface with her index finger. From the corner of his eye, Grey caught
the motion and turned the light in her direction. The sudden
illumination transformed the substance that stuck to her finger from
black to crimson.

"Whatever it is took him down here," Grey said sotto voice. "There's
clear indication in the tracks that it's dragging him from this point."

Scully opened her mouth to reply but a low moan interrupted her. She and
Grey sprang to their feet as the sound of something crashing through the
undergrowth erupted to their left. Throwing their previous caution to
the wind, both began running in the direction of the noise. Tree
branches snagged Scully's hair and roots clutched at her ankles but she
plowed on. Grey's longer legs covered twice as much ground, but he
checked his speed so that she would not be left stumbling in darkness.

She was concentrating so hard on not tripping that the gunshot nearly
caused her heart to burst from her chest. The inhuman howl that followed
made her entire body break out in gooseflesh and sent a shiver
scampering up her spine. Grey fired a second time, then put on a quick
burst of speed that finally did leave Scully alone in near total
darkness. Before she could call out in protest, she saw the bobbling of
his flashlight stop.

"Dana, over here!" he called, swinging the light back and forth to
signal his location.

A small tree branch nearly sent Scully sprawling but she persisted,
swearing softly but moving as rapidly as possible. When finally close
enough to see that Grey was cradling Mulder's limp form in his arms, she
let out a breath of air she hadn't even realized she'd been holding.

"He's out cold," Grey said worriedly as she kneeled down. "And his skin
feels kind of cool."

"He's in shock. There's no telling how much blood he's lost," Scully
murmured, tipping Mulder's head back gently to expose his throat.

Grey winced at the two ragged wounds, still bleeding slightly. He
watched as Scully laid two fingers against the pulse point, then
appropriated the flashlight and peeled back an eyelid. Even he could see
that Mulder's pupils were abnormally dilated.

"He's been drugged -- pretty heavily by the looks of it," she observed.
Casting an uneasy glance over her shoulder she stood. "His pulse is a
little weak and thready but I think we'd better get him back to camp
before I check him further. We're too vulnerable here, and there's no
telling if it will come back."

"I think I shot it," Grey said, swallowing hard. "Dana, I...I caught a
glimpse of it before it ran off. It looked a little like a wolf,
definitely canine in nature. But it was huge -- easily the size of a
small pony."

"All the more reason to get out of here right now," Scully replied,
forcing down the fear that his words inspired. "A wounded animal is
twice as deadly. Can you carry him?"

"I can if I put him in a fireman's carry. Will that hurt him?"

Scully shrugged. "I don't see that we have much choice. At least he
won't feel it."

They slowly retraced their steps to the camp, this time with Scully
leading the way and Grey following, his brother slung over his shoulder
like a rag doll. She could hear him panting and muttering that Mulder
was a lot heavier than he looked. The return trip felt much longer, and
though she had used the compass diligently, Scully nearly sobbed with
relief when the dim light from the embers of their fire spilled through
the trees.

Grey lowered Mulder onto his sleeping bag and slipped a rolled towel
beneath his head while Scully rummaged through her pack. She removed a
small, zippered bag from which she extracted a stethoscope and a
penlight. Grey's mouth dropped open and his eyebrows shot up his
forehead.

"You always carry that with you when you go camping? Most people settle
for a few Band-Aids and some Bactine."

Scully rolled her eyes, slipping the prongs into her ears. "Not if I was
with my family. But this is Mulder we're talking about. He's not exactly
the picture of a rugged outdoorsman. And he has a penchant for getting
hurt."

"Based on what you've told me about your past 'adventures,' I'd say
that's true enough," Grey admitted, watching as she opened Mulder's
jacket and laid the end of the stethoscope on his chest. "What *is* it
with him, anyway? From the little I've heard about your past cases, he
seems to get injured a lot."

Scully didn't answer as she pressed the instrument to various spots,
frowning slightly in concentration. "Help me sit him up, I need to reach
his back."

Grey obediently hauled his brother up and cradled him against his
shoulder as Scully repeated the process across his back. She removed the
stethoscope and draped it around her neck, nodding to Grey that he could
put Mulder down. Once he was settled, she used the penlight to check
both pupils, then ran her hands over Mulder's entire body from head to
toe, feeling for broken bones or other injuries.

"He's got a pretty good bump on the head, probably from being dragged
through the woods. I'm sure there are bruises, too, but I think its more
important to keep him covered and warm right now than to check. I doubt
the bump is severe enough for a concussion, but his eyes are so dilated
from the narcotic in his system that I can't be sure. I'll know more
when he wakes up." The dispassionate doctor's assessment was betrayed
only by the emotion in her eyes when she looked down at her partner.

"You didn't answer my question," Grey prodded as she began to clean and
bandage the puncture wounds.

Scully sighed heavily and looked up into his intense gaze. That look
threw her for a moment, so like Mulder on the scent of the truth. "No. I
guess I didn't. What are you *really* asking me, Grey?"

Grey's gaze wandered to his brother, then jumped back to Scully. "I
suppose I want to know if he's reckless. If there's a reason, other than
the nature of your work, that he winds up in the hospital so often. If
there's a problem I should know about."

Scully applied the last piece of tape and brushed Mulder's hair back
from his pale brow. "It is the nature of our work, Grey. What we've
seen, well..." she chuckled softly and her hand made a sweeping motion
to encompass the woods around them. Understanding, Grey grinned
ruefully.

Scully's hint of a smile faded. "But you're right, it's more than that.
Mulder has a passion for the truth, for finding the answers. At times
that passion exists at the exclusion of all else. I can say without any
doubt in my mind that he would never put me or anyone else in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, that care doesn't always extend to himself. You and I
both know that your father left Mulder with a very limited sense of
self-worth."

Grey's face darkened. "He wasn't *my* father, Dana. I only wish Fox had
been as lucky."

As if on cue, Mulder made small sound in his throat and moved his head.
His eyes fluttered several moments before finally opening. When he saw
Scully a large, goofy grin spread over his features. "Hey, Scully. Are
you dead too?"

It was the last thing she'd expected, and Scully couldn't stop the huge
grin that spread across her face. At her side, Grey openly snickered.

"You aren't dead, Mulder. You're safe now," she assured him.

Mulder struggled to sit up, but his movements were clumsy and
uncoordinated. "Nope. Can't fool me," he slurred. "I saw that thing that
bit me. Biiiig sharp teeth. No way I could be feelin' this good right
now 'less I'm dead."

Scully pushed him gently back down with a well-placed hand to the middle
of his chest, still grinning in spite of her efforts to look serious.
"Lay down, Mulder. You only feel good because you're completely stoned.
Trust me, when it wears off you'll wish you *had* died."

Mulder licked his lips. "'M thirsty. Got any water 'round here? My
Scully always gets me water when I wake up."

Scully cast Grey a longsuffering look, but her lips quirked with
repressed laughter. She'd seen Mulder on painkillers so heavy that he'd
made little sense, but never flying high like this. She had to admit he
was adorable. "Watch him. I'll get him a drink."

She stood up and moved over to find the canteen and a cup. Mulder's eyes
tracked her movements for only a moment before flitting around the camp
and then landing on Grey. He smiled delightedly. "Hey, Grey! You're
here, too?"

Grey schooled his features to a serious expression. "Last time I
checked."

"Good. Then maybe you can tell me who tha' was tha' jus' left to gimme a
drink," Mulder said cupping one hand around his mouth as if to muffle
his words. He obviously didn't realize that he'd spoken in a normal tone
of voice easily heard by Scully.

Grey looked baffled. "That's Scully, Fox. You know, your partner and
best friend?"

To his amusement Mulder shook his head vehemently, laying a finger over
his lips and beckoning furiously for him to bend closer. "Tha's not *my*
Scully. Scully doesn't ever smile real big like that. Scully smiles
little tiny smiles or she rolls her eyes an' bites her lip like this (he
performed an exaggerated demonstration that nearly sent Grey into
hysterics) so I won't see her smile. Scully only smiled really big like
that when I almost died in Alaska. Tha's how I know I mus' be dead right
now or she wouldn't look like that. Tha's the game we play, see? I say
things to make her laugh an' she acts like they aren't funny. If she
smiles that little tiny smile then I win."

"Well, if that's not Scully, who is it?" Grey asked, playing along.

Scully returned with the water and slipped one hand under Mulder's head
for support, holding the cup with the other. "Stop it," she admonished
Grey sternly, but her eyes twinkled.

Mulder finished drinking and let his head drop back to gaze dreamily up
at her. "Don't know. She's jus' as beautiful as my Scully, though. And
that's saying somethin'." His head lolled to the side so that he could
see Grey. "Did you ever notice how beautiful my Scully is? You must've.
I've seen how you smile at her. Makes me crazy."

The hand with the cup froze in mid-air and Scully's cheeks flushed pink.
Grey, wickedly thinking to himself that this opportunity was way too
good to pass up, pasted an innocent look on his face.

"Sure, I've noticed. I just didn't realize *you* had."

"Grey!" The twinkle was gone from Scully's eyes and they now looked as
though they might melt steel.

"Oh, I notice all right," Mulder babbled on, oblivious. "How could I
work with her for six years an' not notice?  I knew she was beautiful
waaaay 'fore I knew I loved her." He stopped abruptly and clapped one
hand over his mouth, eyes darting nervously around the camp before
returning to Grey. "Oops. Good thing she's not here. I can't ever let my
Scully know *that*."

Scully had gone very still at her partner's words, eyes glistening and
all traces of her anger evaporated. She slowly set the cup down on the
ground and pressed the knuckles of one hand to her lips, staring into
his face. Mulder smiled dopily back at her. To Grey's astonishment, this
time Scully encouraged Mulder's rambling.

"Why not, Mulder? Why can't you tell Scully?" she asked.

Mulder's expression turned mournful. The swift and drastic change in
emotion would almost have been comical under different circumstances. As
it was, his sadness tore at Scully's heart. Mulder normally guarded his
feelings, revealing only what he thought fit for public consumption. As
his best friend she'd had a few rare glimpses into his complicated
psyche, but he'd never been so openly exposed and vulnerable.

"Tried to tell her -- twice. First time the damn bee got in the way an'
the second time she jus' rolled her eyes 'cause she thought I was
hallu...hallcin...drugged." He scrubbed at his eyes with the heels of
his hands. "'S for the best. Even if she loved me back -- an' I don't
see why she would -- she deserves better 'n me. All the bad things in
her life've come from me. Her brother was right -- 'm one sorry
sonuvabitch."

Scully tore her eyes away from Mulder's to stare into the velvet
blackness beyond the fire, blinking rapidly. Mulder yawned hugely and
his eyes lost focus as the lids drooped. Unwilling to let him quit on
that note, Grey leaned closer and brushed the backs of his fingers
across his brother's cheek. His gesture had the desired effect and
Mulder's eyes popped back open, though they remained glassy.

"What *would* you tell Scully if you could, Fox?" he coaxed.

Scully's gaze darted to Grey's face and her brow contracted but she
didn't speak. Mulder's mood executed another 180-degree turn at
breakneck speed and the goofy grin was back.

"That she's my soul," he murmured. "That I'm a better person 'cause of
her. Some mornings seein' her face's the only thing that gets me out of
bed, an' makin' her smile's the only truth I need. I dunno where I end
an' she begins anymore, an' I don't want to. She's *everything* to me."

A tear slipped down Scully's cheek, but she smiled and leaned over to
plant a kiss on his forehead. "Go to sleep now, Mulder," she whispered.
"Your Scully will be here when you wake up."

His eyes, already at half-mast, drifted shut. Scully watched him for a
moment, trying to inject some order into the chaos of her thoughts. Grey
reached over to tuck the sleeping bag more tightly around his brother's
shoulders, drawing her attention outward once more.

"I feel like we just took advantage of him," she said, her voice equal
parts irritation, guilt, and tenderness. "He never would have said those
things if he'd been straight."

Grey nodded slowly. "You're right. But I'm glad that he did. Dana, I've
never seen two people more suited to be together yet determined to stay
apart. I only had Kate five years, but they were the best five years of
my life. I've said it to Fox, and now I'm saying it to you, don't waste
a minute. Life is too precious, and too fragile."

He stood and stretched, groaning in satisfaction when his back made a
cracking sound. "Now, I think I'll get down off my soap box and get some
rest -- that is, unless you'd like me to take the next watch? I really
don't think that thing will be back tonight, and if we don't get some
sleep we'll be in bad shape."

Scully shook her head, lips curved. "I couldn't sleep yet. I want to
keep an eye on Mulder for a while. Besides, I've been given a lot to
think about."

Grey grinned. "It's about time, darlin'," he said with a pronounced
drawl. "It's about time."


Continued in part 6

Blood Ties III: A Nice Trip to the Forest (6 of 8)
By Dawn


Nantahala National Forest
Monday
10:27 a.m.


Someone was playing a drum solo in his head, his body felt like he'd
gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson, and his mouth tasted like the inside of
a running shoe. But far worse than these physical torments was a hazy
memory of spilling his guts in a lovesick confession to Scully. In front
of Grey. Mulder moaned and tried to bury his face in the sleeping bag.

"Coffee?"

Just a hint of amusement colored her voice, moderated by a liberal
amount of compassion. Mulder warily cracked open one eye, hissing when a
shaft of sunlight turned the drum solo into a percussion ensemble. He
pushed himself upright with rubbery arms and for a moment bright spots
danced across his vision and his stomach rolled over. Then a soft hand
cupped his neck and something solid was slipped behind his back,
supporting him. With a small grunt of gratitude he accepted the steaming
cup and two Tylenol that were placed into his hands.

"Take it slow," Scully advised, letting her hand linger a moment before
sitting back to regard him intently. "You lost an undetermined amount of
blood last night so you're going to feel pretty weak. Coffee isn't
exactly the best thing for you right now, but I don't have a lot to work
with."

When she mentioned losing blood Mulder's empty hand had flown to his
throat. Now he fingered the bandage as he took a long sip of the hot
liquid.

"So it really did happen," he murmured, his voice sounding raspy and
thin. "It all seems like a really weird dream. I've got the mother of
all hangovers." His eyes connected with Scully's only briefly before
shying away to take in the camp. "Where's Grey?"

Scully chose to ignore his obvious unease -- at least for the moment.
"Retracing the tracks to where we found you last night. He's convinced
he shot the creature and he's searching to see if it left a trail of
blood."

Mulder frowned, putting down the cup and massaging his temples. "You let
him go out there *by himself*? What if..."

Scully's lips pressed tightly together and her brow furrowed. "LET?
You're kidding, right? The only way I could have stopped him was to use
my gun and I think that takes the concept of 'keeping it in the family'
a little too far. He's just as hardheaded as *you,* Mulder. He's
convinced the creature only hunts at night and at least he took his
gun."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Mulder said, raising his hands palm out. "I
didn't mean to snap like that. My head hurts and I feel lousy. I'm sorry
for taking it out on you."

Scully watched as he managed to deliver his apology without ever looking
at her. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed inwardly. *You can't
pretend it didn't happen and hope I'll forget, Mulder. Not this time.*

"You're feeling the effects of more than just the blood loss," she said
aloud. "That thing had you heavily drugged, Mulder. When you're that
high, crashing is inevitable but never pleasant."

Mulder swallowed hard, his fingers playing restlessly with the zipper on
his sleeping bag. Scully knew he remembered his drunken declaration and
was terrified by it. The rules of the complicated game they'd been
playing for the last six years dictated that she should ignore the
tension that thrummed between them, pretending nothing had happened.
There were plenty of precedents for this approach, the most recent
involving an aborted kiss in the hallway outside his apartment. She'd
played by the rules that time, never mentioning the near miss or the
feelings behind it. She'd ignored the fact that the man had gone to the
ends of the earth for her, disregarding his own injury until he'd
eventually collapsed. They were partners, after all, and partners did
that sort of thing for one another. It came with the territory. Yeah,
right.

Well, frankly, she'd tired of the game. In the wee hours of the morning,
gazing at his sleeping face bathed in the glow of the fire, she'd come
to a decision. Come hell or high water, the Consortium or little gray
men, this time she wasn't backing down. He'd confessed his feelings for
her, albeit with some unforeseen assistance. Now, it was her turn to
come clean.

She cleared her throat. "Mulder. About last night..."

The look on his face was priceless. She'd watched him face down vampires
and sea monsters and never look that petrified.

"I know, Scully, and I'm sorry. I was so stoned I didn't know where I
was or what I was saying. Let's just pretend it never happened, okay?"
The words tumbled from his lips like rocks rolling downhill, faster and
faster until they hit a pleading note at the end. His one attempt to
meet her eyes failed miserably and he wound up staring at her feet
instead.

Scully, who had been lounging against a stump until this point, leaned
forward and slid her hand over his own, stilling its endless toying with
the zipper. For just an instant she reexamined her decision and
contemplated letting him off the hook. But the memory of his face as he
admitted his feelings flashed before her eyes, strengthening her
resolve.

"Are you trying to tell me you didn't mean what you said, Mulder?" she
asked quietly, allowing just the barest trace of hurt to enter her
voice. "Are you saying it wasn't true?"

Her normally suave, oh-so-self-assured partner actually stammered.

"No! I mean, not exactly. What I said was true, I just... Sculleee!"

She looked at him, cheeks flushed and chewing nervously at that bottom
lip, and decided it was time to put him out of his misery. At least, she
hoped that's the effect she'd achieve.

"You're everything to me, too, Mulder."

His eyes, which had been studying a small rock with the intensity of a
seasoned geologist, flew up to lock onto her own for the first time all
morning. She met them calmly, willingly opening herself to him and
revealing all the emotions she'd carefully kept hidden. Mulder's widened
in shock as realization set in, then flooded with tears. He ducked his
head in a futile attempt to conceal them.

"You started as a stranger, Mulder. Someone I'd only heard about from
others who didn't really know you either. That night in your motel room
you shared your quest with me and became my partner. When they tried to
split us up I realized you were my friend -- my best friend. Now I can't
imagine my life without you in it. You think you've brought me only
pain, but you're wrong. You've taught me, challenged me, and never let
me fall. You haven't been just my partner or my friend for a long time
now, and I'm tired of pretending otherwise. I love you, Mulder." 

Mulder swiped at his damp eyes with his sleeve before looking up to
reveal a face that somehow managed to blend joy with sorrow. He threaded
her fingers with his own and pressed them to his lips.

"I love you too, Scully. More than I would ever have thought possible. I
just don't think I'm good for you."

Scully smiled -- the kind of smile Mulder seemed to think was reserved
for near-death experiences. "I'm a big girl, Mulder. I think I can
decide that for myself."

"Our enemies..."

"Our enemies are going to be there whether we take this step or not.
They've never hesitated to use us against each other in the past. This
won't change anything. I'm tired of fighting the future, Mulder. I want
something *now,* something of our own that they have no part in." Her
voice trembled with the strength of her longing, eyes glistening.

His reply was little more than a whisper. "I want it, too."

Her hand moved up to cup his cheek, thumb stroking the rough stubble. He
responded by bracketing her face between his palms, drawing closer until
she could feel the feather soft caress of his breath on her lips. She
let her eyes slip shut, anticipating his kiss, but he abruptly froze and
pulled back slightly. Her eyes popped open, brow contracting in
irritation when she saw his eyes scanning their campsite and the
surrounding forest.

"Mulder!" she said sharply. "What are you doing?"

"Any beehives around here?" he asked, one eyebrow cocked and mischief in
his gaze.

"No."

"Poisonous snakes?"

"NO!"

"Man-eating grizzlies?"

"Mulderrrr!"

His mouth descended on hers while she was still growling his name. Shy
and somewhat tentative, it was a simple brush of his lips across her own
before he drew back and regarded her solemnly. She licked her lips and
felt a shiver of delight when his eyes darkened and his breathing
quickened. Grinning impishly, she slipped her hand from his cheek to the
back of his neck and pulled him forward until their lips met again.

There was nothing tentative this time around. His hands came up to
tangle in her hair and when he deepened the kiss she scooted closer
until she was practically sitting in his lap, their bodies pressed
closely together. His lips were soft and warm and when she nibbled
gently on the bottom one she felt his smile. The woods, the creature,
even time itself ceased to exist as they relearned each other in this
new way.

"Thank you, Jesus! They've finally seen the light."

Grey's voice hit them like an electric charge, Scully nearly biting
Mulder's tongue from the shock. They sprang apart almost guiltily,
blushing and panting slightly. Grey was standing at the edge of the
clearing, arms lifted, lips curved, and eyes crinkled with amusement.

"Sorry," he said in a voice that sounded anything but. "If we'd been
back home, I would've driven around the block a few times. But hey,
don't let me stop you!"

Mulder scowled and looked at Scully. "He's enjoying this *way* too
much."

Grey smirked and plopped down beside them. "I was just out hunting a
bloodsucking canine. Seems to me you two were the ones doing all the
enjoying."

Scully pressed her hand to her mouth to camouflage her smile but Mulder
rolled his eyes. "You are such a comedian," he said sarcastically. "What
did you find?"

The teasing grin left Grey's face. "At least one of my bullets found its
target last night. Whatever this thing is, it was bleeding pretty badly.
There's a serious trail of blood leading through the woods north of
here."

Mulder inched out of the sleeping bag and pushed himself to his feet. He
swayed unsteadily, closing his eyes against images that doubled, then
tripled. Grey was beside him, one hand firmly grasping his arm, in a
heartbeat. Mulder leaned gratefully into the support for only a moment
before his eyes opened and he shrugged off his brother's assistance. By
then, Scully was also standing, regarding him with narrowed eyes.

"What do you think you're doing, Mulder?"

Mulder shot her a "well, duh!" look before answering. "I'm getting our
things together so we can follow that trail. With any luck, it will lead
us right to the creature."

Scully's mouth set in a grim line and she shook her head vehemently. "No
way. We're taking you back and having you checked out at a hospital. We
don't know how much blood you lost and you look like death warmed over.
You need bed rest and fluids."

Mulder waggled his eyebrows at her. "Oooo. Bed rest. Sorry, Scully,
that'll have to wait. Can't mix business and pleasure." He then
proceeded to begin rolling up his sleeping bag.

Grey made a pitiful attempt to hide the chuckle that erupted at his
brother's words. Scully, on the other hand, looked ready to chew nails.
Her jaw clenched and she deliberately moved over so that she was
standing on the bag.

"Don't try to get cute with me, Mulder. I'm not letting you do this to
yourself. We're going back."

Mulder sighed and looked at Grey for help, but his brother merely shook
his head and held up both hands. "Uh-uh. No way am I getting in the
middle of this one. My mama didn't raise no fool."

"Coward," Mulder muttered. He stood and ran his fingers through his
hair, wincing when they encountered the bump. "Scully. I'm all right. A
little weak, yes. A bit sore, of course. But I can keep going."

She started to protest but he stopped her with two fingers pressed
gently to her lips. "Hear me out. We may never get a chance like this
again, Scully. This thing is hurt, probably weakened, and leaving a
clear trail. If we leave now, by the time we get back here it will be
long gone, and it's smart enough to not allow us near it a second time."
He looked at her, pleading for understanding. "More people will die,
Scully. We can't risk that. Please, I can do this."

She studied his face, her own a mask of indecision. At last she blew out
a long breath, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know how I let you talk
me into these things, Mulder. Fine, we'll keep going. But the minute I
think you're in trouble we head back, no arguments. Agreed?"

He nodded gravely but one corner of his mouth curved slightly, betraying
his triumph. "Hey, Scully? Did it work?"

She paused from loading her own pack, confused. "Did what work?"

"Did I get cute? I was just wondering for future reference."

"Shut up and pack, Mulder."

"Yes, ma'am."


Continued in part 7

Blood Ties III: A Nice Trip to the Forest (7 of 8)
By Dawn


Nantahala National Forest
Monday
4:20 p.m.


When Mulder stumbled for the fifth time Scully pressed her lips tightly
together to contain the words that wanted to escape. Words like, "Stop
being so damn stubborn, Mulder" and "You need to rest." It killed her to
see him push himself this way -- face pale, dark circles under his eyes,
and sweat dripping from his brow. Yet, just when she was sure he'd
reached the breaking point and felt tempted to insist they go back,
Mulder offered her a look of pure determination and she'd held her
tongue.

"I need a drink, let's stop a minute," Grey said, removing his baseball
cap and using his sleeve to wipe the perspiration from his face. He
brushed past Scully, giving her arm an unobtrusive little squeeze.

She flashed him a grateful smile, understanding that he had seen
Mulder's exhaustion and the "drink break" was actually for his brother's
benefit. With the possible exception of Skinner, she'd been the only one
to care for her partner for a very long time. Having someone else
watching out for him was a new experience, but a welcome one.

Mulder closed his eyes and sank down to the ground with his back propped
against a tree. His head hurt and his legs felt as if he'd been hiking
through molasses. When he reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from
his eyes his hand shook slightly, and he quickly returned it to his lap
so Scully wouldn't notice. He'd felt her worried gaze on him all
afternoon, and was loath to contribute any more fuel to that particular
fire.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Scully dropped down to sit beside him.
She offered him a bottle of water and a granola bar, setting them on the
ground next to him when he made no attempt to move.

"Try to eat that," she said, leaning back against his shoulder. "It'll
help with the shakes."

Busted. He swallowed his dignity and reached carefully for the bottle,
proud when he opened it on the first try. Her solid warmth felt good
against his side and he shifted a little to slip his arm around her
shoulders.

"You're a dangerous woman, Scully," he observed, shaking his head.
"Grey's right. I think I should be very afraid."

"You don't have to be afraid, Mulder," she replied without a hint of a
smile. "Just maintain a healthy respect."

He grinned and pressed a kiss to the crown of her auburn head. "I'll try
to remember that. And if I should happen to forget, I'm sure you'll
remind me."

She pursed her lips. "You can count on it."

"I'm going to scout up ahead a little," Grey announced, disappearing
into the foliage.

Mulder sighed and leaned his head back against the rough bark. "I'm
slowing us down. We should have covered this distance in half the time.
The trail's getting colder and it'll be dark soon."

"You're doing the best that you can," Scully said mildly. "Don't beat
yourself up about it. I only hope we find this thing soon. I'm not wild
about the idea of spending another night with it roaming around nearby."

Before Mulder could respond Grey burst back into view, panting and
wide-eyed with excitement. "I think I've found its den! There's a
good-sized cave in the side of the mountain up ahead. I didn't go
inside, but it seems to extend for quite a distance. There were traces
of blood near the entrance."

Without speaking, Mulder and Scully slipped the packs from their
shoulders and began rummaging for flashlights. Grey quickly followed
suit. Weapons were checked and the packs piled together beside a large
rock, all in bleak silence. To Scully's amusement, Mulder suddenly
became the voice of prudence and reason.

"Don't take any chances in there, Grey. I know you want to find Steve,
but that thing is injured and cornered. And no matter what, don't listen
to its growl or look into its eyes. That's exactly how it got to me last
night."

Grey tucked his gun into the waistband of his jeans and regarded Mulder
grimly. "Don't worry about me, I don't plan on listening. I intend to
shoot first and ask questions later."

Grey turned sharply and began walking. Scully gazed at Mulder with a
troubled frown before following. He fell into step behind her, trying to
quell the sudden, overwhelming wave of apprehension that swept over him.
Hazy images flashed rapidly through his mind -- drowning in a crimson
pool, an incredible rush of peace and euphoria, and the distant sting of
teeth piercing his flesh. He shuddered, swallowing thickly.

"Are you all right?" Scully asked, and he suddenly realized with
embarrassment that she'd dropped back to walk beside him.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

She raised an eyebrow. "Rules have changed, Mulder. Didn't I mention
that?"

He chuckled softly and it felt good, easing the tight knot in his
stomach. "All right, I'm a little spooked -- no pun intended. It's
nothing I can't handle."

"You sure about that?" There was no recrimination in her tone, only
honest concern.

"Are you going to be watching my back?" he countered.

"Always, partner."

He smiled sweetly. "Then I'm sure."

The lump in her throat took her by surprise, and she blinked rapidly
against sudden tears. Mulder certainly had his share of arrogance and
insensitivity, and some days she was tempted to strangle him. Yet he
could turn around and say something with such sweet honesty it left her
speechless. Loving him would never be easy, but it would also never be
boring.

They broke from the trees into a small clearing where the cave entrance
was embedded in the rocky face of a cliff. Grey waited for them, his
feet shuffling and his flashlight already lit. Scully scanned his face,
uneasy with what she read in his features. He was too eager -- too ready
to dash ahead while throwing his normal caution to the wind. Skinner's
warning echoed in her thoughts, increasing her sense of foreboding.

Mulder lit his own flashlight and she reluctantly did the same. All
three of them trained the beams into the opening, revealing a narrow
passage about five feet wide that extended for about twenty feet before
the blackness reasserted itself.

"I have a very bad feeling about this," she muttered more to herself
than to the others.

Mulder caught the unspoken reference immediately and a grin of pure
delight transformed his solemn expression. Grey was either too intent on
his objective or didn't share Mulder's passion for the Star Wars movies.
He pulled his weapon and stepped forward into the cave without further
comment, ducking slightly since the ceiling was too low to accommodate
his six-foot frame.

Scully followed, with Mulder bringing up the rear. As he stepped further
into the cavern and the light dwindled behind him, he had the
disconcerting feeling that some dark monster had swallowed him whole. It
was *not* a reassuring thought. The walls and ceiling were solid
granite, slightly moist from the chill dampness of the air. Scully's
flaming cap of hair was the only bright spot of color in the bleak
surroundings, and he found it oddly comforting.

The passageway abruptly opened into a large, circular chamber and Mulder
and Grey were able to stand up straight. The smell hit them instantly --
the sickening sweet stench of death and decay stifling in the enclosed
space. Across the chamber two more passageways branched off to continue
deeper into the mountain. As they panned their flashlights around the
cavern Scully's landed on a small pile of bones in one corner.

"Cover me," she said tersely, gesturing to the two passages. She moved
quickly over to the remains and knelt down to examine them, pulling a
pair of latex gloves from her coat pocket.

Mulder trained his flashlight on the right tunnel, glancing occasionally
at his partner from the corner of his eye. Grey moved to cover the
remaining opening, but he continued to dart his light around the chamber
at the same time. Scully, hunched over her find, was silent.

"Talk to me, Scully," Mulder called. "What have you got?"

Her voice was taut, strained. "It's definitely human remains, and
there's more than one. Some are just bones but some are..." she trailed
off weakly.

"Scully?"

"It's like the bodies are desiccated, Mulder. Their condition is very
similar to that of an Egyptian mummy. The fluids have been completely
removed, leaving the flesh to decompose at a significantly slower rate."
Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her horror.

"Steve?"

Grey shone his light onto what looked like little more than a pile of
rags in another corner. Abandoning his position at the tunnel's mouth,
he walked, then ran over and dropped to the ground.

"Steve? Oh, my God, what has it done to you?" he moaned, bowing his head
in grief.

Hearing the desolation in his brother's voice, Mulder turned slowly
toward him -- and all hell broke loose.

Scully barely had time to register the huge form that barreled out of
the passage that Grey had been guarding to launch itself at her partner.
Her scream of warning snapped Mulder around just in time to take the
impact full in his chest, and he was knocked flat onto his back with an
audible crack as his head struck the floor. In the second it took for
Scully and Grey to raise their weapons a slavering mouth filled with
razor sharp teeth was poised over Mulder's throat. Her partner was limp
and unresponsive.

The beast was easily the size of a Shetland pony, covered with glossy
black fur that was matted with blood near the right shoulder. Its four
legs ended in paws tipped with needle-like claws and its wolfish head
bore pointed ears and a long snout. Scully glanced away quickly from the
large, red eyes.

"Don't look at the eyes!" she warned Grey sharply.

"I only need the to see them long enough to know where to put the
bullet," Grey snarled, his voice choked with anger and unshed tears. His
finger tightened on the trigger and the beast immediately pressed its
fangs to Mulder's neck. Scully saw a trickle of blood when one pierced
the skin.

"Grey, stop!" Scully screamed.

He complied immediately, paling at the sight of his brother's blood.
With a growl of warning, the beast began backing toward one of the
passages, dragging Mulder along with it.

"What do we do? We can't let it take him!" Grey said frantically.

"If we move, it'll rip his throat open with those fangs. Mulder will
bleed to death in minutes!" Scully replied, desperately fighting her own
panic as she wracked her brain for a solution.

"I'd rather risk that than let that thing feed off him like it did
Steve!" Grey retorted in anguish.

Scully was about to reply when she saw Mulder's lids part slightly and
the gleam of hazel as he looked in her direction. Ever so slowly, one
closed and then opened in a sluggish wink. Biting her lip furiously to
stave off her tears, she mimicked the motion and held up three fingers.

"One," she said quietly, wincing when her partner was dragged over a
sharp rock.

"Two." The creature was nearly at the tunnel now and gaining speed.

"THREE!"

Mulder swung one arm up as hard as he could in a close-fisted blow to
the beast's nose. It dropped him reflexively, opening its mouth to emit
a blood-curdling howl of pain and rage. Foam dripped from its jaws as
they swung back down toward Mulder's exposed throat and he squeezed his
eyes shut in anticipation of the sharp fangs. But they never came.
Scully's single gunshot resounded through the cave and with a grunt the
beast fell motionless on top of him.

It felt roughly like having a brick wall collapse on his chest. By the
time Scully and Grey managed to drag the animal off him, Mulder's face
was white with pain and he was gasping for air like a fish out of water.
Scully threw herself down beside him, shaking with relief and making no
attempt to hide the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"Where does it hurt, Mulder? Stay with me," she urged, running her
fingers over his face before pressing them to the pulse at his neck.

He wanted badly to let go and sink into the darkness at the edge of his
vision, but he struggled to do as she asked. "Head. Chest."

Though she kept her hands as gentle as possible, he couldn't contain the
cry of pain when she palpated his ribs. Her eyes begged for the
forgiveness that his own granted. She brushed the hair back from his
sweaty forehead before speaking.

"Broken ribs, love. Don't move." She turned to Grey, a question in her
eyes.

"It's dead," he said quietly. "You stay with him and I'll go for help.
If I'm lucky I can make it back by noon tomorrow. Will you be all right
overnight?"

Scully nodded, but glanced around her. "But not here. I don't like to
move him, but I refuse to spend the night next to *that*. We can set up
camp just outside in the clearing."

"I'm on it. Let me get things organized and I'll come back to help you
move him." He rested his hand gently on Mulder's head. "Hang in there,
little brother."

Mulder's eyes were glassy with pain but he smiled up at Scully. "Called
me 'love,'" he whispered.

Scully blushed. "Did I?"

His eyelids drooped. "Yeah. Liked it."

She brushed her knuckles against his cheek, startling him back from the
edge of unconsciousness. "You've probably got a concussion, Mulder. Try
not to zone out on me."

He managed to stick his lip out in a pout. "Only 'f you call me that."

She was momentarily overwhelmed by both the sheer force of her love for
him and the realization that she'd nearly lost him. "Then stay with me,
love."

His smile reappeared like the sun from behind clouds. "Forever.
Promise."


Concluded in part 8

Blood Ties III: A Nice Trip to the Forest (8 of 8)
By Dawn


St. Alexius Hospital
Wednesday
7:34 a.m.


Grey leaned back into his chair, watching his brother sleep and
pondering the mysteries of life. In theory the universe existed in a
delicate balance, an intricate dance of give and take. Of loss and gain.
Of death and life. Each serving to countermand the other so that a
tentative harmony could be achieved and maintained.

He'd never been one to indulge in self-pity or bemoan his fate. Yet he
couldn't help feeling that lately he'd suffered more than his rightful
share of the give. Of the loss. Of the death. Yes, he'd gained a
brother, and as their relationship continued to grow so did his
gratitude for that gift. But Kate's death was still an ever-present
wound that never quite healed. And losing Steve only served to multiply
that pain.

Calling Jackie with the news of Steve's death was an experience he knew
he'd never be able to forget. He'd tried desperately to soften the
bitter, cruel words with his own compassion and regret. And she'd
accepted it -- thanking him dully for all his help, for providing
closure, if not a happy ending. She'd assured him that she would be
fine, would eventually move on with her life. But when he closed his
eyes all Grey could see were two little girls that would never grow to
know their father. And he had been a man very much worth knowing.

Grey was pulled from his reverie when his brother began to stir,
muttering restlessly. He'd been plagued by nightmares throughout the
night, one of the reasons why Dana had stuck like glue to his bedside.
She'd talk to him softly, soothing him back to sleep before he could
awaken completely. Seeing that trying to get her to leave would be a
foolhardy enterprise, Grey had secured a hotel room, showered, and
slept. By the time he'd returned it had been nearly dawn, Dana could
barely keep her eyes open, and he'd easily persuaded her to trade places
with him.

He stood up and lightly grasped one arm, laying his other hand on his
brother's head and mimicking Dana's actions.

"Easy, Fox. You're all right. You're safe and it can't hurt you," he
murmured repetitively.

Whether he lacked Dana's technique or just her voice, this time rather
than sinking back into a deep sleep Fox's eyes flew open and he tried to
sit up, arms thrashing wildly. Grey held him down firmly, continuing his
stream of reassurances. In a moment, Fox's gaze cleared, then registered
pain as the abuse he'd just given his ribs sank in. He went limp against
the mattress with a small moan.

"Bad dream," Grey observed, sinking back into his chair and regarding
his brother intently.

Mulder concentrated on slowing his breathing, wincing at the dagger in
his side. "'M used to it," he rasped. "Just a new one for the
collection." His eyes roamed the hospital room. "Where's Scully?"

Grey grinned a little. "Asleep at the hotel, I hope. Thought I'd have to
use dynamite to get her out of here."

Mulder's lips curved gently and his eyes softened. "Yeah, I'll bet.
Thanks." He sighed. "Don't remember getting here."

"By the time I got back with the rescue team you were pretty far gone,"
Grey agreed. "The doc said you were pretty lucky. You were a couple
pints low, so they had to top you off. That hard head of yours sustained
only a mild concussion but you've got three broken ribs. "

He tried to shift a little and grimaced. "Yeah. I can feel 'em." He
looked up sharply, brow contracted in a frown. "What about the creature?
What happened to it?"

Grey chuckled, shaking his head. "Dana's right, you never do stop
working! She took care of it -- had it shipped back to the lab at
Quantico for analysis. She really keeps her cool in a crisis, doesn't
she?"

Again, Mulder smiled softly. "Yeah. She's a rock."

Grey smiled wistfully. "I'm happy for you, Fox. A little jealous, maybe,
but mostly happy."

His brother looked startled. "Jealous?"

"Yeah. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be where you are. You and
Dana really belong together. You're a perfect fit. If you're lucky a
relationship like that comes along once in a lifetime."

Mulder sucked in his bottom lip. "I'm sorry, Grey."

He waved his hand, shaking his head and smiling. "Don't be. I had more
in five years than a lot of people have in a lifetime. Just one word of
advice -- don't plan on keeping this thing between the two of you a
secret."

Mulder looked puzzled. "Actually, we *were* planning on keeping it under
wraps for a while. Why shouldn't we?"

Grey's mouth quirked. "Give it your best shot, little brother. But
you'll never pull it off."

Scowling a little at his brother's amusement, Mulder decided it was time
for a change of subject. "I'm sorry about Steve. I wish we could have
gotten there in time."

Grey's smile disappeared and he stood up and walked over to gaze out the
window. "Thanks. I'm going to miss him. I'm glad that we found him. At
least I could give Jackie that much." He turned around, biting his lip.
"I'm sorry, Fox. It's my fault you're lying there. I lost it when I saw
Steve and I let down my guard. If I'd been doing my job you might not
have been hurt."

Mulder rolled his eyes. "Please, don't get guilty on me. I do that
particular number too well myself. You'd found the body of your best
friend, it was understandable." He shifted again, searching for a
position to ease his sore ribs but finding none.

Grey, noticing his discomfort, moved toward the door. "I'll get a nurse.
They said you could have something for the pain when you woke up."

He reluctantly nodded, hurting too much to object.

"Grey, wait!" he called, halting his brother just as he was about to
step outside. Grey turned back, eyebrows raised. "What did you mean when
you said I'd never pull it off?"

Grey grinned. "Look in the mirror, little brother. I'll be right back."

Mulder glared at his retreating back, thinking that sometimes his
brother made absolutely no sense at all.



Office of A.D. Skinner
Friday
10:00 a.m.


Mulder felt an odd sense of dj vu as he once again attempted not to
fidget, this time from the persistent ache in his ribs. Skinner read the
report with an occasional disbelieving glance thrown in their direction.
When he finished, he looked searchingly at Scully.

"You participated in the lab work on this creature?"

She nodded, anticipating his next question. "I don't have any
explanation for it, sir."

"The inconsistencies in the animal's DNA couldn't have been caused by
exposure to some sort of mutating agent?"

Scully pursed her lips and Mulder couldn't help smirking a little,
knowing how hard it was for her accept the test results, let alone
defend them to Skinner. "The inconsistencies aren't mutations, sir.
There are...elements of the creature's nucleotides that don't match
anything..."

"From this time and place," Mulder completed almost gleefully.

She tried to turn the Scully Death Stare on him, but it melted into a
small but affectionate curve of her lips. Skinner watched the exchange
with keen interest. The sudden epiphany broadsided him, and he struggled
to conceal the subsequent grin that threatened to take over his face.

"And you're certain this was the only one of its kind? They found no
evidence of others?" he asked.

Mulder shook his head. "They searched the cave and the surrounding area
thoroughly. They found nothing to indicate more exist. Or, for that
matter, where it came from." He looked pointedly at his partner. "It's
as if it just...appeared from *nowhere*."

Scully rolled her eyes, gazing at him tolerantly. "Be that as it may, I
think it's safe to say that the danger to hikers has been removed.
They're still working on trying to identify some of the remains. I'll
keep you informed of the progress."

"How is Grey?" Skinner asked Mulder. "Losing his friend this way
couldn't have been easy."

"He's dealing with it," Mulder said quietly. "He's grateful to have
discovered what happened to Steve. At least he has some resolution."

Scully heard the words left unspoken. Without stopping to think, she
reached out to lay her hand over his where it rested on the arm of the
chair, giving it a small squeeze. His eyes searched out hers and one
corner of his mouth turned up in a lopsided grin, silently reassuring
her.

She felt another pair of eyes boring into her and was abruptly reminded
of their boss. She pulled both her gaze and her hand from Mulder,
flushing. Skinner leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands.

"You aren't going to be fit for more than desk duty for several weeks,
Mulder. I suggest you take some time off to recoup," he said gravely,
though his eyes sparkled.

"Yes, sir," Mulder agreed, feeling uneasy with Skinner's sudden good
mood.

"And you might as well do the same, Scully," he continued, stone-faced.
"This was a rough case for both of you."

"Thank you, sir," Scully said, relief evident in her voice.

Skinner waited until they had both stood up and were moving toward the
office door.

"Besides," he said casually. "It'll give you both a chance to adjust to
this...development."

They both froze like deer caught in the headlights of a speeding car.
"Excuse me, sir?" Mulder said weakly. "Adjust to what?"

Skinner snorted, rising to move in front of his desk. "You're not going
to make me spell it out, are you?" He leaned against the oak and folded
his arms, eyes jumping between them. When they both began stammering he
stopped them with a raised hand, his expression stern.
"I just want you both to answer one question."

Mulder looked quickly at Scully, then set his jaw stubbornly. "What
question, sir?"

Skinner grinned. "What in the hell took you two so long?"

It took Scully only a heartbeat before she'd joined their boss in
laughter, chuckling ruefully. Mulder, on the other hand, just gaped, his
brain still trying to process Skinner's grin.

"Oh come on, Mulder, lighten up," his boss urged, still smiling smugly.
"Did you really think people wouldn't find out? You and Scully have been
the subject of unending speculation for years now."

Mulder stuck his lip out, eyes narrowed in irritation. "Maybe so. But it
would have been nice if *we* would've been the ones to break the news."

Skinner sobered a little. "I won't say a word. But I won't have to. It's
written all over your faces, Mulder. And let me be the first to say --
I'm happy for both of you. Now, go enjoy your vacation."

Seeing her partner was still recovering from his shock, Scully smiled
warmly at Skinner. "Thank you, sir. We'll see you in a week."

She boldly slipped her hand into Mulder's and led him out the door. He
followed her passively down the hall to the elevators, his mind
obviously occupied elsewhere. It was not until they were in the elevator
and headed for the basement that Skinner's words clicked and he swore
softly under his breath, grinning.

"What? What is it?" Scully demanded.

"Just something Grey told me," he replied dryly. "I think he got me --
big time." He was silent for a moment. "Hey, Scully," he asked suddenly.
"You got a mirror?"


The End (for now)