"Crescendo In Blackness"

Fri Dec 06 19:10:03 1996

Disclaimers:
As you are all aware, the characters of Fox
Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Albert Hosteen,
etc. are property of Chris Carter and Fox, not me. (D'oh! Some guys have all
the
luck!) Any other characters introduced in this story
are my own.

WARNINGS:
This story contains quite a bit of Unresolved Sexual
Tension (Resolved in future parts), which will imply a
Mulder/Scully romance. He'll need her after the hell I
put him through!!
Also, this story will contain some disturbing
and possibly frightening scenes, as well as profanity.
Consider this an R-rated story. You were warned...

T H E X F I L E S:

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

Chapter I
---------

New Mexico
Wednesday, 7:31 P.M.

Eric sat perfectly still, letting the
light breeze of the dusk drift around him. He felt his
spirit, his very essense, begin to rise from his mortal
self and float along the edge of the cliff where he
sat. His Spirit was moving now, blindingly fast, to
another place, a great city, one with towering
monuments and pillared buildings. Night had fallen
there, and he could now more easily see the object his
Spirit had been searching out: a car pulling out of a
large parking garage. Inside were two people, worn
down by a day that no one in their proper mind would
ever ask for. One, a woman with fiery red hair...
"Scully," whispered a faraway voice.
The other, a lanky man, an expression of tiredness and
inner pain etched into his face.
"Mulder," the voice whispered.
The young man's spirit focused closer on the man called
Mulder, a man he had met before. As he began to see
the man's very essense, the Spirit was suddely
bombarded by a darkness and sadness so strong, it
whipped him back into his physical self like a
sling-shot.
Eric opened his eyes quickly and
stood, looking up at the orange-yellow sky. The hawk
had not flown as it should have. The vision was
incomplete.
"You saw through the hawk's eyes. It led you,"
Albert Hosteen said, approaching his grandson from
behind.
"Yes, grandfather. I saw the FBI man, Mulder.
He is shrouded in darkness."
"That he is. I have seen that shroud through
the hawk's eyes, too. I haven't much time left. I
must go to the FBI man. Go now. Your father is
waiting for you," Hosteen said, taking a stance on the
edge of the cliff.
Eric walked back toward the path
back to their home. Hosteen remained, however.
Standing at the cliff's edge, he raised his hands to
the heavens, as if to beckon for strength from the
Spirits. He then looked straight ahead, determination
in his eyes.

(Hosteen): My grandson's training in the ways of my
people have allowed him to see what I have already
seen: danger, darkness, and evil. All of them surround
the FBI man now. He has seen things that will cause
his mind to deceive him, to tell him lies. I must go
to help him see the truth again. For, if he should
lose this battle, his life will forever be filled with
madness....

A hawk soars overhead, taking the path foreseen by
Albert Hosteen.....

Chapter II
----------

WASHINGTON, DC
Wednesday, 9:31 PM

Special Agent Dana Scully tried vainly to relax
in the car seat as she drove Mulder to his apartment.
She kept glancing sideways at Mulder, who looked as if he
had been beaten into submission. Their most recent case
had been one she'd prefer never to see again:
A 27 year-old man, convinced that he was being
controlled by extraterrestrials, had been raping and then
mutilating young teenage girls, saying that he was doing
"experiments" on them for his "brethren". His last victim
was his 16 year-old sister. Mulder and Scully were
assigned to assist the local PD in getting the suspect
because of his claims of being in contact with aliens.
Needless to say, the whole "alien" idea was a psychotic's
way of covering for his crime.
What worried Scully the most was the personal toll
the case had taken on Mulder, especially the last murder.
It seemed to hit too close to home for him, and it showed.
He didn't speak a word after the suspect had been arrested,
nor during the drive home. He had even asked her to drive,
something he rarely ever did. For some odd reason, that
fact unnerved her more.
She wanted to say something to him, anything, to
ease whatever pain he was feeling. She just couldn't think
of the words...
"Scully?" Mulder suddenly said.
"Yes?" She replied, feeling the tiniest amount of
relief that it was Mulder who broke the silence.
"Are you all right? You seem upset," Mulder asked
as Scully had stopped at a red light.
She turned her head to match his stare. God, if only
he knew what that stare does to me inside, she thought. Knock
it off, Dana, she retorted to a corner of her thoughts.
"I'm fine, Mulder. I was about to ask the same of you."
"Me? Oh, I'm all right, just a bit zonked," Mulder replied, not
sounding entirely truthful. "I just need a little shut-eye, that's all."
"Are you sure? I know this last case had an effect on both of us, and I
want to be sure you're all right," Scully pressed, hoping to break Mulder's
"I-can-handle-anything" facade.
"I'm fine, Scully. Really," Mulder answered,
stressing the last word as if to convince her to drop the subject.
Scully did not reply as she continued to drive. When she finally
arrived at his apartment, she got out with him and walked with him to his door.
"I feel like I'm at the end of a date, you following me to my door and
all," Mulder said, smirking a bit.
"Mulder, I'll be up for a while. Call me if you
need me, okay?" Scully requested, trying not to sound as if she was asking him
straight out to call.
"Scully, I'm fine. Really. I just need rest, that's all," Mulder
replied, reaching up to whisk a stray lock of hair from in front of Scully's
beautiful green eyes.
Scully almost leapt out of her shoes as Mulder's
fingertips lightly brushed against her skin. "Good night, Mulder. Rest well,"
was all she could manage to say.
"Good night, Dana," Mulder said, closing the door.
Scully stood in place for a few seconds after the door closed on her.
"Dana"? He called me Dana, she thought incredulously.
She shook her head and walked down the hall to the elevator. Why was she
feeling this way? She knew the answer, of course, but she had wished the
reason for her thoughts had passed. Of late, she had become very aware of a
growing attraction to her partner. That attraction was growing stronger with
each passing day, and despite her best efforts, could not be ignored or
suppressed. Perhaps it was because of this recent case. Mulder had relied on
Scully a lot during the investigation, but it seemed to be more for
personal support as opposed to professional help. She wanted so much to help
him through this, but wasn't sure how to do that without betraying the secret
attraction she hid deep within her mind.
Her mind continued to race as she got into the car and drove off. Maybe
she would call him, just to make sure he was okay. No, she couldn't. She had to
let Mulder deal with this alone, at least for tonight. Any other time, she
would be there for him.

Mulder yawned as he exited the bathroom after
changing into his sleepsweats. His exhaustion acted as lead weights on his feet
as he plodded over to his couch and settled on it. He grabbed his remote and
clicked on the TV. Infomercials: the work of the Devil, Mulder thought to
himself as he flipped through the stations.
Suddenly, he felt such an overwhelming feeling of dread and sadness
sweep over him that he got up quickly and began to pace. "What was that?" he
thought aloud. He gestured for the phone. Should he call Scully? No, he
couldn't make her come all the way back here, even though she'd do it without
question. He set the phone back in its cradle and sat on the couch once again.
His head was pounding with a headache he had since yesterday. Nothing seemed
to dissipate it. Mulder rubbed his temples and sighed deeply. His mind began to
glance back in time to the ghastly scene from earlier that day.
The young man had a bloody x-acto knife in his hand, a "grey" alien
mask on his head, and was screaming, "It's for their good!!!" On the kitchen
table was his teenage sister, cut so badly it was difficult to determine where
the wounds
started and ended. Mulder had to do everything he thought of to keep from
vomiting at the grisly sight.
Mulder felt his mouth go dry just recalling it, so he stood and walked
to the kitchen for a glass of cool water. He took a long, greedy drink from
the glass, hoping the water would wash away not only the dryness, but the reason
for it.
FOX??? A voice so faint, it was barely a whisper...
"What?" Mulder said aloud. Who said that? And wherewas it coming from?
FOX? WHY, FOX? The voice beckoned with
a sadness Mulder had never heard.
"Who's there?" Mulder called out, his hands beginning to tremble.
FOX! WHY DID YOU LET THEM TAKE ME, FOX? WHY?? the voice, reminiscent of
a young girl's, echoed again.
"Samantha..." Mulder knew the voice now. Oh God, what was happening to
him?
THEY'RE HURTING ME FOX! WHY WON'T YOU HELP ME, FOX? FOX!!!!!!!! The
whisper turned into a scream at the last word.
"NO!!!!!!!!!" Mulder screamed, dropping the
water glass and running into the living room. Dizziness and nausea swept over
him like a tidal wave, causing him to pass out on the floor near the couch.
As tears began to fall down his cheeks, he whispered one last time...
"Samantha..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

What do you think thus far? E-mail me at picard1@execpc.com with comments!

From picard1@execpc.com Fri Dec 06 19:11:25 1996

(See disclaimers and warnings from part one.)

T H E X F I L E S:

"Crescendo In Blackness"

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

CHAPTER III
-----------

WASHINGTON, DC
Thursday, 6:31 A.M.

Mulder woke with a start. Sweat dripped down his brow as he
looked around the room. He slowly began to remember why he was on the
floor instead of his couch.
"Damn..." he muttered, rubbing his head. The headache was still
there, with a vengeance. He stood, winning the inner struggle against his
lack of will to move. He wasn't dizzy anymore, but he was still very nauseated.
What happened to him last night? What had caused him to hear that
horrible beckoning? His lack of decent sleep for almost two weeks? The horrors
of his last case? Whatever it was, it frightened him; so much so, that he began
to shake. He swore he could still hear her...
FOX...FOX...WHY, FOX?
He pushed it out of his mind and rushed into the shower to clean up.
As he let the warm water rinse the soap off him, he felt the walls of the shower
stall
start to close in.
FOX...HELP ME, FOX... That voice again!!!
Mulder pulled the shower curtain so hard it broke off the curtain hooks.
He stood in front of his medicine chest mirror and tried to catch his breath.
What the hell was that? I'm wasn't claustrophobic!! He thought to himself as
he tried to regain some semblence of calm. That damn voice... why won't it go
away?
He quickly got dressed and bolted out the door without further
hesitation.
He needed to get to work... he needed the distraction. Most of all, he needed
Scully.
After he parked, he almost sprinted to the elevator to get to the
basement.
When it arrived for him, he stepped to one side to allow room for the others
already
aboard. He felt a wave of sudden panic fall over him as the door closed. For
some
reason, being aboard the crowded elevator, something he had experienced every
day,
was now frightening the hell out of him. He began to breathe faster, feeling
warmer
than his sense of comfort would permit.
FOX!!!! The voice called...
"Damnit!!" He found himself saying aloud. The two people nearest him
turned
to look at him. One said, "Don't you hate these slow elevators?"
"Yeah, a real pisser," he said abruptly as the doors opened to the
basement
level. He pushed past everyone and rushed down the hall, not hearing the
semi-rude
comments from the flustered passengers. He burst into the office he and Scully
shared and made a beeline for his desk. Only after he dropped his attache on
the floor
and plopped down in his chair did he notice that Scully wasn't there. Damn, he
thought
to himself. The one day she doesn't show up early is when I need her here the
most.
To Mulder's relief, Scully showed up five minutes later. "People are
idiots!!" she declared as she stormed to her desk. "I figure it this way: if
they
can't drive like sane people, don't let them on the roads!! Sorry I'm late,
Mulder,
I---oh, my god..., she stopped as she got her first good look at Mulder since
the
night before. "Mulder, are you all right? You look horrible!!" She approached
him, her faced etched with concern and fear.
"Yeah, I know...my conditioner just isn't doing what I want it to do..."
Mulder quipped. He smiled weakly, hoping his lame attempt at his usual dry
humor
would ease Scully's mind. When he saw it did not, he continued with, "I just
had
a very bad night. And morning, for that matter."
"It looks like more than that, Mulder. You look almost ghost-like!!"
Scully countered.
"Does that mean you believe in ghosts now? My influence must be getting
to
you, finally," Mulder replied, not giving up on the humor just yet.
You don't know the half of it, Scully found herself silently replying.
"I
passed by Skinner's office, and he stopped me to let me know he wants us to give
our report on the case. I can do it alone, if you want. You should get some
rest,"
Scully said aloud.
"No, no. I'm okay, Scully. I...I'm fine," countered Mulder, his looks
belying
his words. He slowly stood and grabbed his attache, opening it and retreiving
his casefile.
"Let's get it over with, OK?" Without another word, Mulder headed out the door,
Scully not far
behind.

Moments later, inside Assistant Director Walter Skinner's office,
Skinner silently perused the written report done by Agent Scully. Scully and
Mulder
sat silently, waiting for their superior's input.
"Agent Mulder, I happened to notice no written material from you on this
case. Why?" Skinner queried.
"I felt Agent Scully adequately explained the events in her report,
sir," Mulder
replied quietly.
"Then I take it you concur with her findings and views on this case?"
"Of course," Mulder replied.
FOX.....FOX.....THEY'RE HURTING ME...
Mulder tensed so suddenly, both Skinner and Scully noticed it. "Are you
all right, Agent Mulder?" Skinner asked.
"Um, yeah, fine. Bad night," Mulder quickly answered.
FOX!!!!! YOU LET THEM TAKE ME!!
Mulder felt the dizziness hit him again. He dropped his head to his
hands.
THEY'RE HURTING ME!! HELP ME, FOX!
"Mulder? What's wrong?" Scully asked, beginning to sound frightened
herself.
"Agent Mulder? Do you want me to get help for you?" Skinner asked.
The room was spinning. Mulder's head was pounding, and the voice, that
voice,
SAMAMTHA'S VOICE, was getting LOUDER!!!!!!!!
"I gotta go," Mulder muttered, then sprang from his seat for the door.
Skinner and Scully both followed, but only Scully continued down the
hall
after him. "Let me talk to him!!! Please!" She called out to Skinner, who
looked on
with concern.
Mulder stopped at the end of the hall, allowing Scully to catch up with
him.
"Mulder, what's happening, really? You're scaring me," she asked, touching his
pale,
clammy face.
"I... I don't know, Scully. I'm a little scared myself," Mulder
admitted.
FOX.....
"Oh, god," Mulder groaned, putting his hands to his head. "I can't stop
it..."
"Stop what, Mulder? Tell me, please. Let me help you," Scully pleaded.
YOU ABANDONED ME, FOX...
"I have to get out of here..." Mulder said, pulling away from Scully.
"Mulder!!! Don't run away from me! Let me help you deal with this!!"
No, Scully!! You don't know what I'm dealing with. Leave me alone!!!"
Mulder
spat out, walking away.
"Damn it Mulder, don't you walk away from me!" Scully caught up with
her partner
and grabbed his arm. "Come back with me. I can help you..."
"Damnit, Scully, NO!!! Let go of me NOW!!!" Mulder shouted. "Just keep
the hell
away from me!!!!!" Mulder broke away from her again and stormed down the hall,
but this
time, Scully did not follow. She could not. She was too frightened, too mad to
run after
him once more. She leaned against the wall, her eyes beginning to well up with
tears.
What was happening to him? Why won't he let me help him? These thoughts kept
racing
through her head as she headed down another hall, toward the office of Karen
Kossoff...

Mulder kept running all the way to his car. He stopped just short of
collapsing from exhaustion. He stood still for a moment, catching his breath
and
listening to silence.
The voice had stopped.
Mulder sighed and got into his car. He put his hands over his face and
thought.
Should he go back? Try to explain to Scully what he has been going through?
Would she understand? Would she even speak to him after the way he acted?
Doubtful,
Mulder thought, as he started the car. He couldn't go home, but he couldn't
stay here.
He decided he would just drive. Drive until the pain went away. If it ever
did...
Mulder started the car, backed out of his space, and drove away for
destinations
unknown.

TWA FLIGHT 1131 TO WASHINGTON, DC
9:17 A.M.

(Hosteen): Time is getting short. The evil is now beginning to overpower Mr.
Mulder's
judgment, and it will not be long before it would do much worse. My only hope
is that the
hawk will guide me to the one person who can save him, and help her see the way
I see...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Comments? Opinions? E me at picard1@execpc.com!!

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Disclaimers:
As you are all aware, the characters of Fox
Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Albert Hosteen,
the Cigarette-Smoking Man, etc. are property of Chris
Carter and Fox, not me. (D'oh! Some guys have all the
luck!) Any other characters introduced in this story
are my own.

T H E X F I L E S:

"Crescendo In Blackness"

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

CHAPTER IV
----------

J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
10:17 A.M.

Dana Scully stood in front of the door to Agent Karen Kossoff's office,
unsure whether
she should involve another perty in this matter. Kossoff had helped Scully
before, during the
Pfaster case; she seemed to understand the bond Scully had with her partner.
Perhaps she could
Mulder cope with what seemed to be, at least to Scully, the trauma caused by the
horrific things
he saw in his last assignment. She cemented her decision to seek help by
knocking on the door.
Scully was surprised to see a man open the door. "Yes? Can I help you,
Agent?"
"I was looking for Agent Kossoff. Is she in?" Scully asked, feeling a
bit unnerved.
"No, I'm afraid she'll be out for at least three weeks. She was
involved in a car accident
six days ago," the 30-ish looking man said sadly.
"My god...is she all right?" Scully asked,
"Oh, yes, she wasn't badly hurt...just a few broken bones and bruises.
She just needs some
rest and recovery. I'm her temporary replacement, Agent Alex McNeill," he
replied, offering his hand
fo her to shake.
"Glad to meet you, Agent McNeill," Scully responded, shaking his hand.
"I'm Agent Dana Scully.
Could I have a few moments of your time?"
"Of course, Agent Scully. Come in," McNeill said softly, smiling as he
let her in the office.
"Would you like something to drink? Coffee, ice water?"
"Actually, I would like some ice water," Scully said as she sat down.
When McNeill handed her
the glass, she drank a third of its contents and set it on the desk.
"Now, what can I do for you, Miss Scully?" McNeill said as he pulled a
file from a cabinet.
"Actually, it's what you can do for my partner, Agent Fox Mulder,"
Scully corrected, noticing
that McNeill had her personal file in his hand.
"Mulder...Mulder..." McNeill muttered, searching through the cabinet
drawer. "Ah! Here it is.
Fox Mulder. What can I do for him, then?"
"He and I just completed a case that was, to say the least, disturbing
for Agent Mulder. I think
that he is suffering a sort of post-traumatic stress syndrome."
"Oh, yes, of course!!! Assistant Director Skinner informed me on the
details of that case. He had
told me that he thought you or Agent Mulder might be coming to see me. I assume
he chose not to see me?"
"Agent Mulder left here a few moments ago. He was very distressed and
would not allow me to help him,"
Scully replied, wincing at the memory of the pain in Mulder's eyes as he pulled
away from her in the hall.
"Hmmmm...," McNeill said, putting on his wire-rimmed glasses and looking
at Mulder's file, then at another
folder. "According to the case report, the suspect you were pursuing believed
he was an...extraterrestrial, and
that he was "experimenting" on young girls by raping and mutilating them. His
last victim was his younger sister.
Is it possible that Agent Mulder may be experiencing this post-traumatic stress
as a result of the last incident,
considering that his sister disappeared when she was very young?"
"I had thought of that. It is very possible," Scully answered simply.
"But, Agent Mulder and I have seen
a lot of things, things I would never wish anyone else to see, and he has never
reacted like this. I feel that whatever
he's going through is a lot worse than you or I could imagine."
"Why do you say that?" McNeill inquired.
"Because...well, because of the way he acted around me this morning. He
was agitated, in pain, almost violent toward
me. It's as if he was trying to escape something that was disturbing him."
"Did he hurt you? Do you fear that he would?"
"No. I don't think he would ever hurt me," Scully immediately replied.
"You say that with a lot of conviction. Do you trust your partner, care
about him?" McNeill pressed.
Scully sighed deeply before answering. "I trust him more than I've ever
trusted anyone. I trust him with
my life, my secrets. He's...my best friend," Scully answered, feeling her eyes
well up again. There was so much more to
that answer left to be said...however, she chose to keep that untold.
"Do you think that I may be able to speak to Agent Mulder?" McNeill
proposed.
"I'm not sure if he'd be willing to cooperate right now," Scully said
doubtfully. "Also, I don't know where he is
right now."
"Do you know where he will be later?" McNeill asked.
"He'll probably return to his apartment later this evening."
"Perhaps we should make an attempt to intervene. If you and I go,
together, to see him, perhaps he'll be more
willing to discuss his feelings. I assume your trust and faith in him is
mutual."
"I want to believe so," Scully said quietly.
"Then, he may be more willing to open up if you are there to support
him. I have his address here in the file. I
can meet you there at, say, 8:30 this evening," McNeill offered.
"All right, I'll meet you outside of the apartment building," Scully
agreed, feeling very uneasy about the whole plan.
"You seem unsure of this. Would you rather set it up for here,
tomorrow?"
"No, no. It might be better the other way," Scully said, not entirely
sure of her response. "I'd better get back to work."
As Scully stood, McNeill stood behind his desk and shook her hand once
again. "I'll do everything I can to help Agent
Mulder. With your help, this will be resolved."
"I hope so, Agent McNeill. Thank you for your time," Scully replied,
then headed out the door and into the hall.
"My pleasure, Agent Scully," McNeill said, smiling as he watched her go.
He closed the office door as soon as she was out of
sight.

APT. 42
ALEXANDRIA, VA

8:15 PM

Mulder walked into his darkened apartment and felt a sense of relief to
be home. He clicked on the light, hung his trench
coat on the hook, and walked to the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. He
opened the beer and chugged at least half of it, then
realized he really didn't want it, and dumped the remainder in the sink. He
threw the can into the recycle bin and plodded into the
room, where he collapsed onto the couch and closed his eyes.
His head really hurt. His mind was reeling. However, the damnable
voice had stopped for now, so he was able to focus more
clearly on things. "Shit," he mumbled as he remembered the incident with Scully
in the hall. She was only trying to help him,
and he viciously pushed her away. "Good work, dumb ass, you nearly hurt the
woman you love," he said aloud.
The woman he loved...It seemed strange to say it out loud. He knew that
he had always felt an attraction, a closeness to
Scully he had never felt with any other woman. However, he had kept it bottled
up in a far corner of his mind because he knew
an intimate relationship with Scully would put their jobs, and their lives, at
risk. Now, he felt that attraction become so over-
powering that he could no longer easily hide it. Also, he had jeopardized it
all by rejecting her help and running off to drive
nowhere in particular for hours, listening to songs on the car radio he had
already heard a hundred times. During the drive, the
voice had called to him, begging for help, and it hurt him so much to hear it
that he nearly caused several accidents while trying
to get the sound out of his head.
FOX...WHY DID YOU LET THEM TAKE ME???
"Oh, no..." Mulder said, holding his head. It was starting again.
"Please, stop..."
Mulder was further startled by a knock at the door. He blinked and
tried to focus his eyes as well as his mind as he walked to
the door. "Who is it?" he called out.
"Mulder, it's me," Scully's voice replied from the other side of the
door.
Thank God, Mulder thought, as he opened the door.

Scully had hoped in vain that Mulder would look better when he appeared
in the doorway than he did earlier that day. Her hopes
were completely washed away when she saw Mulder's almost ashen face staring at
her. "Oh god, Mulder, what happened to you? Where did
you go?"
"I just drove. I had to get out of that place," Mulder said weakly.
"Come in," he offered, opening the door wider.
"Mulder, this is Agent Alex McNeill. He's Agent Kossoff's replacement
while she recovers from her accident. He wanted to speak with
you," Scully said, regret in her eyes as McNeill appeared from just beyond
Mulder's line of vision.
"A pleasure to meet you, Agent Mulder. Agent Scully told me what you've
been going through, and we're both very concerned about you.
May we come in and talk a moment or two?" McNeill said softly, holding out a
hand for Mulder to shake.
Mulder felt anger burning inside him as he continued to stare at Scully.
How could she corner him like this?
"Yeah, sure," Mulder reluctantly decided, choosing not to shake
McNeill's hand as he stepped aside to let the two agents in. "Have a seat.
Excuse the mess, I fired the maid," Mulder snipped as he closed the door.
McNeill sat in a chair while Scully sat on the couch. Mulder just stood
in the center of the room. A moment of tense silence began as Scully
looked at Mulder and noticed him stiff with anger. She was quickly regretting
her actions.
McNeill broke the almost palpable tension. "Agent Mulder, I know you
probably feel invaded right now, but Agent Scully came to me very upset
over your condition. I want you to know that we're here to help you through
this in every way we can."
"I don't think anything you can do will help me, Agent McNeill," Mulder
said sharply, beginning to pace the length of the room as his head continued
to throb with pain.
FOX!!! FOX!!!!!!
"Why do you say that, Agent Mulder?" McNeill countered.
"Because what I'm going through is more than your garden-variety
post-traumatic stress. That is what you think this is, isn't it?" Mulder
replied,
his voice stinging with contempt.
"What do you think it is, Agent Mulder?" McNeill probed.
"Gee, I don't know. Lack of decent sleep, feeling under the weather,
not enough fiber in my diet? Why don't you tell me, you're the expert!"
"Mulder, why are you doing this? We only want to help you..." Scully
interrupted.
"Really, Scully? If you wanted to help me, you wouldn't corner me like
this. I didn't need a head-shrinker, I needed a friend," Mulder retorted
venomously.
Scully flinched at that remark, hurt by the meaning of his words.
"Agent Mulder, Agent Scully's intention was not to corner you, nor was
it mine," McNeill said firmly.
"Listen, forgive my manners, but I'm not in the mood for talking right
now. I'd like you to leave, Agent McNeill," Mulder said, walking to the door
and
opening it.
"Agent Mulder-"
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I would like you to leave NOW,"
Mulder reiterated.
"All right," McNeill said, standing up. He walked to the door, but
stopped in front of Mulder. "I am willing to help you, if you'd let me. Here's
my card."
McNeill handed Mulder a business card. "Call me at any time. Good night, Agent
Scully," McNeill added, looking at Scully.
"Good night," Scully replied tiredly.
"Good night, Agent Mulder," McNeill said as he left the room and walked
down the hall.
Mulder slammed the door and turned to face Scully. "Thank you so much,
Scully!"
Scully stood, her own anger beginning to rise to the surface. "Damn
you, Mulder!!! What was I supposed to do? You ran out of the office today like
a crazy man,
then you drove who-knows-where for hours, you're obviously ill, and you won't
let me help you!!! I had no choice!"
FOX...WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN...
"No, Scully, you did have a choice. You had the choice to keep that man
out of this! I would've trusted you with this! Now, how can I tell you
anything without
thinking you're going to run to Dr. Freud out there and tell him my innermost
secrets?"
"Mulder, you know me better than that, at least I thought you did! If
you told something to me in trust, I would never betray you! You know that!!"
"I thought I knew that! Damnit, Scully..." Mulder said, holding his
head as if to press back the pain.
"Look at yourself, Mulder! This has got to be serious, and you're
trying to put up this front! Is this some sort of macho guy thing?"
"Oh, come on, Scully!"
"Well, then, open up and let me in, Mulder! I want to help you!! Please
believe me!" Scully begged, her eyes misting over with tears of sadness and
anger combined.
Mulder couldn't deal with this anymore. The pain was getting worse, and
his anger with Scully, albeit unwarranted, was growing dangerously. "Scully,
please go. Give me
some peace."
"Mulder---"
"GO, SCULLY!! NOW!!!" Mulder shouted, feeling out of control.
Scully stared at him for a moment, hurt and angry, then stormed out of
his apartment, slamming the door.
"SHIT!!!!" Mulder exclaimed. What had he done? He pushed Scully away
from him twice in one day, when he needed her more than anything in the world.
He'd really hurt her
this time, and there was no changing that. Should he go after her, apologize,
beg her for forgiveness and help? This time, he decided that he should. He
loved her, and now was the
time to open up to her, as she asked.
As Mulder was about to go to the door when a dazzling spray of pain
exploded in his head. Mulder felt his legs give out beneath him, and he almost
crumpled to the floor save for
the last-ditch effort to grab a hold of a table.
FOX!!! IT'S YOUR FAULT, FOX MULDER!!!
"No!!! Why are you doing this to me?!? What do you want from me?"
FOX!!!
"Samantha!!! I didn't want them to take you!!! Please believe me!!"
Mulder called out, tears of pain running down his cheeks.
YOU LET ME GO, FOX! THEY'RE HURTING ME, THEY KILLED OUR FATHER, AND OUR
MOTHER IS SICK...BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!!!!!!
At that point in time, what remained of Fox Mulder's control snapped.
All he could do was scream.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Scully stood at the elevator, waiting impatiently for it to arrive, and
trying not to cry or scream.
"Damn him," Scully muttered shakily. His words had hurt her terribly.
She cared for him so much, wanted so much to just reach out to him, hold him
close, and comfort him, and
he pushed her away, unable to trust her. His lack of trust in her hurt more
than a dagger in the back. How could he say such things? How could he doubt
her?
"I'm not going to let you get away with this, Fox William Mulder!!"
Scully said to herself as she turned around and began the walk back to his
apartment.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mulder screamed inside the apartment.
"MULDER!!!" Scully shouted in panic, then ran to his door. She pounded
on the door rapidly. "MULDER?!?"

Mulder heard Scully at the door, but could not gather enough strength to
open the door. He stood as fast as he could, trying to defy the dizziness that
subsequently followed.
He turned halfway to see himself in the mirror. He was a shell of his former
self, a wreck of a man. He was about to turn away when he saw...
"Samantha?!?" Mulder exclaimed, thunderstruck at seeing his sister at
the age she was taken, looking at her with a twisted face of anger.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, FOX!!
"No...please..."
IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!
"NO!" Mulder reacted without thinking, grabbing a baseball bat he kept
by the door, and swinging it to the mirror, smashing it beyond repair.
Scully pounded harder on the door, calling out to Mulder, but he did not
hear her as he rampaged through his apartment, swinging the bat at everything he
could. Lamps, chairs,
the television, nothing was saved from Mulder's attack.

Scully heard Mulder shouting and destroying his apartment, and could
wait no longer. She kicked the door with all her strength. The door flew open
to reveal Fox Mulder, out of breath,
holding the now-broken bat in his hand.
"Oh, my God..." Scully exhaled. "Mulder...put the bat down. Let me
help you."
"Scully..." Mulder said shakily, trying to catch his breath.
"Fox..."
"AAARRRRRRRGGHHH!!" Mulder screamed, grabbing his head. He rushed at
her blindly.
Scully dodged him as he ran past and stumbled down the hall. She chased
after him as he ran down the emergency steps to the main floor. He shook his
head as if to try to clear it as
he focused on the door. He ran to it and opened it.
He was surprised by Albert Hosteen.
"Where will you run, Mr. Mulder? It will follow you wherever you go.
Stay, and let me help."
"Get away from me!"
"It is using your memories against you. Twisting them to tell you
lies..."
Mulder tried to listen to Hosteen's words, but when he heard Scully call
out to him, he ran past Hosteen and into the street, into the path of an
oncoming car. The car screeched to a halt,
short of hitting him.
Mulder collapsed to the ground, in tears. Hosteen not far behind,
Scully ran to him and took him into his arms.
"Scully...She won't stop..."
"Who, Mulder?"
"Samantha. She's calling out to me...It's all my fault, Scully.
Samantha, my father, my mother, everything that's happened to them is because of
me..."
"No, Mulder..."
"God, Scully...help me...please..." Mulder said before breaking into
sobs.
"Oh, Mulder..." Scully could manage only that as she held and rocked
Mulder, herself, breaking into tears. "I'm here now...I'll never leave you...."

TO BE CONTINUED...

From picard1@execpc.com Fri Dec 06 19:17:59 1996

Disclaimers:
See part one.

WARNINGS: Ditto.

T H E X F I L E S:

"Crescendo In Blackness"

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

CHAPTER V
---------

9:05 P.M.

The drive to her apartment seemed to take far too long for Dana Scully's
taste. Mulder was seated next to her, doubled over in intense pain. His tears
continued to fall, tearing at Scully's heartstrings. She couldn't stand to see
him like this. She longed to hold him again, to assure him that she would be
there
for him, that she wouldn't let go...ever again.
Albert Hosteen was quietly chanting in Navajo from the back seat,
occasionally touching Mulder's shoulder, which caused Mulder to react as if he
was struck by lightning,
scrunching down in his seat. Scully wanted to scream out at Hosteen to stop
hurting Mulder, but she knew that was not Hosteen's intent. All she did was
step on the gas pedal
and prayed that the local PD weren't casing the area.
When Scully finally arrived at her apartment, she ripped the keys from
the ignition, jumped out of the car, ran to the other side, opened Mulder's
door, and helped him
out of his seat. He was so frail, so weak...Scully fought to suppress a sob as
she held on tight, while Hosteen quickly arrived at Mulder's other side to
assist Scully.
They walked Mulder all the way up to Dana's apartment. Scully furiously
searched her coat pockets for her keys as Hosteen held Mulder upright. She
quickly unlocked the door
and almost kicked it open before she reached for Mulder once again. She and
Hosteen walked Mulder into her bedroom, where Mulder fell out of their grasp and
onto her bed.
He began to toss and turn, holding his head and wincing in pain.
FOX!!! FOX!!!!!!! WHY?!?!?
"Make it stop, please...," Mulder cried out in agony. "Scully, help
me..."
Hosteen felt Mulder's forehead. "He is becoming feverish. His body is
losing the strength to fight. You must allow his skin to expel the
fire raging in him."
Scully immediately started to strip Mulder of his clothes. She began to
feel self-conscious as she unbuttoned his shirt. She had dreamed of doing this,
but not under the current
circumstances. After all but Mulder's boxer shorts had been removed, Scully ran
to the bedroom and soaked a washcloth in cold water. She returned to the
bedroom and gently began to
wipe the washcloth across Mulder's forehead, his cheeks, his neck and chest.
Mulder's eyes focused on her as she continued to run the washcloth along his
skin.
"Scully...she'll never forgive me, will she? She...she hates me for
what happened to her...to my parents..."
"Shhhh," Scully exhaled, caressing his cheek. "Samantha doesn't hate
you. Her disappearance wasn't your fault, you have to believe that."
"The evil is using your sister's spirit to lie to you, make you feel
things that are untrue," Hosteen added. "You must allow your mind to focus. I
will help you." Hosteen reached
for a small bag he had across his shoulder. He opened it and brought out a
small clay bowl, some herbs, a solitary matchstick, and what could best be
described as a rattle made out of bone
from a buffalo. He struck the match and lit the herbs in the bowl. They
quickly burned to a small pile of ash. He put some ash on his fingers and
smeared a streak over both of Mulder's eyes.
He then smeared more ash on Mulder's dampened chest, right over his heart.
"Allow your body to rest, Mulder. Let the burden of these visions leave
you for a moment," Hosteen said.
Mulder closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply. After a few
moments, he felt much more relaxed. He also felt sleepy. Before he would not
be able to, he reached for Scully's hand.
Scully took his hand in hers and held on as if he was all she had left.

Mulder found himself standing on the edge of a very steep cliff. A
gentle breeze blew through his hair. The setting sun cast a pinkish-orange glow
upon the rocky landscape. There was
no one to be seen, but he could hear a voice, distant, chanting in Navajo,
shaking an ancient rattle to sound the hawk. He suddenly felt very frightened,
and wanted to run somewhere, anywhere.
"Where will you go, Mr. Mulder?"
An older man stood just beyond the cliff's edge, seemingly floating in
mid-air. Mulder recognized the man only as "Deep Throat".
"Your mind tells you half-truths, Mr. Mulder. You have yourself
convinced you are the one at fault for your sister's disappearance."
"She says...it's my fault. Maybe it is," Mulder said in confusion.
"No, Fox," replied Bill Mulder, replacing Deep Throat. "You are to be
her champion. You will be the one to end this pain. You must."
"But, I hear her.... She keeps calling out to me..."
FOX!!! FOX, HOW COULD YOU LET THEM TAKE ME? called a young, female
voice from off in the distance.
"Listen carefully, Fox," Mulder's mother said, standing beside Bill.
"Is that Samantha you hear, or someone else?"
FOX!!! HOW COULD YOU LET THEM TAKE HER?!? An image of Mulder spat back
at its real counterpart. IT'S YOUR FAULT, ALL OF IT!! YOUR FATHER,
YOUR MOTHER...THEY WOULD BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU!!
"NO!!!" Mulder screamed at the image. "I tried to save them! I never
meant for them to be hurt!"
"No, Agent Mulder," the Cigarette-Smoking Man said from behind Mulder.
"They were hurt because of you. Your search for the truth overpowered
all else, and put them both in danger."
"You had my father killed, you murdering bastard!" Mulder lashed out,
storming toward the Smoking Man. "You pushed my mother into a coma!! YOU
are the one at fault, you son of a bitch!!!!" Mulder grabbed at the Smoking
Man's jacket, only to have the image disappear in front of him.
"Mulder..." Scully called out to him.
"Scully?!?" Mulder called back.
"Have faith in yourself, Mulder," Scully said, standing at Mulder's
side. "You and I search for the truth so we can vindicate Samantha. You have
her forgiveness because you have never given up the search. You never will, I
know that. I believe in you more than I ever believed in anyone. Allow
peace."
"Scully, I--" Mulder began, only to see Scully's image disappear in
front of him.
"Fox?" came a small voice behind him.
"Samantha?" Mulder muttered before turning around.
Samantha Mulder, age 9, stood before him, a gentle and loving smile on
her face. "Fox, I love you. I miss you. I'll wait forever for you; you
will find me one day, I know that for fact. Your faith and conviction outweigh
all else. And those things will lead you to me."
"Sam..." Mulder broke down in tears at her words. He knelt and embraced
his younger sister. "Forgive me..."
"I forgive you, Fox. And I love you. Never give up...never give up..."
Samantha was gone.
Mulder stood and wiped his eyes. He looked to the sky and saw a hawk
soar past him into the distance. The hawk had shown him the way...

10:31 P.M.

Mulder jolted up in bed, sweaty and breathless. Scully seemed startled
at his sudden movement, but did not let go of his hand. Hosteen stopped
chanting and said, "You have found the truth from the darkness. The evil one's
lies will mean little to you for now. However, it will become more crafty with
time. You must rest now; allow your body time to recover."
Mulder slowly rested his head on the pillows once again as Hosteen
stood. He looked at Scully. Her eyes were red from crying, but she smiled at
him.
"Scully...don't leave me..."
"Never, Mulder...never..." Scully assured him soothingly.
"I must rest now, as well," Hosteen stated. "Had a very long flight."
Scully smiled and said, "Make yourself at home, Mr. Hosteen. I'm afraid
all I have for you to sleep on is the couch."
"That will be fine, Ms. Scully. You are most generous. I know now why
Mr. Mulder cares about you so much..."
"Mr. Hosteen? I....I never got the chance to thank you for what you did
for Melissa..."
"Melissa has a strong spirit. It watches over you both. Her love for
you is endless."
Scully fought the urge to cry again. "Thank you. Good night."
"Good night, Ms. Scully, Mr. Mulder," Hosteen replied, leaving the
bedroom and closing the door behind him.

2:41 A.M.

A few hours later, Dana had moved to the floor beside the bed after
Mulder had finally drifted to sleep. She was just beginning to fall asleep
herself
when Mulder awoke with a shout.
"Mulder?" Scully called out, kneeling upward to check on him.
"Bad dream," Mulder replied, wiping some sweat from his brow.
Scully stood, then sat on the bed, at Mulder's side. "How do you feel?"
The question felt a bit silly to ask. How would you feel, going through an
emotional hell like that, Dana? she asked herself sarcastically.
"Tired, in pain, and a bit foolish," Mulder replied weakly.
"Foolish? Why?" Scully asked quizzically.
"I kept you away from me. You were there all the time to help, and I
pushed you away..."
"Mulder, don't--"
"Let me finish, Scully," Mulder interrupted, the momentary return of
strength in his voice silencing Scully. "You mean more to me than I can even
tell you. You are all I have left, and I don't want you to think I don't need
you in my life, because I do, more than anything." Mulder shifted to face
Scully completely.
"Mulder..." Scully said quietly, letting the tears fall freely again.
"I need you, Dana..." Mulder said softly, beginning to drift into sleep
again. "Please...don't...leave..me..."
Scully looked at Mulder, now asleep next to her. She brushed some stray
hairs away from his forehead, leaned in, and kissed him ever so lightly on the
lips. Mulder
didn't move an inch as she lingered a bit. She slowly pulled away and
whispered, "I'll never leave you, Fox. I love you....."
He never heard her..........

CHAPTER VI
----------

DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT
Annapolis, MD
FRIDAY, 8:40 A.M.

Fox Mulder awoke suddenly, as if he was shaken awake by some unseen
force. He felt very weak, but not as sleepy as he felt many hours earlier. He
looked around slowly,
piecing together events. He remembered the vision, the pain, Scully by his
side, never letting go...
Scully!!! Mulder turned in bed and tried to stand, which proved
foolish. The nausea and dizziness that slapped its hand upon him sent him back
to the bed saying, "Bad
idea, Mulder." Just then, Albert Hosteen walked in.
"You must rest, Mr. Mulder. Your body is still very weak, and will need
time to heal. Drink this," Albert said, handing Mulder a steaming cup of what
resembled tea.
Mulder took a whiff of the steam rising from the cup's contents and
wrinkled his nose a bit. "What is it?"
"An herbal drink used by my people. It gives the mind and body focus.
Drink," Hosteen explained.
Mulder took a small sip, swallowed quickly as if to erase the taste from
his memory. "Smooth," Mulder whispered. "Where's Agent Scully?"
"She has left for the Bureau office. She said she was meeting with
Director Skinner and one other man to explain your absence. I will let you rest
now," Hosteen said
as he turned to leave.
"Mr. Hosteen?" Mulder called out. As Hosteen turned around, Mulder
asked, "I wanted to ask you...how did you know what was happening to me?"
"After your healing in the Blessing Way ceremony, a bond was formed
between us. I have become able to sense when your mind is in distress. The
evil that has plagued you
came to me in a vision, and I knew I was needed."
"Thank you...for everything you've done," Mulder said, smiling weakly.
"You are most welcome, Agent Mulder. And thank Agent Scully, too. She
has much love in her heart for you."
Mulder considered the meaning of Hosteen's statement. If only it meant
what he wanted it to mean...
"She's everything to me. She's all I have left," Mulder admitted.
Hosteen nodded. "The feeling is mutual for her, Agent Mulder. It shows
in her eyes, it is heard in her words to you. I will leave you to rest now.
Call for me if
you need anything." With that, Hosteen left the bedroom, leaving Fox Mulder to
consider many things.....

J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
9:04 A.M.
Office of the Assistant Director

"Sir? Agent Dana Scully is here to see you."
"Send her in, Miss DuMont," ordered Walter Skinner to his secretary over
the speakerphone. Shortly after, Dana Scully entered Skinner's office.
"Sit down please, Agent Scully," Skinner requested.
As Scully sat, Skinner took off his glasses and, rubbing his eyes, said,
"Can you tell me just what the hell happened with Agent Mulder yesterday?"
"Agent Mulder has been suffering from a type of post-traumatic stress
syndrome. I believe it may have been spawned by this last case."
"Oh, yes...the "alien killer" case. I can understand that it may have
been disturbing to see what you two saw, but it's no different than anything
else
an agent of the Bureau has ever seen."
"It's not necessarily what was seen as what the implications were of
what he saw. The last murder the young man committed was on his younger sister,
and that
affected Agent Mulder particularly strongly."
"Of course, because of his sister...Has he seen a counselor for this
post-traumatic stress?"
"I tried to have him talk to Agent McNeill, but Agent Mulder wouldn't
have anything to do with him," Scully replied, still remembering the heated
exchange that night.
"Wait a minute....Agent who?" Skinner interrupted.
"Agent Alex McNeill, Agent Kossoff's replacement."
"Agent Kossoff wasn't due to receive a replacement for another week,"
Skinner said, looking confused.
"But...Agent McNeill said Agent Kossoff was injured in a car accident,
and that he was appointed to replace her until she recovered," Scully explained,
becoming
increasingly worried.
"Agent Kossoff WAS injured in a car accident, but I sure as hell didn't
receive notice of a replacement," Skinner said, standing and picking up the
phone. "Get me
Agent Alex McNeill right now!"
"He even said you briefed him on the case! He had all the files!!"
"The bastard probably weaseled them out of Personnel...What do you mean,
you can't locate him? Check Agent Kossoff's office!!!"
Scully immediately stood and ran out the door. Things had just gotten a
lot worse....

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

From picard1@execpc.com Fri Dec 06 19:21:05 1996

Disclaimers and Warnings: See part one!

T H E X F I L E S:

"Crescendo In Blackness"

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

CHAPTER VII
-----------

J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
9:15 a.m.

Dana Scully's mind raced as she reached Agent Kossoff's office. Another
agent was already on the scene, searching Kossoff's desktop. "Anything?"
Scully asked
breathlessly.
"No. No notes, papers, nothing on McNeill. I found his file in the
Personnel database...and it's been wiped."
"That's impossible! He wouldn't have access to erase the database
info!" Scully exclaimed, nonplussed. She was slightly startled by the phone on
Agent Kossoff's
desk ringing. Scully motioned for the agent to back away from the phone as she
moved in and picked it up. If anything was going to clue her in on what was
happening, she
wa going to be the first to discover it, for Mulder's sake.
"Hello?" she asked hesitantly. Her face relaxed a bit as she said,
"No, sir, nothing. What? When? Where is she now? Do not let her go
anywhere!! I'm on my way!"
She slammed down the phone. "I have to go. Stay here in case he shows up!"
She turned and ran out of the room, leaving the other agent to stare after her
in confusion.

"I...I don't know why I did it...I don't even remember going in the
computer room!" a desparate voice insisted as Skinner and Scully entered the
room where Agent Margaret
DeFoe was being questioned by another agent who was posted as security officer.
"Your login name and password is "foxfire", right?" the officer asked.
"Yes, but..."
"That login was identified in the log of accessors to the main personnel
database. That login was noted as accessing Agent Alex McNeill's file as well
as deleting all the
information within it!! Why did you do it?" The officer pressed on.
"I'm telling you I don't know why I did it!!" DeFoe exclaimed, her voice
shaking.
Scully interrupted as she saw that DeFoe was becoming increasingly
upset. She leaned forward and asked calmly, "Margaret, listen carefully. Did
you hear or see anything
unusual during the time you were in the computer room?"
"Oh, for God's sake, Agent Scully!! You've been hanging around "Spooky"
Mulder too long!" the interrogating agent spat out.
"That's enough out of you, Benton!!" Skinner retorted quickly. "Agent
DeFoe?"
"I....heard a voice...it kept chanting..."do it"..."do it"...I don't
even know my way around a computer that well, but somehow I found myself
accessing and doing things that I never knew how to do. It's as if someone was
guiding me, walking me through each step," Agent DeFoe explained.
Scully's face grew pale with a sense of dread. This sounded all too
familiar... "Did you recognize the voice?"
"No. There's one more thing...before Agent Benton came in, I heard him
say one more thing..."
"What was it?" Scully asked anxiously.
"Vengeance is mine."

DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT
Annapolis, MD
9:35 a.m.

MULDER!!!!! HELP ME!!!!!!!
The voice in his head was so loud and so sudden it almost made Mulder
shout out loud. He knew the voice...he'd heard it that way one terrible moment
in time past.
"Scully..."
MULDER!!!!! THEY'RE HURTING ME!!! HELP ME, PLEASE!!
"Scully!!!!" Mulder shouted, jumping out of bed and grabbing his
clothes.
Albert Hosteen opened the door. "What's wrong?"
"Scully's in trouble! I have to go to her!" Mulder struggled to get
his slacks on and button his shirt all at once.
"Your mind deceives you again. The evil has returned."
"I have to go to her!! There's more to this!!" Mulder pushed his feet
into his shoes and ran out of the bedroom.
"Agent Mulder!!! You must be strong!! Your life depends on it!!"
Hosteen called out after him, unable to follow him. The battle was his and his
alone now. He could do no more...or could he?

Skinner took Scully out of the room a few moments after Benton resumed
questioning and said quietly, "Do you want to explain to me why you think this
has anything to do with Agent Mulder?"
"He has been hearing his sister's voice in his head....he hears her
saying that it's his fault she disappeared. That's what has been affecting him.
He was almost convinced he was responsible for not only his sister's
disappearance, but his father's death and his mother's stroke."
"So you're saying he's hearing voices telling him to believe something
he shouldn't? Like DeFoe?"
"Yes, it may be some form of suggestion." Scully said, hardly believing
what she was saying. "We've had an experience like this before. You were
beaten up by a woman who was convinced you attacked her."
"You mean..."
"Robert Patrick Modell. He was able to control people's minds and
manipulate him at his will. This may be something like him."
"You think Agent McNeill is like Modell, that he can manipulate minds?
You said Modell may have achieved that because of his condition." Skinner
stated, his voice full of doubt.
"I don't know....it seems ridiculous when you think of it up front, but
it has happened once already." Scully said.
SCULLY.....
She heard it as easily as she heard Skinner just a second ago. A voice,
distant and in pain....
"Mulder..."
"Huh? What about him?" Skinner asked.
"I've got to go." Scully started to head down the hall as Skinner
looked on.
"Where?"
"I've got to make sure Mulder is all right!!" Scully could not hesitate
to explain further.
She ran from the hall where she left Skinner to her car in the parking
garage. She became increasingly impatient and upset as she tried to find her
keys. Where had that voice come from? Was it out of her imagination, or was it
something more? All she new for sure was that she feared for Mulder's safety
now more than ever, and had to be sure he was all right.
As she got her door unlocked and climbed in her car, she noticed another
car block her path out of the spot. She got out and shouted, "Move out of the
way!!"
She stopped in her tracks as the driver stepped out of the car. He was
aiming a traquilizer gun at her.
"Let the games begin!" was the last thing she heard before the gun
fired.

TO BE CONCLUDED!!!

From picard1@execpc.com Fri Dec 06 19:39:58 1996
(See disclaimers and warnings from Part One.)

YES!!! The final part of this epic is finally complete!! I hope you enjoyed
the story thus far, but if you think the last 5 parts were exciting,
nothing...NOTHING can prepare you for this!!

T H E X F I L E S:
"Crescendo In Blackness"

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

CHAPTER VIII
------------

The Royal Lincoln Ampitheater
10:25 a.m.

Dana Scully awoke with a start, only to find the brightness of stage lights
shining on her.
Her head pounded with excruciating pain, and she found that her arms were forced
behind her,
and she was bound at the wrists and ankles. She slowly began to remember what
happened.
Mulder's voice crying out to her...Alex McNeill...the tranquilizer gun...
She jumped suddenly at the music that began from speakers behind her. It
began at a
deafening level, making her scream out loud with pain. It was turned down
suddenly to a more
tolerable level as a man stepped out of the shadows of stage's left.
"Sorry about that...These old speaker systems ain't what they used to be."
It was Alex McNeill...yet it wasn't. The voice was different...huskier,
mocking, like she
had heard in the parking garage...and one other time...
"This theater is scheduled to be demolished soon...for a parking lot. A
goddamn parking
lot! It just goes to show you that people have no respect for the arts
anymore," McNeill said,
walking slowly toward Scully.
"What do you want, McNeill?" Scully asked angrily.
"I'll get to that in a moment, Scully. For now, just listen to the music.
This is the
Confutatis from Mozart's Requiem...one of the finest pieces in classical music.
Violent and
mournful as well as passionate...one wouldn't normally expect that from a mass
for the dead. It
seemed appropriate for the occasion, though."
McNeill began to circle Scully like a shark stalking its prey as he continued.
"You know, I never
had an appreciation for this music...I was a rock-and-roll kind of guy until
recently. I guess I owe
it all to two people...your partner, whom I hope to be seeing shortly, and this
man..." He pointed
to himself. "Alex McNeill. Who would've known I would come to learn so much
from such a
boring young man?" McNeill laughed heartily.
"What are you getting at?" Scully pressed, writhing in an attempt to keep
her muscles
from spasming in pain.
"He had come in to visit another intrepid agent hurt in the line of duty.
Within my
confines, I could sense him...he had the same gift I had, but couldn't begin to
realize how to
implement it...I used all the strength I could from my shell of a body and,
well, jumped into him.
His mind crossed paths with mine, and we've become a wonderful couple...like you
and your
partner." McNeill explained, bending down to whisper in her ear. "Tell me, do
you work well
together?"
"Oh, my God... it can't be..."
"Oh but it is, dear Dana. I'm afraid the rumors of Robert Patrick Modell's
death have
been greatly exaggerated!"

Mulder was driving well beyond safe speed limits, but he could care less.
He knew
something was very wrong...Scully was in danger. He could still hear her...
MULDER!! HELP ME!!
Mulder's hand went to his temple involuntarily due to the sharp pain the
sensation of her
voice caused. It was happening all over again, but this time, he was sure it
was more than the
workings of an "evil one", as Hosteen had called it.
Mulder had just reached the parking garage entrance to see it guarded by
police and other
agents. The electronically-controlled barrier had been destroyed. Mulder
pulled over to the curb
and got out, running to Skinner, who had just appeared.
"What's happened here? Where's Scully?" Any other onlooker would never
think to
connect the two events, but somehow, he knew she was involved.
"She's been kidnapped," Skinner responded bluntly, confirming Mulder's
suspicion.
"What happened?!?" Mulder shouted above the sound of another police car
approaching
with sirens wailing. He followed Skinner to the broken barrier.
"The guard on duty saw a car rush the barrier, he tried to intercept it,
but the driver damn
near plowed him down. As the car sped off, he saw Agent Scully in the back
seat, unconscious.
The car was not registered with the Bureau, we've checked."
MULDER!!! HELP ME!! Mulder winced as another sharp pain tore through his
head.
Skinner watched with concern as Mulder looked up, his eyes watering with tears
from the pain.
"Agent Mulder...?"
HEY, SPOOKY!!! I'M WAITING FOR YOU!! A very different voice echoed in his
head this time, one he thought would never poison his life again.
"Modell..."
"What?"
"Robert Patrick Modell...he's alive! He's got Scully!" Mulder reiterated,
running back to
his car.
Skinner followed him. "Agent Mulder, Robert Modell died over a week ago."
"His body, yes...but not him. He's still alive, and he's calling to me."
Mulder said.
MULDER!!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!
"I'm coming with you," Skinner determined.
"No!! I have to go alone. He'll kill Scully if I don't."
"How do you know?"
Mulder winced again. "He's telling me so...right now." He couldn't take
any more time
to explain. He climbed into his car and sped off as Assistant Director Skinner
looked on in
confusion.

"Your partner should be here shortly," McNeill/Modell reported, then
turned to look at
Scully. "What's the matter? You look so nonplussed! Didn't think you'd be
running into me
again so soon, eh?"
"I don't believe you. Whatever sick game you're trying to play, it won't
succeed," Scully
declared defiantly, shifting a bit to conceal the fact that her fingers were
trying to work out the
knot on her wrist bindings.
"Oh, but it has, Scully. He's walking right into the thick of it. It's
all happening just as I
had planned it," McNeill/Modell countered, chuckling softly.
"What are you doing to Agent Mulder?"
"My work wasn't done with him. I'm continuing where I left off. Besides,
I owe him one
for killing me." McNeill/Modell stopped in place and closed his eyes.
"Ahhh...he's here..."
Scully had to take her chance. "MULDER!!!!" She was about to call out
again when she
felt a gun press into her temple. "I'd suggest you keep silent. The concert is
about to begin,"
McNeill/Modell said quietly.

Mulder kicked down the door of the abandoned ampitheater and stepped in,
gun drawn
and at the ready. Music could be heard, the same music that had played in his
head since he had
left Skinner behind. His head throbbed with near-unbearable pain, but he pushed
on, only thinking
of Scully.
Mulder stepped into the theater proper, slowly walking down the walkway
between the
old, worn seats.
"Well, well...just like a regular goddamn family reunion," a familiar voice
called out.
Mulder swung around to face the stage and looked in shock as he saw Agent
Alex
McNeill hoisting up and pointing a gun to the head of a bound Scully.
"Throw the gun away, or her hair becomes even redder. NOW!!!"
McNeill/Modell
commanded.
Mulder hesitated for only a second before hurling the gun far out of reach.
Scully's eyes
closed, forcing a tear of pain and anger held back to run don her cheek.
"You...." Mulder had figured it all out. "You and Modell..."
"One and the same now, my friend. I have been reborn, gloria,
hallelujah!!!" he shouted
out to the air mockingly.
"McNeill?" Mulder said.
"He's here...in the back of my...well, his mind. I'm on the scene now,
Spooky!"
"Are you okay, Scully?" Mulder called out to her.
"I'm all right..." Scully replied, still working on the knots of rope
around her wrists.
"Awww....isn't that sweet? You know, I always knew there was more to you
two than
met the eye. I guess I was right." McNeill/Modell grabbed Scully's arm and
thrust her back
down. " I can assume, then, that you've gotten everything worked out?"
When neither Mulder or Scully responded, he clarified. "Meaning, worked out
the
problem between the two of you?"
"What are you driving at, McNeill?" Mulder took a step forward, only to
have
McNeill/Modell point the gun at Scully once more.
"Oh!!! You didn't tell him, did you? Hmm....that could be a problem!!"
McNeill/Modell
addressed to Scully.
"Tell him what?" Scully asked quickly, feeling the first knot begin
to loosen. She had to
stall him for a moment...
"How much you resented him, of course. For putting you in so much peril
over the years.
After all, so many things have happened to you since you met him. You've been
shot at,
attacked, beaten, bound up..." He gestured to the ropes on her ankles. "And you
nearly died after
an abduction incident. All these things...all those hardships can be attributed
to one man...Fox
Mulder, your partner."
"Fuck you, Modell!!!" Mulder shouted at the stage.
"Deep inside yourself, Scully, you've been hiding this gnawing little
thought. It's been
eating away at your strength. You hate it, but you cannot deny it. You are
here because of him,
Scully!! He's put you through Hell and worse, and for what? A quest he will
never complete. A
dream he'll never have. How much closer to death will he put you next time,
Scully?"
"You bastard!! You can't win this one, Modell!!" Scully was surprised to
find herself
agreeing with McNeill/Modell's explanation of his duplicity by using the name,
but she found no
reason to deny it.
Then, she looked forward to see Mulder staring at her, his face etched with
pain and
confusion... "No...Mulder, don't listen to him..." she said desparately, knowing
fully what Modell
had been planning to do now.
"You see? He knows!!!" McNeill/Modell shouted, leaping down from the
stage. He kept
the gun on Mulder, knowing that Scully would not be able to move fast enough to
subdue him.
"Don't you, Foxy? You've known all along she might feel this way. You would
never do
anything to hurt her, would you, Foxy?"
"N-no..." Mulder whispered, his mind spinning from fatigue...and the
horrible revelation
that was being presented.
"BUT YOU DID!! Countless times!! She lost her sister because of you!!
She almost
died because of you!! She's suffered for your truth, Mulder!!! And what truth
do you have?
None! Nada!!"
"NO!!" Mulder shouted, his knees getting weak as pain ripped through his
skull.
"And she never told you....She kept it all a secret. That's right, Mulder,
my boy...Dana
Scully has SECRETS!!!!" McNeill/Modell shouted the last word into Mulder's ear,
forcing
Mulder to kneel on the floor, his face showing complete and utter despair.
"Mulder!!! FOX!!! Don't listen to him!! He's a liar!! Fight him like you
did before!!"
Scully cried out, tears threatening to unleash themselves.
"Poor Melissa...cut down before her time...for a secret file that's now
missing? The threat
of an incurable cancerous death for Scully because of a chip implanted in her
neck? Why? You!!
YOU!!! YOU DID IT ALL, FOX MULDER!! SHE'S SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU!!"
"FOX!!" Scully called out, tears running down her face as she saw her
partner, her
friend...the love of her life...falter before her and his worst enemy.
"She doesn't trust you anymore! She HATES you, Foxy!! She hates you for
what you've
done!!!" McNeill/Modell whispered viciously into Mulder's ear.
"No, Mulder!! Don't listen to him!!! PLEASE!!!!" Scully cried out
desparately. "I love
you, Fox!! I have always loved you, and I always will!! Please believe me!!"
"Dana.." Mulder mouthed.
"She's telling you what you want to hear. She's masking her true
feelings!!"
McNeill/Modell retorted.
"How....how do you know all this...?" Mulder asked in barely a whisper, his
body shaking
with pain and fear.
"Because..." McNeill/Modell pointed to his head. "We're smart. We want to
spare you
and your true love any more pain...and we know just how to help you. And I
think you know
how, too."
McNeill/Modell stood upright and checked his gun as the music in the
background changed to
the Rex Tremendae Majestatis from the same Requiem. Mulder knelt on the floor,
his last bit
of strength gone from him. He had been right all along. Scully did hate him.
He was sure of it
now. His absolute worst nightmare had come true. He did know how it could all
end. It was so
simple, really.
"This is your solution, Mulder," McNeill/Modell said softly, popping the
clip in the
chamber. "No Russian Roulette...no tricks. The gun is fully loaded. One pull
of the trigger will
finish this. Your pain will end, and she will be able to live a happy, healthy
life again."
"Oh, god, NO!!!!!!!!!!!" Scully cried. "Mulder, no!! Don't listen to
him!! For God's
sake, fight him!!!"
"One pull..." Mulder repeated blankly.
"Yes, Fox. One pull of that trigger, and you and she will be free from
your pain."
"Fight him, damn you!!! Oh, please, Mulder....Resist him!! Block him
out!!!" Scully
begged tearfully.
"Would you, his supposed friend and love of his life, perpetuate his
further suffering? Let
him help himself and you!!" McNeill/Modell said to Scully before turning back
to Mulder.
"I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU, MODELL!!" Scully screamed with a fury she
had never felt before.
"Finish this, Mulder. For yourself...for her. For Samantha."
McNeill/Modell said calmly,
offering the gun to Mulder.
Mulder looked at it, then at McNeill/Modell.
"FOX!!! Don't do it!! Oh, God...PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!!" Scully called out
to him.
Mulder slowly took the gun from its owner. He looked at it, tears running
down his
cheeks, his eyes half-closed with pain beyond imagination.
Then, he aimed it at his temple.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!" Scully cried out, now sobbing
uncontrollably.
"SHUT UP!! Don't lie to yourself and him!! This is how you want it!!
Your suffering
will end, and so will his!! Allow him mercy!!" McNeill/Modell shouted. "Do
it, Mulder. End
your pain."
"MULDER!!!"
Mulder rested his finger on the trigger.
"Do it, Fox... End your suffering...think of her pain...all she went
through..."
"I'm so sorry, Dana..." Mulder whispered.
"Her abduction..."
"FOX!! FIGHT HIM!!!"
"Melissa's death..."
Mulder's finger twitched as he began to apply pressure.
"FOX...I LOVE YOU!! PLEASE BELIEVE ME!! DON'T DO THIS!! I NEED YOU!!
FIGHT HIM!!"
"Her personal life...destroyed..."
Mulder's hand shook. His head throbbed, and his skull felt ready to crack
under the
pressure.
"Do it!!" McNeill/Modell said.
"MULDER, FIGHT!!"
"Do it!!!"
"I'm so sorry, Scully..."
"DO IT!!!"
"FIGHT! FIGHT!! FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Scully screamed until her voice was
gone.

"SCULLY!!!!" Fox Mulder cried out with all his might. A dazzling spray of
pain swept
through him, then all pain ceased. Time seemed to stop. McNeill, Scully, the
theater,
Washington...all gone.
All he could hear was the sound of a hawk.
Albert Hosteen's words echoed through his head once more...

"The Hawk spreads his wings for flight,
as the body and the soul separate...
Your mind seeks the truth...
Let go of your mortal bond, and let the hawk guide you...
Only then, will your soul rest your body..."
The hawk soared for him once more, and the pain was gone.
It all made sense to him now.
Fox Mulder had fought the good fight.
And won.

At that precise moment, Scully felt the last knot of her bindings come
loose. She fought
with the rope until it dropped away. She quickly reached down and undid the
ankle bindings so
fast that even she could not believe her ability to do so. She charged toward
the edge of the stage
and jumped down with a rush of anger she had never imagined herself
experiencing.
McNeill/Modell had just noticed Scully was on the move toward him. He
watched her
approach and shouted, "DO IT NOW, MULDER!!!!"
He then felt a bullet rip through his arm.
McNeill/Modell turned to see Mulder point the gun at his forehead. He had
failed. He
was ready to accept his death once again.
However, Scully's wild charge turned out to be advantageous.
Scully plowed into McNeill/Modell, unbalancing Mulder, who dropped the gun.
Scully
sandwiched McNeill/Modell between herself and Mulder and gripped his throat.
McNeill/Modell
reached over, picked up the gun and, aiming recklessly, fired.
Th top of Scully's shoulder exploded with blood. She cried out and fell
back from sheer force.
McNeill/Modell attempted to stand despite Mulder's clawing at him.
McNeill/Modell used his
non-injured arm to slam into Mulder's face, loosening his grip. McNeill/Modell
forced himself
upward, tripping on Mulder's legs, forcing him to drop the gun.
Scully reached out for it with her injured arm and had it in her hand in
seconds while
McNeill/Modell attempted to escape.
Scully fired only once, which was painful enough to feel as if someone had
ripped her arm
clear from its socket.
The bullet pierced his back and exited his upper abdomen. McNeill/Modell
staggered
forward nonetheless, using all his remaining strength to run as fast as he
could.
Scully dragged herself to her feet and immediately ran to Mulder, who was
attempting to
stand. "Go, Scully..." he said weakly.
"No...I can't leave you..."
"Go!! Don't let him escape!!" Mulder shouted.
Scully nodded only slightly and ran in McNeill/Modell's direction. She
used the trail of
blood to easily track him. To Scully's shock, he had been able to climb the
flight of stairs to the
upper stage control area despite his wounds. She climbed the stairs, fighting
the shock she could
feel threatening to overtake her.
She drew McNeill/Modell's gun up once more as she opened the door to the
upper
control area.
There, she saw Alex McNeill, controlled by Robert Patrick Modell, stumbling
to the
walkway floor.
"Modell!!!!!" Scully shouted to the fallen man.
A throaty laugh, moist with blood, came from McNeill/Modell. "You got me,
G-woman..."
"You bastard!!! I should kill you right now!!" Scully seethed at her
target.
"I'm dead anyway...or, at least, he will be...I'll be moving on now..."
McNeill/Modell turned his fallen body over to face Scully. "I'm right,
aren't I?"
"Shut up, you son of a-"
"Dont fret...it's okay. I already know the truth. But do you know it?
Will he know it?"
McNeill/Modell spat out blood as he spoke, repulsing Scully, who still kept her
aim true.
"You do feel that way, don't you?" He laughed once more, much weaker than
last time.
"I knew it all along..."
"FUCK YOU!!" Scully screamed.
"Then I've won...vengeance is mine..." McNeill/Modell spat out his last
breath, then went
limp.
Scully kept her aim on him, but slowly approached him. She almost shot him
when his
eyes opened again halfway...
"Agent...Sc-Scully..." the voice was softer now...
"Alex...?"
"You have to...shoot me...in the head...it will prevent him....from doing
this...again..."
"Alex..."
"Release me..." Alex McNeill begged.
"DO IT!! AHAHAHAHA!!" Modell scoffed.

A shot rang out...then all that could be heard was the "Amen" from the
Lacrimosa of Mozart's Requiem as Dana Scully slumped to the walkway floor...

EPILOGUE NEXT!!

Write me at picard1@execpc.com with your comments!!

From picard1@execpc.com Thu Dec 12 23:36:49 1996
(SEE DISCLAIMERS FROM PART ONE...)

T H E X F I L E S:
"Crescendo In Blackness"---EPILOGUE

By: Scott J. Hauenstein

PART IX
-----------

4:35 P.M.

Dana Scully stepped quietly into Fox Mulder's hospital room and smiled a
bit when she
noticed that his eyes were closed. He needed to rest...emergency doctors
recommended he spend
a night or two in the hospital to regain his strength from the horror of the
last two days.
Scully winced a bit as she maneuvered to the bedside chair, realizing the
painkiller she had
received in the ER was beginning to wear off. The bullet wound was not life
threatening, and
doctors were able to patch it up quickly and she would not have to stay at the
hospital; however,
she did have to remain off active duty for a week or so. She also made sure
that Skinner give
Mulder the same time for recovery. They both needed it...the X-files could
wait. The truth
would still be out there when they returned...though there was one Scully hoped
wouldn't be....
As she sat down, Mulder opened his eyes. "Hey, you..." he said in a tired,
but content
voice.
"Hey yourself..." Scully replied softly, taking his hand in hers. "How do
you feel?"
"A bit wrung out...you?"
"More or less the same, minus a bit of skin," she said, indicating the
bandaged shoulder.
"Scully, I'm sorry..."
"Don't be, Mulder. None of this was your fault. He used us as his pawns,
Mulder. He
used McNeill as his vessel."
"You believed him?" Mulder asked, sounding a bit surprised.
"No matter how I look at it, I cannot find any other reason for his
behavior."
"McNeill must have had powers of suggestion similar to Modell's, but
couldn't channel
them as easily. Modell's mind still possessed those powers, and needed someone
who could
employ them through a physical form. When he talked to you and me in my
apartment, whenever
he met with you, Modell was using McNeill's knowledge and personality to
disguise his
intentions..." Mulder yawned with the last word, feeling fatigue claim him once
more.
"Get some rest, Fox..." Scully said softly, slowly pulling away from his
soft grip and
standing up.
"Dana...in the theater, you said-"
"I know what I said...and I meant it," Scully said, touching Mulder's
cheek. "I love you,
Fox Mulder."
"I love you too, Dana. I always have..." Mulder reached up and caressed
her cheek.
"But I have to know one thing before we can go on...because I want to be with
you...more than
anything...but I need to know the truth." Mulder paused, took a deep breath,
then asked the
question he had been dreading since McNeill/Modell was killed.
"Was he right?"
Scully had prayed and prayed he wouldn't ask that. The connotations of it
frightened her
too much.
"Fox..."
"I have to know, Scully. I can't go on with this without knowing your
answer. Was he
right about your feelings against me?"
Mulder deserved to know the truth. It was the one thing he held dear, next
to his partner.
"Never..." Scully whispered.
Mulder suddenly relaxed, and Scully was sure she could see tears welling in
his eyes.
"Thank you, Dana..."
"I better let you rest...Skinner's waiting for me outside...he's going to
be picking me up
and bringing me here until my arm heals...I'll be back in the morning," she
barely spoke, heading
for the door.
"Dana?"
"Yes?"
"I love you..."
"I love you, too." With that, she left the room and walked to the
elevator. Her mind was
spinning...
The elevator arrived, and Scully quickly entered, pushing the button and
closing the door
before anyone else could get in. She balled her fists and dug her nails into
her palm to keep
herself in control, but she felt the tears begin to fall down her face.
"Oh, God, Mulder....what have I done to us....Oh, God...." Scully sobbed,
her body
shaking with the sudden, harsh cold of truth. A truth she had not told to Fox
Mulder, the man she
had come to love so much. A truth that, if it is told, will mean the end of
them both....forever.

(Hosteen): My time in Washington has ended, and I now journey home. Mr.
Mulder and
Ms. Scully have defeated the Evil once and for all and no more will it haunt
them.
However, my last vision quest before leaving Ms. Scully's home showed me a
disturbing
omen...the hawk, the guide from lie to truth, from darkness to light, has turned
back to the dark,
and disappeared in blackness. I fear for both of them now, for this vision
tells that they will face
evil's pain once more...it takes on a new form...deep within one of them....and
it will tear both of
them asunder.
May the spirits help them now...I can do nothing more....

T H E E N D

Well, there you have it folks!! It was a long wait for you all, but I hope you
enjoyed the story. I
await your comments anxiously!! Tell me what you liked, didn't like, etc!! In
case you've
forgotten, my e-mail address is picard1@execpc.com .
And, by the way........there will be a sequel....keep your eyes open...and
trust no one.