***Chapter Thirteen***

Olive Grove Restaurant

"So, finally, after Mulder and I talk to dozens of churches, we get someone who knows one of the suspects' fathers. She remembers Crazy Joe Bob Baxton, who would get up in church on a Sunday and start preachin' and speakin' in tongues. That part was okay, since it's a Pentecostal church and that's how you know it's the holy spirit in you." He paused for a bite of ravioli.

I took over. "The problem with Crazy Joe Bob Baxton was that he plumb hated women. Not that he was one of them gay boys or nothin', but he thought that St. Paul was right. And that women were the source of all sins. Eve, you know. You're all evil." I leered at Scully, who threw a piece of bread at me.

"Just eat your spaghetti, partner."

I looked down at my bowl of naked pasta. It looked back at me, but I twirled a few strands around my fork anyway. Stein took advantage of my distraction.

"So, anyway, Joe Bob's wife left him at some point - it's not clear whether he was antiwoman before she left, but he certainly was afterwards. She left him with a son, Bobby, whom he raised all by himself. Bobby was a quiet kid, not too bright, who pretty much did what he was told and believed everything his father told him. Never really got into trouble. Dated a couple of girls. His father died of a heart attack at about the time Bobby finished high school. Bobby joined the army right after, which everyone pretty much thought was a good idea since Joe Bob didn't leave him much. Yeah, some girl disappeared around that time, and turned up dead, but no one made any connection."

"Fits your profile perfectly, Fox." Walter smiled at me, so I smiled back. He has wonderful eyes. They're warm and clear and they can see right into my soul, and when they do they actually like what they see.

"Mulder?" I felt a hand on my shoulder, and blinked.

"Scully? What . . . "

Stein was looking at us open mouthed.

"Agent Stein . . . "

He pulled out his wallet and showed us a picture of a man about his age with a dark beard and a rather nice smile, holding hands with another man, also smiling. "This is my cousin David and his very good friend Miguel. They've been very good friends for several years. I didn't see anything just now."

My partner, my lover and I all exchanged glances. I nodded. We could trust this man.

He took a sip of wine. "From Mulder's profile and . . . the other things that have been going on . . . I'd say that Bobby was our man. There's only one problem."

"And what would that be, Agent Stein?" Scully took her hand off my shoulder.

"We can't find Bobby. He quit the agency this morning and seems to have left his apartment as well. The agency swears it hasn't spoken to any of the potential suspects, but somehow he seems to have gotten word."

I pushed my food away. "He knows. He's known from the beginning, or at least since he killed Shoshana Cohen."

"How could he know that, Mulder?"

"Same way I know how it feels to have a woman's blood . . . " I began to rub my hands together. They were hot and sticky with living fluids that only I could see or feel. Walter reached across the table and gently separated them, holding them apart.

"There's no way you could know that, Fox, because there is no way you could be there."

I shook my head. "I *was* there. I can still hear her, over and over and over again. Shema . . . ekat. I can still feel his fear - he truly thought she was a witch casting a spell on him. And he was . . . oh, my God! He was with . . . he was in my mind when . . . I know where he is." It came to me in a flash of insight. That was what I had felt in my mind that night. I tore my hands away from Walter and jumped to my feet. Three pairs of hands caught me. "I have to go. I have to stop him. He'll find someone else. He knows how, he doesn't need the uniform. Let me go!"

"Mulder, where would he go to find his next victim?"

"A shopping mall." Why was she asking such obvious questions?

"Right. And they are *all* closed now. No one has reported any pregnant woman missing, so I think it's safe to leave it until morning. Tomorrow is soon enough to catch him. And we *will* catch him, Mulder. I promise you that." Scully keeps her promises. I hung on to that as I sat back down and started fidgeting with the pasta.

"Eat some more of that if you can, Mulder." I nodded, but I knew I couldn't swallow anything more. Walter looked at me, and called for a waiter, and told him to bring me another cup of chicken broth. I sipped at it while the conversation veered to other subjects. All I could see were the file pictures of the murdered women. I couldn't finish the broth, either. Too much like other fluids.

I know Walter noticed this, but he didn't say anything. Scully gave me one of her looks, and Stein looked worried.

I just shook my head, and told them to finish up and get some dessert. Scully made me promise to have ice cream. So I sat and stirred it into mud while they ooh and ahhed over cheesecake.

Back at the hotel, Walter fell asleep almost immediately - we had one fast cuddle and he was gone. I envy him that. I lay there myself for a long time, letting the case dance in my head. It was probably a mistake, but I don't know if I could have stopped it.

Walter was snoring. Matt was back home with his family in Philly. Scully was either asleep or communing with cyberspace. I had to leave.

He was out there. I knew it. He would find someone else, and kill her tomorrow, or he would leave and Kerry Browne and Shoshana Cohen, who still wasn't buried, would not have their justice.

And I knew where he was. I could see it in my mind - the cold, concrete walls, the cleaning tools, the traces of five women gone forever. I just had to find it.

I gave Walter a soft kiss. He stirred, but didn't wake up. I found my clothes and his car keys by the light of the bathroom and left the room as quietly as possible.

The desk clerk nodded at me. I decided it would probably be smart to leave a message, just so Scully wouldn't kill me when I got back. Wasn't much, just that I was after Bobby.

Good old Lariat - the Bureau's favorite rental agency. I think they get most of the Tauri of any given year. There was an X-File in that.

I got in the car, and sat as a wave of dizziness hit me. Maybe this wasn't so smart. No. I had to go. There was a predator out there, and I'd be damned if I'd give him a chance to escape.

I started it, made certain I had both guns and drove off to where I *knew* he was. As I pulled into the quiet roadway, I wondered at the trust Scully and Skinner put in me - the car started, I had my guns and they were loaded. Maybe they thought I was too sick to ditch them?

The Haddonfield Mall wasn't that far away. We'd driven past it often enough during the past few days. I only had to back track a couple of times to find it. Luckily, New Jersey is the home of the jughandle, so u-turns were fairly simple.

The parking garage was closed, but not locked. That was enough to tell me I was right. There was one car there - an ancient Ford, huge and solid metal. It was Bobby's, and he'd had it since he'd left his hometown.

Where was that storage room? I directed my flashlight beam around the huge space.

There. The little room just past the office.

My footsteps echoed. I wondered if he could hear me; if he were waiting for me; how stupid I was actually being.

The door was unlocked. I opened it.

"You're that queer, aren't you?" He had shaggy blond hair, bloodshot blue eyes, plaid shirt over Walter-sized muscles and blue jeans fastened under a very unWalter paunch. He looked straight at me.

"Excuse me? I was looking for the manager's office?"

"You're that queer. I know you are. In the vision the Lord sent me after I took care of that witch."

I stepped in to the storage room. He'd set up a cot and there was the remnants of a fast food meal, and I didn't want to think about the bucket in the corner of the room. There was a drain in the concrete floor. Easy to get rid of the blood.

"Where are the babies? You dumped the mothers like so much trash, but you took the babies. Where did you put them?"

"I almost threw up when I got that vision. God damn Sodomites, you will burn in Hell just like that witch and the other whores. How could you let another man touch you like that?"

"Then we're even, Bobby. I *did* throw up when I saw what you did. What did you do with the babies?"

"I gave them a decent Christian burial, and you aren't going to profane them by digging them up."

"You think those babies are in heaven now?" I moved closer. He backed away.

"You got AIDS, don't you?"

I stopped. "What?"

"All you fags got AIDS, and I know it makes you skinny, and you are as skinny as the Jews my daddy liberated after the war."

"Jews like Shoshana Cohen?"

"Who's that?" He backed away further as I moved forward.

"You killed her yesterday, you bastard! Her and her baby while she was praying! You killed a woman while she was praying!"

"That wasn't praying. It was in some devil tongue. I killed a witch!"

"You killed a woman. You killed five women, five mothers or mothers- to-be, five wives."

"What do you know about women, faggot? Look at you in your faggot clothes, thinking about touching and kissing another man? You don't know anything about having wives."

"I know you don't kill them. I know you don't take your Swiss Army Knife and rip open their pregnant bellies and take out babies too young to live. I know that whatever I did with my lover, no matter how sinful it was according to your God, it doesn't come close to what you did."

He was up against the wall now. "Don't you come any closer, fag. Don't you give me any of your germs."

I reached for my gun, but before I could get it, he grabbed my coat and turned me around, twisting my arm behind me. He put the other by my neck. I noticed he was careful not to touch me.

"Empty your pockets, faggot. I don't need to cut you to kill you, and I won't get any of your germs if you don't bleed."

"Ever think I might enjoy a little strangulation now and again?"

"Empty your pockets, and throw it all on the ground." I complied. My badge, my main gun, my wallet, Walter's car keys, some latex gloves, a package of sunflower seeds, my cell phone - I dropped them all on the concrete.

He used the belt from my coat to tie my hands, and my necktie to tie my feet together. At that point, he discovered the ankle holster, and I lost that gun, too.

"Let's see who you are, faggot." He picked up my credentials. "FBI? Since when does the FBI hire fags?"

"Ever hear of J. Edgar Hoover, Bobby? I'm in a long tradition there."

"J. Edgar Hoover was a great man. Don't spread those commie lies about him."

"He was a great man. My father worked for him. Do you think Hoover would approve of what you've done?"

"You be quiet, faggot." He kicked me.

"He wouldn't, would he? Hoover wanted to protect American mothers and children."

"Shut up! Stupid faggot, probably betraying his country, unChristian . . . " I curled up on the floor in a vain effort to avoid his fists and feet. I know I felt at least one bone break. Then I heard the sirens.

He stopped beating me and grabbed one of my guns just as the door to the storage room flew open.

"Freeze! Get away from him!" Scully's voice. I twisted around as best I could so I could see her.

"No woman tells me what to do. Get away from me, you witch!" He aimed my weapon toward her.

"I'm not going anywhere, Bobby. If you do not drop your gun and step away from my partner, I'll pull this trigger." Her voice was cold as ice.

Walter was standing behind her, his hands on his own gun. I could feel his eyes on me. If Bobby shot me or her, he was a dead man. I knew it.

"He's a fag, you know? Him, and that fag behind you. I'm the only real man here."

"Real men don't kill pregnant women. Drop the gun, Bobby, and maybe we'll get you life." That's my Scully - always leave them some hope.

"Life?" He wavered and raised the gun again. "No!"

I could almost feel the bullet as it entered his body and he dropped to the floor. She'd taken one shot, clean, straight through his heart.

She was on her knees next to him the next moment. "He's dead." Then she began untying me, while Walter motioned in some local cops and a couple of EMT's.

"How is *he*, Agent Scully?"

"Bruises, contusions, but no blood."

"OWWW" She touched me just above my left foot.

"His left ankle may be broken. He's also in shock."

Walter squatted next to me.

"That was easily one of the stupidest things you've ever done, Agent Mulder."

"I couldn't lose him. He'd . . . he'd kill again. No one . . . no one listened."

"Why do you think we're here? How do you think we followed you?" His voice was hard, but I could see something else in his eyes. I'd seen the same thing in Scully's.

"Why? How?"

"Most of the murder victims came from here. Where else would it be? Where else would you be? We didn't really need the note you left with the front desk, but at least you did that much. I know you tried to tell us, Fox. I know we should have listened. But next time, wake us, okay?" He couldn't say anything else, not then and there, but I heard the words anyway.

"Me, too. Scully! That hurts!"

"It has to be immobilized, Mulder. What did the bastard do? Step on it?"

"Yeah. He didn't want to shed any blood . . . " Suddenly, I felt very tired. Only Walter's hands kept my head from hitting the floor. He held it until I was transferred to a gurney, and Scully and I were loaded into the ambulance.

***Chapter Fourteen***

Later that morning

Cherry Hill Municipal Building

"Mulder! How . . . "

"It's only a broken ankle, Scully. They had to let me out." I hobbled into her office on my crutches, Walter walking behind me to make sure I didn't fall.

"Translation: They were going to keep him for a week's observation and fattening up, but let him go since I promised both I and a medical doctor would keep an eye on him." He helped me sit down.

"He also reamed me out thoroughly while we were waiting. Agent Scully, I am very sorry for running away and not telling you *why* I had to do it."

She rolled her eyes. "Until the next time. That cast should keep you earthbound for awhile, at least. Anyway . . . It's over. We found blood traces on the storage room floor. Unsealed concrete is basically a rigid sponge. It's impossible to clean thoroughly, and Bobby didn't bother to do more than hose it down. He may have used a drop cloth for the actual murders, since we didn't find much other bodily fluids. There were no traces in his car. He must have put the victims in *their* own cars and abandoned them after dumping them, and then hitched a ride back to his own car. Plus we found traces on his Swiss Army Knife, which is definitely the murder weapon. I'd say we found our killer, sir."

"Good job, Agent Scully."

"We also found the babies. They were buried behind his home, each with a little white cross. I've been calling the victims' families to tell them the news. Those who were home were relieved. I was unable to reach either Mr. Cohen or Mr. Browne. Mr. Cohen is currently staying with his sister, but no one seems to be home, or, at least, they aren't answering the telephone. Agent Stein tells me they won't until it's dark tonight. We did leave a message to call here as soon as possible. We did the same for Mr. Browne." She sat down next to us. She looked exhausted.

"You look worse than me, Scully."

She smiled. "I just need some sleep."

"We all do. There's isn't much more you can do today. I'll drive us all back to the hotel." Walter took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Stein poked his head in the door.

"Agents? There's some people who want to see you."

Scully rolled her eyes. "Sure. Send them in."

"Muller! Muffin?" Liam Browne entered, pushing Mikey in his stroller and surrounded by three other kids, ranging from three to seven.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Browne?"

"Liam, please. My kids just wanted to see the people who were getting the bad guy who hurt mommy."

The oldest, a boy, turned to Walter. "Are you in charge?"

"Willy!"

Walter just smiled. "No. Agent Scully was the one in charge of this investigation. *My* name is Walter Skinner."

The boy looked at me, but I already had Mikey on my lap calling me "Muller."

Liam shook his head. "Agent Scully is the lady right over there."

The older girl's eyes grew round. "*You're* in charge?"

Scully just smiled. "I have some very good news for all of you. I've left you messages and everything. What are all your names?"

"The older boy is William, Jr, but we call him Willy. The girls are Joanne and Katie. Kathleen, but she's definitely a Katie. What's your news, Agent Scully?" He smiled at her. For a moment, his rather plain face was handsome.

Scully's smile was dazzling. "The best possible. With Agent Mulder's help, we determined who the . . . bad guy was and found him last night."

"Is he in custody?"

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, in the course of the arrest, I was forced to shoot him."

"Did you kill him?" Willy was clearly in awe.

"I'm afraid so. But we are certain he was the perpetrator."

"Thank you, God. And thank you, Agent Scully. Dana. I shouldn't keep you . . . you look exhausted. All of you do." Scully tried to get out of her seat, but he shook his head. "I'll take the kids home and call the family. I feel like I'm coming out of a nightmare."

Scully nodded. "I felt the same way when my sister was killed. Liam . . . if you should need to talk . . . here's my cell phone number. I . . . think I'd like to talk to you again."

Liam smiled. "Maybe. I . . . might like that in a little while. Come on, kids. There are Happy Meals waiting for you." He strapped Mikey down in his stroller and herded them all out.

A few minutes later, Stein knocked again. "I've seen them out. Agent Scully, do we have an address for Mr. Cohen's sister?"

Scully nodded.

"Then why don't I go to their house in person? I'm sure they'd want to hear this. And they'll want to take charge of the baby; bury it with the mother or something."

"Good idea. Agent Stein, I'm going to put some commendations in your jacket for all you've done for us. If you ever want a transfer to DC or a recommendation for other reasons, please call on me."

"Thank you, Agent Scully."

"The same goes for me, and for your partner. The two of you were the stars of this office, and she was invaluable during my investigation. You're a good man, Stein." Walter shook his hand.

I smiled. "My commendations aren't worth much these days, Matt, but you deserve a medal for just putting up with me."

"Thank you, all. This has been one of the strangest cases . . . I'd better go. They should be home from shul about now. Are you leaving here tomorrow?"

"In all likelihood. Why?"

He brushed the hair away from his face. "Mrs. Cohen will probably be buried tomorrow. I think, maybe, we should go to the funeral. Jewish funerals are short, so you'll have time to make the flight."

"Good idea." Walter nodded. Stein left. Soon after, Walter gathered us together and took us back to the Radisson.

Walter was reading files next to me when I woke up from the nap.

"How are you feeling, Fox?" He put the papers down and gathered me into his arms as gently as he could.

"Like I just did the stupidest thing in my life . . . again."

"I don't know how a man so brilliant can . . . I'm sorry. We went through that already."

"It's okay. I deserve it. What I don't deserve is you or Scully." I buried my head in his shoulder.

"Don't you ever say that." He stroked my hair.

"You really do love me, don't you?" I could feel the tears coming.

"I'm in love with you. Believe me."

"I do. I love you, too." I reached up to kiss his lips. As he responded, I found myself growing erect, something I would have thought impossible after what I'd been through.

"Walter?"

"Are you up to it? We'll do whatever you need."

"Yeah. I need . . . I need to affirm something after all the . . . horrors. I need to make love to you."

"You haven't asked that in a long time. Yes. Always."

The cast made things awkward and the bruises made things

uncomfortable, but we managed. And when I buried myself deep inside him, when I rested my head on his broad and beautiful shoulders as we lay on our sides, and when my orgasm came crashing through both of us, leaving me limp and exhausted, I felt loved and protected.

Walter turned me in his arms when we were finished.

"Better, Fox?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Oh, God, Walter, I love you."

Walter just smiled and held me closer.

"Oh, and Walter?"

"Yes?"

"I'm *starving*. Any way I can get some real food?"

He laughed. I love to hear him laugh. Then he sobered and held me even closer. "All you want, Fox. All you want."