*** Your Title Here ***

Title: Dangerous Undercurrents
Author: Chad Moore
Email: Chad_Skywalker@webtv.net
Feedback: Please!
Archive: Yes, please tell me where
Pairing: M/O
Rating: PG
Fandom: The X-Files
Spoilers: None, this is pre-XF
Disclaimer: Fox Mulder belongs to CC and 1013, he's only being borrowed.
Huge Beta Thanks: Bertina

Chapter Six: Leaving No Stone Unturned
by Chad Moore

Terrified, Jamie sat upright with a cry. Dazed and confused, he stared wide-
eyed at the faces gathered around him on the stage. An extremely concerned
Mulder was kneeling beside him.

"Jamie, are you alright?" asked Mulder.

"The dream..."

"What dream?" a voice broke in sharply.

Mulder took Jamie gently by the shoulders. Jamie blinked. "Mulder? Where am I?"

He rose and stretched. To Mulder's great relief, he seemed perfectly fine.
"How do you feel?"

"Guess my body's trying to tell me to take it easy. I fainted, that's all," he
said, brushing away several hands attempting to help him. "I had the strangest
dream."

"What dream?" again, a voice demanded. Jamie turned to find that it's owner
was Sebastian.

Mulder was alarmed. "Don't you remember what happened?"

"What's going on?"

"There's been a murder..."

~oo0oo~

Vice-Chancellor William Blair III sat behind his desk listening impatiently
while Inspector Trevor Winston related the details of a student's death.
Finally after taking as much of the man's droning as he could stand, the Vice-
Chancellor cleared his throat.

"How did he die? Were there any signs of violence?"

"Not exactly, though there was a mark on his neck... By the look of him, he
didn't die easily."

"It is never easy to die," said the Vice-Chancellor enigmatically.

"You're taking this all rather lightly, sir," Trevor observed.

"Not at all, inspector. I'm considering this very carefully indeed."

"What do you mean? There's a killer on the loose. This is the second death
under the same circumstances... or are you going to tell me its the Ghosts of
Oxford at work?"

The Vice-Chancellor took this stinging rebuke calmly. "There's no need for
flippancy. As your own words have specified, the woods are supposed to be
haunted. Can you imagine what would happen when the news of this mysterious
death leaks out?"

Trevor ticked this over in his mind. "Sure, there'll be a great deal of
publicity..."

"Publicity, ha! The university would be turned into a circus for every lunatic
in the area!"

"Just what are you suggesting?"

"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm only asking if you can keep this quiet."

"I don't see how I can, sir. The crime scene has already been cordoned off.
The death of a student is bound to attract attention, and rightly so I might
add."

The Vice-Chancellor's eyes narrowed. "How so?"

"The alumni, students, anyone associated with the university will be forced to
take precautions until the killer is found."

"I see." The last thing Vice-Chancellor Blair needed was bad publicity. "I can
impose a curfew for the time being."

~oo0oo~

Jamie's knees wobbled and Mulder reached out to support him. Lee Crawford, the
campus drunk who had come on to him his first night in Oxford, was found
dead... shortly after Jamie collapsed. He simply could not take it in. Helping
him down from the stage, Mulder half-carried him up the sloping aisle toward
the exit. He had a thousand questions to ask, but the important thing was
getting Jamie home safely.

"Jamie, please wait!" Sebastian called, hurrying after them. "It's very
important."

Mulder looked back at him. "Not now," he said.

"You've had that dream before, haven't you?" Sebastian's tone was sharp,
almost accusing.

"I said leave him alone," Mulder warned. "It doesn't matter, it's over now."

Fuming silently, Sebastian watched the lanky man escort Jamie away. 'Oh but it
does matter!' he thought darkly. He had to find out about Jamie's dream... If
he was the Chosen One... It all made logical sense... The pieces fit.

~oo0oo~

Outside, Mulder helped Jamie along. His heart still thudded from the panic
he'd felt seeing Jamie fall. He exhaled deeply, the weather had taken a drastic
turn. Oddly for an Autumn night it was oppressively warm. A trickle of sweat
appeared on his forehead. Hearing a commotion up ahead, Mulder steered them
away from the crime scene. A number of students had gathered in their pyjamas,
standing just outside the roped off area.

Mulder's grip on Jamie weakened. He watched as Jamie leaned back against a
building, eyes closed, breathing heavily. "Is a storm coming?" he asked.

"What?" Mulder was confused.

"I can feel it through my clothes." Jamie's hands gripped at the folds of his
costume. "The question is, does he know what's about to happen?"

He's in some kind of trance, Mulder thought. "Jamie, what can you see?" he
asked carefully.

"Undercurrents... bringing things to the surface." Suddenly, his eyes flashed
open, and for a moment his mind went blank.

"Jamie," Mulder called urgently.

Jamie grabbed him in a terrified hug. "Mulder, what's happening to me?"

Mulder patted his back soothingly, staring back at the crime scene. "It's all
right. We're going home now." Wrapping an arm around his shoulder, Mulder
started to lead him away again.

From within the crowd, Phoebe Green watched with daggers in her eyes. Hot,
heavy drops of rain began to fall.

~oo0oo~

Back inside their flat, Mulder turned on a small fan to circulate the air. He
started to help Jamie out of the elaborate period costume.

"Jamie, what can you tell me about your dream?"

"I can't remember," he admitted. "It seems so far away now."

Mulder thought of Sebastian's odd questioning, and decided to find out what
was so important about a dream. "Have you had it before?"

"Yes," he answered hesitantly. "The images fade so quickly." For a moment he
looked haunted.

Shrugging Jamie out of the buccaneer shirt, Mulder's eyes focused on the
extraordinary birthmark between his shoulder blades. Where had he seen that
image before?

"This time it wasn't just a dream, was it?" Mulder continued.

Jamie turned, about to protest, but Mulder held up his hands in mock
surrender. "Okay, okay, okay! I'll let you rest. We can talk about it later."

"Thanks," he smiled. Kissing Mulder, he laid down on the bed feeling totally
drained. Soon he closed his eyes and his breathing grew even. Mulder drew
himself close and settled down to watch Jamie sleep. He didn't understand the
dangerous situation brewing around his lover, but he had every intention of
finding out exactly what was going on.

~oo0oo~

The following day, the school was abuzz with the news of Lee Crawford's death.
Students gathered in whispered huddles, the old legends passing from one campus
to the next. Mulder felt a mixed sensation of exhilaration and fear. The
prospect of a real supernatural mystery made his skin tingle, but knowing that
Jamie was somehow connected truly frightened him. There were too many
unanswered questions... Jamie's premonitions of doom; the murder of Vincent
Tucker soon after Jamie saved the man's life; the birthmark; Jamie's collapse
the moment Lee was killed...

Mulder shook his head and stared up at the sky. He gives into love and falls
for a guy who's a walking, talking enigma. Were the Fates enjoying this? He was
more determined than ever to get to the bottom of this. There was no way in
hell he'd lose Jamie.

As the day continued, Mulder made himself a list of every event that had
happened; attempting to draw some conclusion. All roads lead to Jamie.

Walking inside the student union for lunch, he froze as several eyes turned on
him. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he stared back at the faces.

"Did I just step in something?"

Ryan, Alison and Phoebe moved toward him. The grim expressions on their faces
did nothing to soothe Mulder's troubled mind.

"How's Jamie?" Ryan asked.

"News sure travels fast," Mulder said. "He's going to be fine, thanks."

A visibly irate Phoebe marched up to Mulder. "Well, long time no see."

Mulder shuffled his feet nervously; he'd never cared for scenes. "Yes, well,
busy and all."

Phoebe folded her arms. "You know I find it a bit odd that ever since your
little 'friend' arrived all of these deaths have occurred."

Mulder's face flushed red in anger. Alison sighed, Phoebe had about as much
tact as a bull in a China shop. "Really, Phoebe! Circular logic will only make
you dizzy!"

"Coming from you, that's a compliment," she shot back. "Mulder, honestly, can
you deny it? Jamie arrives and all of these weird things start happening."

"Phoebe, why don't you sit down and shut up!" Alison hissed. "That attitude of
yours would fit in nicely at a cemetery!"

"I really don't have time to listen to a conspiracy theory," Mulder began,
then blinked. "What did you say?"

"She was just being rude," Phoebe replied.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Mulder practically hopped agitatedly. "You mentioned a
cemetery?"

"Yes," Alison said slowly.

"That's it!" Mulder cried. He became a flurry of activity, reaching out he
swung Alison around, and kissed her on the cheek. "You're a genius!"

He hurried out of the building leaving his incredulous friends behind. A
stunned Alison turned to Ryan. "What did I say?"

~oo0oo~

Staring forlornly out of a window, Jamie was deeply troubled. Certainly his
fainting spell last night was due to exhaustion? Whatever was happening, it was
scaring Mulder. A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Carolyn," she announced from the other side.

Smiling, Jamie opened the door and the blonde ball of energy bounced into the
room. She immediately flung her arms around him. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," he said, hugging her back.

"I heard about what happened last night," she explained.

"I think it scared Mulder worse than it did me. He made me promise to stay in
bed today."

Carolyn nudged his shoulder. "Be a lot better if he was here with you, huh?"

"Carolyn!" He turned beet red, then laughed. "Yes, it would!" In that instant,
a strong chill ran down his spine. He suddenly felt very afraid for Carolyn.
"Don't go out tonight," he said insistently, changing the mood.

"What? Why do you say that?" she asked.

Jamie shook his head stubbornly. "Just a... feeling. Stay home tonight."

They both jumped when the door crashed open and a very breathless Mulder ran
inside. Without a word he snatched up Jamie's coat and gloves, then grabbing
his hand, Mulder pulled him out into the corridor.

"Hi Carolyn, bye Carolyn," Mulder called over his shoulder.

Jamie looked back inside before being hauled away. "Carolyn, remember what I
said... Mulder wait!"

Giggling, Carolyn shook her head. Those two were really quite a pair. She bit
her lip, though, deciding to follow Jamie's advice.

~oo0oo~

"Mulder, what on earth are we doing here?" Jamie asked, standing before the
old wrought iron gates of an Oxford cemetery.

Taking him by the hand, Mulder lead him inside. "There's something you have to
see."

Jamie shivered and huddled closer to him. The weather had turned bitterly cold
compared to last night. Crushing mounds of dry leaves underfoot, the pair made
their way through row upon row of tombstones. The bare limbs of trees hung over
the path mournfully. It all gave Jamie the creeps.

"I came up here a week after I arrived in Oxford," Mulder began to explain.

"Let me guess, it's haunted," Jamie said smugly.

Mulder gave him a sly grin. "Right the first time!"

Jamie nodded. "I'm not scared if that's what you're thinking. It feels
exciting."

Mulder indicated something with his head. "There's something ahead you might
find interesting."

Leading him off the path, their feet sank into the thick grass. "Mulder,
what's this?" Jamie pointed at a rusted gated area set way back from the main
cemetery. Beyond was a long row of gravestones. "There's more ahead; what is
it?"

"Take a closer look," Mulder told him, letting go of his hand.

Stepping within, Jamie moved tentatively toward the nearest marker and knelt
down. The first stone read:

Here lyeth Jerimiah Patterson In darkness did he live and die 1082-1103

Beneath the inscription was a carved symbol of a snake swallowing its tale.
Jamie gasped in horror, his gloved hands hugging his shivering body. Mulder
watched him examine the long row.

"You recognize it, don't you?" he asked.

Jamie simply nodded, transfixed by a piercing howl in the wind as if restless
spirits were trying to tell them something. The symbol was depicted on every
single stone; the symbol that was the exact image of the birthmark he bore.

"Let's get back home," he said, standing he turned to run, but Mulder gripped
his arm.

"No," he said, firmly.

"I don't want to stay, Mulder..." At that moment a thick gust sent a whirlwind
of leaves flying. "Look, I saw something!"

Breaking away, Jamie rushed forward and Mulder had to jog to keep pace with
him. He eventually caught up with him on the last row, which wasn't as
overgrown. Jamie stood looking down in a freshly dug grave.

"Who is this one waiting for?" he wondered quietly.

Mulder walked down the row, reciting the years aloud. "1733, 1783, 1833, 1883,
1933." He stopped before the open hole in the ground.

"1983," finished Jamie.

"Every fifty years," Mulder chewed over. Jamie turned. Mulder was really
frightened, but why?

"Don't worry, Mulder, I'm not going to end up as worm food," Jamie exclaimed,
suddenly bolting away.

The spunkiness Mulder had first fallen in love with had returned. He sighed in
amazement, then took off after him.

"Slow down, Jamie!"

Jamie stopped his helter-skelter progress. "I was thinking we should go into
town and find the records office..." He started off involuntarily.

Mulder said gently, "Not that way, let's try our luck somewhere else first."

"Which way?"

"That way," Mulder said, leading him in the opposite direction.

~oo0oo~

"Hello?" Mulder called, knocking on the large oak door. When no-one answered
Jamie pushed it open and went ahead. "Oh look, it's open!"

Mulder shook his head and quickly followed him. They'd found the path again
and he'd lead Jamie to the caretaker's cottage. He remembered well the night
he'd visited the cemetery and how the old man how run him off -- to tell the
truth, the caretaker was scarier than any ghost.

Inside, the darkened cottage was packed floor to ceiling with shelves
containing folder filled documents and enormous books. Peering in the gloom
Mulder sighed, "What I wouldn't give for a flashlight."

Picking up the closest file, he blew a thick mist of dust off. Jamie coughed
and waved a hand in front of his face.

"Phew! Are you sure we'll find what we're looking for in here?" he asked
skeptically.

"It's our best bet," Mulder replied. "Either that or obtain a permit to
question the register in town."

"Point taken," Jamie said, helping him search.

"What are you doing in here?" a gruff voice demanded.

Mulder and Jamie whirled around to find the very angry caretaker standing in
the doorway.

"Oh, hi," Jamie said, nervously.

"We were just..." began Mulder.

"Just snooping!" The caretaker walked right up to Mulder and examined him up
and down. "I remember you all right, the ghost hunter. You come to awaken the
dead in my house, boy?"

"Now hang on a minute!" Mulder protested.

Jamie quickly intervened. "Um, I must apologize. We're not doing any harm,
sir. Mr. Mulder is helping me with a research project for school."

"Is he now? Well, a nice young man like you shouldn't let a crackpot like this
lead you around," the old man snorted.

Jamie gave him his most charming smile. "I can assure you, he's just a little
eccentric."

The old man relented. "Well, I could maybe let you look around. How can I help
you?"

"Would you?" Mulder had to admit Jamie was good. One of his bewitching smiles
had worked! "I'm researching the history of the cemetery and I was told you'd
be the best person to ask."

"Aye, its true. My family has always been caretakers of this old place."

"What can you tell me about the gated off area with the snake symbols?"

A fearful look passed over the old caretaker's face. He reached out and
gripped Jamie's arm fiercely. "Hey!" Mulder shouted.

"Don't go near there!"

"Why not?"

"That place is filled with the lost souls of boys with evil in their hearts,"
he explained cryptically.

Mulder quickly cut in. "Where can we find the records for it?" He followed the
old man's cutting gaze.

"Never you mind! Look for anything else you want, just stay clear of that evil
place!" With that, the man turned and left.

Jamie sighed. "Well, at least we can search for the records."

"How's your arm?" asked Mulder, massaging it through his jacket.

"It's okay," Jamie smiled from his touch.

"Oh," said Mulder. "I thought he just winked at you."

"Cheeky!" Jamie said, moving through the room.

Mulder watched him, worry setting in once more. Jamie seemed to have no memory
of being afraid.

"There's got to be a clue somewhere in all this," Jamie said, moving past a
bookcase.

"How about here?" asked Mulder, standing before a bureau. He opened the bottom
doors and extracted a very large tome. "Eureka!"

"But, how did you..."

"Know?" Mulder finished for him and touched the side of his nose three times.

Jamie's eyes sparkled with realization. "When you mentioned the records, you
watched the caretaker's reaction?" Mulder smiled back winningly. "Clever!"
Jamie said, squeezing in beside him.

Together, they began to scan the dates, names and sketchy details surrounding
each death. "Each one died in or around the center of Oxford," Jamie observed.

"And the university is built in the exact center," Mulder surmised. "There's
something else."

"What?"

"Do you see who commissioned the graves?"

Jamie followed Mulder's finger down the list, each surname was exactly the
same. "Wickham?"

"Exactly," Mulder nodded. "And there's a Professor Douglas Wickham living on
campus..."

Jamie swallowed hard, reading the entry for 1983. "And he ordered a grave dug
for this year..."

[Next Episode: He Is The Chosen One]