TITLE: Surfacing, Chapter Eight: The Truth Is Out
There ...And It Hurts

AUTHOR: Chad Moore

FANDOM: XF

DATE: November 8th, 2001

SERIES: Dangerous Undercurrents and Conundrum

E-MAIL: Mulderholic@webtv.net

RATING: NC17 (Chapter 8)

CATEGORY: M/O

PAIRING: M/O

ARCHIVE: Yes, please

KEYWORDS: Slash, Romance, Angst, Adventure

WARNINGS: WIP

SPOILERS: This story takes place after "Existence,"
with references to past seasons.

DISCLAIMER: All familiar characters belong to CC, 1013
and Fox TV; any others were conceived in my warped
imagination. Azathoth and the Great Old Ones are
creations of H.P. Lovecraft and are now the property
of Arkham House.

BETA READER: Bertie

*****

Chapter Eight: The Truth Is Out There ...And It Hurts

"Walter... Walter... Walter, slow down!" Mulder
exclaimed into his cell phone. He restlessly walked up
and down the length of his suite listening as Skinner
hurriedly related a series of sketchy details. During
the rush of the A.D.'s voice he'd managed to catch
'San Francisco,' 'Avatar ruins,' and 'bones.'

He listened for a moment.

"Charlie, a friend at the SF bureau, confirmed that
some archaeological group flashed creditials allowing
them to dig at the site," Walter continued, pacing
himself.

Mulder's first instinct was to deny what Skinner was
telling him. Then his conspiracy-filled mind took it
all in and it made perfect sense. Somewhere out there,
the threat of Azathoth loomed again. 

Walter's gruff voice broke in on his worried thoughts.
"Dr. Kitzseiger is anxious to talk with you, Mulder.
She claims to have information on who's responsible--"

Mulder's eyes flashed to the bathroom, hoping that
Jamie couldn't hear what he was about to say. "What
Jamie went through was extremely traumatic," he said
fiercely. "I don't think he's dealt with it on a
conscious level."

The click of an opening door made him turn around and
whisper, "The last thing he needs to know is that
someone dug up Azathoth's bones."

"Mulder, what are you going to do?" demanded Walter.
"You've got to--"

Mulder pulled the phone from his ear. A slight
crackling noise assaulted him from Skinner's end. A
new pin prick of trouble shivered up his
spine. It sounded almost like a...

"Find out all you can, and I'll call you back later!"
With that he hung up and turned to Jamie, who was
smiling expectantly.

"Friendly call?"

"Ah, yeah," he replied, fumbling to return the little
black phone to his short's pocket. "Just checking on
things at home." He mentally cringed at the white lie.

"Is something wrong?" asked Jamie, concerned.

"Wrong? No. Why?"

"I don't know. You just look a little worried, that's
all." He gazed at him, reading Mulder's frown. "You
don't have to leave, do you?"

"Never!" He reached out and pulled Jamie close,
pressing into his body. "Ready to work up a sweat?" he
asked, resting a palm on Jamie's behind.

"Ooo!" Jamie's eyes grew wide with anticipation.

Mulder chewed his lip. He needed time to think. He
couldn't alarm Jamie yet. This reunion had been the
happiest time of Mulder's life. Over the past few
days, he'd watched his lover build a secure little
world for himself. Right now Jamie's trust that his
personal hell was over stood at a delicate balance.
He'd be damned if he'd crush his lover's building
hope. Mulder couldn't bring himself to tell him yet.

Instead he embraced Jamie and just stood there holding
him. 'Until I know exactly what the hell is going on,'
he thought. 'You won't have to worry about anything.'

*****

"Whew!" Mulder exhaled, wiping a hand across his
moistened brow. Blood rushed in his ears from the
exertion. He replaced the barbell to the
rack behind him and knew he was going to feel that in
the morning. With the events of the past two months he
really hadn't been keeping up with his exercise
routine like he should have. His sleeveless grey tee
shirt and cut off shorts were already soaked with
perspiration. Running a hand through his damp hair,
Mulder left the weight training area of the gym,
walking past bikes and treadmills toward a room full
of punching bags and blue foam mats.

Jamie had insisted on keeping up with the tumbling and
kicking exercises his cousin had started him on.
Mulder searched the room and found his lover
practicing punches on one of the bags. He also noted
with irritation that two of the more beefier guys were
standing a short distance away checking Jamie out.
 
However, Jamie was oblivious to all of this. The
bright lights, the mirrored walls, the air conditioned
air tinged with sweat. His fists
whaled into the punching bag. In a flash it
disappeared, to be replaced by the nightmarish vision
of Azathoth. Tendrils of black mist stretched out to
consume him; a deep rumble of laughter in his ears.
Jamie started to go crazy on the bag, throwing
continuous rapid punches.

"Jamie," Mulder called.

He didn't respond.

Tentatively, Mulder reached out and touched his
shoulder. Jamie spun around, a bright fire shining in
his eyes.

"What?" he asked, surprised. It took him a couple of
seconds for reality to return. "What is it?"

Mulder peered at him a little worried. "Um, I think
you've beaten the crap out of the defenceless bag."

Jamie frowned and looked back at the still swinging
bag, now deformed from his violent punches. He
grimaced, embarrassed. "Oops.
Sorry."

"I think we've both had enough," Fox said, feeling a
sore spot in his back.

"Hey, I said I was sorry."

"Not that." Taking him by the arm, Mulder led him
away. "I think I'm gonna have to take you over my
shoulder and carry you out of here."

Grinning, Jamie paused. "Not that I don't love the
visual, but why?"

Fox leaned in close to whisper and Jamie saw the
beaded line above his lip. How he'd love to boldly
lick it... Woah! Seeing Mulder all worked
up with the combination of working out was sending
shock waves of arousal through him.

"Those guys over there were checking you out," Mulder
told him.

"What?!" Jamie's eyes widened. He saw the territorial
gleam reflected back from in his lover's. Playfully,
he turned to look. "Where?"

"Hey!" Mulder protested.

Jamie laughed. "Come on, Captain Caveman." With a
handful of shirt, he lead him out of the room and
further into the complex.

Moving back into the locker room, Mulder first thought
that they were leaving, then suddenly Jamie turned a
corner and casually strode by the frosted glass shower
cubicles.

"Jamie, where are we going?" he wondered.

He winked back. "Just wait and see."

They stopped outside of the sauna. Jamie momentarily
opened the door and gazed inside. With a satisified
smile he looked up at Fox and suddenly pinned him
against the wall. Mulder felt his breath catch between
them as Jamie planted a firm kiss of passion on his
half-open lips. He started to shiver as goose bumps
ran across his body.

With one leg Jamie forced open the door, at the same
time drawing his lover inside. Fox broke the kiss for
a moment. "Jamie," he started to
protest, "we can't!"

"Oh, yes we can!"

Swirls of warm air lifted onto their bodies as they
entered the empty room. Mulder sighed at the relaxing
heat settled into his pores. Protesting was just plain
silly. He smiled, feeling a pleasurable stirring in
his shorts. Jamie made him complete, and he was so in
love that just one look from those shining green eyes
could make a slut out of him anywhere.

Jamie continued to kiss him hungrily, rubbing his
hands all along Fox's back and neck. Slowly he moved
him to lay upon one of the many white benches.
Grinding beneath Jamie, Mulder slipped his hands into
the back of Jamie's shorts to cup his round cheeks.
His cock pressed into Jamie, increasing in size as
Jamie's long sensual tongue entwined with his own.

Hot, heavy air pressed down on them. With Fox down on
the bench Jamie sat up and started removing his
clothing in swift motions. Mulder looked up and a pure
enjoyment danced across his face. Jamie leaned down
and lifted his lover's shirt off. Kissing Mulder's
beautiful chest, he relished the taste of his flesh
and worked his way back to those plump, waiting lips.

Mulder's protesting dick was pinioned fast with Jamie
sitting atop him. The greatest urge hit his body and
Fox wanted to come right then and there. He exhaled
loudly, causing the steam to ripple.

Sensing the explosive forces gathering beneath him,
Jamie reluctantly left Fox's mouth and slid himself
down. Mulder's shorts were plastered
to his skin and his cock tantalyzingly stood out.
Taking hold of the waistband, Jamie removed them and
like a wild river he instantly dove in.

Mulder threw his head back, and closed his eyes. A
whimper then a moan came from him as Jamie's mouth
moved up and down. His lips slid around the shaft
while his tongue slipped under the tip. Then with
killing slowness he took the entire length down his
throat.

Mulder gasped and sat up. "Oh, god Jamie! That's so
good!"

Gently, Jamie pushed him back down onto the bench. He
knelt beside Fox, keeping his dick in his mouth the
entire time. Mulder was moaning
uncontrollably now, lost in ectasy. His fingers
twisted through Jamie's wet hair, pushing him down
further on his cock. One hand trailed across Jamie's
back, then along his side. It slowly moved closer to
his throbbing dick. Mulder wrapped his hands around it
and started to stroke.

Jamie moved his hips to help the rhythm. As he rocked
back and forth, Mulder suddenly grabbed him around the
waist pulled Jamie on top of him. Fox licked the
shaft, and expertly worked it all the way inside.
Locked in his arms, feeling the sensations from that
wonderful mouth, Jamie just wanted to stay like this,
making love to this gorgeous man forever.
 
Mulder hissed with pleasure as he felt Jamie's hand
rubbing his ass. He reached down between them and
pressed Jamie's fingers inside, making what he wanted
clear. Jamie paused to lick an index finger and pushed
it inside. Mulder exhaled and watched trickles of
sweat run down Jamie's hard muscled abdomen. He loved
this man more than he ever thought possible.

Jamie's tongue wriggled around his opening and Mulder
had to have more, he had to have all of him. "Yes!
Please, Jamie," he begged in a hoarse voice.

His lover got up and, breathing deeply, leaned over
Mulder to spread his legs. Slowly Jamie pushed his
hard cock into his ass. Lifting
Mulder's legs, he started thrusting in and out. Grunts
of passion escaped his lips as his pace quickened. He
reached down and gripped Fox's
glistening shaft. Unable to hold back any longer,
Mulder arched his back and yelled out
the excitation of his orgasm. Jamie leaned over to
lovingly lick his chest and face, then brushed his
mouth to Fox's, who ran his tongue along Jamie's lips.
Mulder held onto Jamie
harder and within seconds he felt a sweet warmth blast
into him.

Fox and Jamie lay in the sauna for a few minutes in a
sweat soaked daze. After a little while, Jamie stared
into his sleepy eyes with a grin. "Have I told you
today just how much I love you?" he wondered,
dreamily.
 
Wrapping his arms around him, Mulder pulled him down
for another long kiss.

*****

Spinning a remote with one hand, Peril idly flipped
through the TV Guide with the other. Nothing much on.
Her vacation time was nearly up, and soon it would be
back to the rat race. At least her visit had not been
a waste. She'd helped Jamie and Mulder find one
another again. Watching those two just gazing at each
other made her all wistful. Their love had
touched her deeply, and she was determined to give
dating another go once she got back to San Francisco.

Peril glanced over at the grandfather clock in a
corner. The lovebirds were coming for dinner this
evening, and Grams had busied herself shopping at the
Winn Dixie. Tossing the remote, she stood and walked
through the
living room. As she was about to go upstairs, she
heard a knocking at the door and went to answer it.

When she opened it Peril was faced with a tall,
striking figure in a black sweater, jeans and shiny
Doc Martens. Standing on the front step,
Peril decided that this fellow with the shaved head
and piercing blue eyes was definitely not a local boy.

"Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Fox Mulder. I was
wondering if you could help me?"

Peril smiled at the attractive British accent. Right
on target! He's not from around these parts.

"Sure," she replied. Stepping aside to admit him, she
closed the door.

*****

Having showered, caught his breath, changed into fresh
clothes, and caught his breath again, Mulder
reluctantly left Jamie in town. He
wanted to take a leisurely stroll through the park
before going over to Grams. As much as he hated
leaving his lover, this gave Mulder the
perfect opportunity to check in with Walter. At this
time of day he would be in his office.

Waiting for Kim to put his call through, Mulder
glanced out of his suite's window. In the distance he
could just about make out the crimson park trees. He
had arranged to meet Jamie at his grandmother's in
thirty minutes. Maybe he wouldn't have to break his
heart. Maybe Walter could sort this all out...

"Mulder, what the hell was all that about this
morning?" Skinner's gruff voice demanded on the other
end.

For a second Mulder shivered from deja vu, picturing
himself seated across the A.D.'s desk being
reprimanded. "I didn't want Jamie to overhear our
conversation," he explained. He moved the cell phone
to the other ear and started pacing. "Plus, I think
your line may be tapped."

He heard Walter sigh. "Mulder, are you serious?"

"Do me a favor, when you get home, check it."

"All right," Skinner conceded. "I assume it's safe for
us to talk openly now."

"Yes. Why? What have you learned?"

"Dr. Kitzseiger called again... Mulder, are you
sitting down?"

"Just tell me." Mulder was about to explode.

"She claims that some..." He struggled with the word.
"...coven associated with what went on out in
California took those bones. A friend ran a check for
me and that group claiming to be archaeologists showed
up with what turned out to be forged papers. Before
they could find out, whoever these people are, sifted
through the ruins and were gone."

Mulder felt too frantic to sit. During Skinner's
diatribe he'd already covered the length of the room
three times. "Does she know what else
this coven wants?"

"She wouldn't say anymore." Skinner took a breath.
"She was adamant about seeing you, Mulder. Before we
hung up she said that she was taking the first flight
out here."

At this Mulder did sit. "Walter, how am I supposed to
tell Jamie about this? Do you have any idea how
fragile he is right now?"

Mulder had noticed certain signs that were coming
through loud and clear. And not just beating a
punching bag to a pulp. Jamie talked in his sleep. At
first the words were jumbled, incoherent, then
increasingly they took shape. Jamie had pushed the
trauma of his possession to the back of his mind; but
they reawakened during his dreams.

Mulder himself had dealt with this issue over and over
again in the past. Forcing Jamie into a confrontation
could harm him emotionally, and
Fox was not about to put his lover through any more
pain.

"Mulder, I know," Walter replied, quietly. "Do you
think it was easy for me to tell you?"

He shook his head, though Skinner couldn't see the
action. "Walter, I'm sorry. Just give me a little time
to break this to him gently, okay?"

Skinner agreed. Hanging up, Mulder went back to the
window. A demonic coven was out there just waiting to
take Jamie away again. The universe couldn't be that
cruel and unfair, could it?

He hurried out of the suite with a sudden urge to make
sure Jamie was all right.

*****

Ever curious, Peril crossed her legs and tried once
more to engage this handsome yet mysterious stranger
in conversation. Since his arrival he'd sat sullenly
in the living room while she'd rambled on. The more
Peril thought about it, this guy didn't seem like the
type who would be chummy with Mulder... that is,
unless he had a kinky side that her cousin had failed
to tell her about.

The clock chimed. Grams would be back soon, and Peril
felt the need to hurry Mister Personality along.

"So, um, where do you know Mulder from?" She attempted
again. "Did you go to school with him?" Maybe he knows
Jamie, too, she thought.

"Do you know where he is?" asked the man.

The furrow between Peril's eyes deepened. "You asked
that already."

His eyes darted toward her. "Is there someone here who
might know where he is?"

She sighed. "No, he's out with my cousin, but they..."
Her eyes darted to his wrist, where a bizarre tatoo
marked the flesh. Feeling her stare, he pulled the
sleeve of his sweater down to cover it. Peril didn't
like this at all. Not one bit. "Look," she challenged,
"You don't know Mulder at all. Do you?" 

With the expression of a statue, the man simply stood
and moved forward. "It's very unfortunate that you
choose not to cooperate."

Peril stood her ground, though inwardly she trembled.
"What do you mean?"

He reached out to her.

******

Worried and on the verge of panic, Mulder hurried up
the steps and onto Grams' front porch. He'd scoured
the park with no sign of Jamie. It reminded him of
their university days. His lover couldn't stay in one
spot, but now was definitely not the time for him to
go wandering off. Mulder immediately thought that
Jamie might have headed on over to his grandmother's.

Knocking on the door he sincerely hoped so. Getting no
answer, Mulder tried the knob and found it open.

"Hello?" called Mulder. "Jamie? Is anyone home?" He
walked out of the hall to be faced with the
frightening sight of a dark figure struggling with
Peril.

"Mulder!" Peril screamed, using his arrival as a
distraction. She stamped her foot down, hard, on the
instep of the man holding her wrists. He let out a
howl and dropped her arms.

Mulder didn't stop to think. He whirled and planted
his fist in the assailant's solar plexus. The intruder
doubled over, knocking Peril to the floor in the
process.

"Hey!" Mulder cried. He suddenly wished he was still
Special Agent Fox Mulder, complete with regulation
weapon, no assembly required.

Swiftly the man slipped out of the house. Mulder was
already crossing to Peril's side. "Are you alright?"
he asked, helping her up.

She held the side of her head and groaned. "Yeah..."

"Peril, who the hell was that?"

"He said..." She caught her breath. "That he was
looking for you."

A chill of alarm hit Mulder. "And you just let him
in?!"

Peril winced.

"Look, I'm sorry," he apologized. "Did he say who he
was?"

"No. He was just very insistent about tracking you
down." She gave him a hard stare. "Look, what's this
all about? Has this got something to with Jamie's
disappearance?"

Mulder couldn't hide the deep concern in his eyes.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. He was pretty sure this
was connected to Skinner's warning. It would be too
big a coincidence otherwise.

"Then we have to call the police," Peril said, heading
for the phone.

He quickly stopped her with a gentle hand. "No, Peril.
Let's keep this quiet for now."

"What? Why?"

"First of all this will only upset Jamie, and secondly
I seriously doubt he'll come back here again."

Peril exhaled. Cocking her head, she gave him a stern
look. "Okay," she said, with reluctance. "If this is
the kind of excitement that follows you around, no
wonder Jamie's so crazy about you."

Mulder half grinned. "Trust me, Peril. I'm not going
to let anything happen to Jamie. Where is he now?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

Mulder felt a tight fist close around his heart. He
made a dash for the front door. "We were supposed to
meet--"

It opened before he could reach it to reveal Jamie's
beaming face. "Hi!"

"Jamie!" exclaimed Mulder, throwing his arms around
his lover.

Hugging him back, Jamie gave him an incredulous look.
"Um, what's going on?"

"Nothing," Mulder said, automatically. "I'm just so
glad to see you."

Jamie stepped back and closed the door. "You're white
as a sheet," he observed.

Mulder glanced at Peril and shuffled his feet a
little. "Well, I was worried about you, that's all."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I ran into some old friends."
Jamie walked into the living room. Before he could get
very far, Fox draped an arm over his chest and pulled
Jamie back against him.

"You mean everything to me," he whispered in Jamie's
ear.

The fast and steady beat of Mulder's heart
reverberated into his back. Jamie's eyes darted toward
his cousin who looked a little shaken. He didn't need
a sixth sense to tell him that something was
definitely up. Before he could muse further, the back
door opened and Grams walked in with an arm full of
groceries.

"I hope ya'll are in the mood for shrimp," she called
out cheerfully.

*****

Stuffed to the point of combustion, Mulder stood on
the back porch gazing up at the night sky. He hadn't
been able to take his eyes from Jamie during the
entire meal, and his mind was troubled by the events
that seemed to be running out of control around him.

A short burst of wind blew through the trees. He
shivered and ran through the facts again. "Azathoth's
bones were taken. A doctor from England has
information about the coven who took them. A tap on
Walter's phone which lead a skinhead from a fright
festival here."

Mulder stopped and realized something. "Talking to
yourself again, Mulder," he whispered. "The first sign
of madness."

The creak of the screen door drew his attention.
Jamie, having finished helping to clear the table and
wash dishes, leaned against the frame gazing at him.
"I think I've figured out your deep dark secret," he
announced.

For a second, alarm filled Fox's eyes. "What?"

Jamie moved toward him and jutted out his chin.
"You're a shrimp fetishist," he said, reaching up to
wipe away excess cocktail sauce glistening on Mulder's
cheek.

Mulder laughed nervously. 'Pull yourself together,' he
thought, 'or Jamie's gonna realize something's not
right.' He crushed Jamie to his chest and kissed him
deeply.

"Who's up for dessert?" Peril asked from the doorway.
She stopped and saw the couple, oblivious to the
world, melting into one another. She sighed worriedly
at Jamie. 'Mulder, I'm putting all my faith in you.
Please don't let me down,' she wished. Clearing her
throat, she cracked, "Get a room!"

Breaking the kiss, Jamie rested his head against Fox's
heaving chest. Mulder swayed with Jamie in his arms.
"Now there's an idea I could go for." He smiled.

*****

Mulder was in a brooding mood, Jamie decided. All
through dinner both he and Peril had been sharing
small conspiratorial glances. Climbing the Stella
Maris staircase, Jamie could almost see the blizzard
of thoughts behind Fox's eyes. He really wished he
knew exactly what was troubling him.

'Okay, he's happy, he's in a good mood, just break it
to him gently," Mulder attempted to persuade himself.
From the corner of his eye he looked over at Jamie as
they emerged onto the floor of his suite. 'Maybe after
we make love,' he added, giving himself a little more
time. He just couldn't bring himself to tear down the
safe little world Jamie had created for himself.

"Mulder, what's up?" Jamie asked, out of the blue.

"Huh? What?" he replied, acting confused, then he held
his stomach. "Oh, I think you're right. I inhaled too
much shrimp."

Jamie laughed...

'God, how I love his laugh!'

...and folded his arms. "I'm not surprised," he said,
arching an eyebrow. "If I'd only known sooner just how
much you can fit into that mouth."

Mulder chuckled, pausing to insert the key into the
suite's door. "How about we find out?" he suggested,
with a mischievious wink. He turned the handle, opened
the door and all hell broke loose.

Blurred figures in black swarmed all over them. Mulder
felt the breath knocked out of him as he was roughly
slammed into the opposite wall. All three men were
virtually identical: shaved heads, black sweaters and
jeans, and all with the same fanatical gleam in their
eyes. Mulder mentally dubbed them 'Omega,' 'Alpha' and
'Beta.'

Alpha grasped Jamie's arm and tried to force it behind
his back. Jamie shouted, "Get off!" and lashed out
with his other arm, knocking the man into a suite
door. It was a move Jamie learned from the
self-defense class he'd taken with Peril. His
assailant crumpled like a broken doll.

Next to him, Fox was being overwhelmed by two more.
Frustrated and angry, Jamie was ready to growl, grunt
and fight with all his strength.

Mulder's eyes widened in surprise as Jamie ran
forward, aiming a kick at Beta. He desperately tried
to pry his arm loose from the muscular Omega. Looking
startled, Beta unsheathed a dagger from the cuff of
his jerkin.

"Jamie, look out!" warned Mulder.

The knife swung viciously through the air and hit the
wall when Jamie neatly sidestepped the blow. Taking up
a defensive stance, Jamie appeared behind him, ready
to fight.

"Thanks, but I think we'll stick with regular room
service," Jamie said, breathlessly.

Snarling, the crazed figure swung the dagger in an
arc. Jamie quickly scrambled back, and caught his arm,
pulling him around and slamming him into the wall. The
man grunted in pain. Jamie pushed the knife up and out
of his grasp.

At the same time, Mulder attempted a punch at Omega,
but the man was prepared. Mulder struck out at the
man's shaved head. Omega bore down and they both
tumbled into a heap.

Hearing the scuffle Jamie ducked a swing to his head
and swung back, but Beta grabbed his arm in mid-swing
and flipped him over onto the floor. Jamie let out a
pained breath. Beta reached down for him, but Jamie
kicked out with both legs. Beta crashed backward.

The second floor of Stella Maris was in an uproar.
Everyone seemed to be yelling and thumping things.

Mulder grunted and struggled against the vice-like
grip preventing him from helping Jamie. Scrambling to
his feet again, Jamie hurried forward and, with a
roundhouse kick, sent the black-clad villain bearing
down on Fox flying against the wall.

Mulder gaped at Jamie in astonished admiration.

The ones he'd designated as Beta and Alpha gathered
themselves and took flight, leaving their fallen
comrade behind. Forgetting them Jamie hurried forward
to help Mulder up.

"Are you okay?" he asked, lifting him off the floor.

"Jamie!" he exclaimed in dreamy awe. "You've been
holding out on me."

"What?"

"I've gotta tell you this side of you is very sexy!"

Jamie blushed and grinned from ear to ear. "Really?"
From the corner of his eye he saw the figure crumpled
against the wall moving. "Oh! Oh!"

The man popped something small and white into his
mouth. Before either Mulder or Jamie could react, he
convulsed and lay still. They knelt by his side;
Mulder slowly turned him over.

"What happened?" Jamie asked, horrified.

Pressing a finger to the stranger's lips, Mulder noted
the sick discoloration. "Some sort of fast-acting
poison, I'd guess," he said, taking a closer look.
"This is the same man who attacked Peril," he murmured
in a hushed voice.

"What?" Jamie pressed, not quite hearing him.

Mulder glanced up. "Nothing," he quickly said.
Actually, he was more concerned than ever. He resolved
himself to tell Jamie the truth now.

"Mulder, don't play G-Man! This is me you're talking
to," an indignant Jamie replied. "Who are they? What
do they want?"

"Jamie, there's something I have to tell you." Fox
swallowed, hard, then continued softly. "It won't be
easy for you to hear it, but--" He carefully rolled
the body to the side to check for a wallet when an arm
fell next to Jamie's legs. His eyes flashed down to an
exposed wrist, on which was brandished a tatoo... a
coiled snake, swallowing its own tail... the mark of
Azathoth.

His nightmares were coming true before his eyes.
Rising to his feet, Jamie shook his head. "No... Not
again." He slowly backed away.

Taking in the symbol, Mulder hurried across to Jamie,
who'd pressed himself into the far wall. "Jamie,
listen to me," he began, firmly holding his arms and
forcing Jamie to look at him. "Someone contacted
Skinner, a doctor, from Great Britain... Azathoth's
bones were removed from the Avatar site." Fox took a
breath. "I saw him die... They were taken for a
reason."

Exasperated, Jamie broke away from his grasp. "They're
gonna brink him back. They're gonna bring Azathoth
back," he groaned, staring at the corpse. Then, he
turned accusing eyes toward Mulder. "And I seem to
recall you telling me this was over."

Mulder took a step closer. "Jamie, I would've told
you, but I--"

"Yeah, well thanks for the warning!" Cutting him off
in a voice quivering with anger, Jamie stormed past
the crowd of gathered onlookers and ran downstairs.

"Jamie!" Mulder called, but he was long gone. Sighing
heavily, the former special agent barked at the crowd.
"Call the police," he intructed, then set off after
Jamie.

Taking the wide stairs two at a time, Mulder caught a
glimpse of him throwing open the hotel's main doors
and stalking out into the night. "Jamie!" He slipped
through the closing doors and caught Jamie's arm on
the lamplit sidewalk. "Jamie, would you stop running
away from me for one second and let me explain?"

He winced as his lover turned eyes filled with hurt,
confusion and anger toward him.

"No, I can't keep doing this!" Jamie cried, then
softened his tone. "Fox, I love you and I don't want
to ever be without you, but I can't keep putting the
people I love in danger." With determination, he
added, "This is my fight."

"Don't you think I'm scared, too?" Mulder reached out
and held his hands, grateful that Jamie didn't shy
away. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to
be upset." He sighed, running a hand nervously through
his dark hair.

"I know that," Jamie replied, sadly, "but you can't
not tell me things because you think it might hurt."

Fox nodded and stared at the ground. "You're right,
I'm sorry." He looked up at him with a little pout.
"Forgive me?"

Jamie didn't answer for a moment. His face twitched as
he tried to hold onto his anger, but as he stared into
those warm hazel eyes he felt it slipping away. "I'll
think about it," he finally said, wearing a small
grin.

After a couple of heartbeats, Mulder pulled his lover
against him. Mulder wrapped his arms around him and
Jamie settled into his embrace.

"It's never going to be over, is it?" Jamie wondered.
"I mean why do I keep trying? Am I just a glutton for
punishment?"

Fox hugged him even tighter. "No, you keep trying
because you never give up hope." He pressed a kiss to
Jamie's forehead. "That's just one of the things I
love about you. You never gave up on us."

"Hmm," Jamie sighed, drinking in his warmth. "So what
are we going to do?"

"What we're going to do is fight this," Mulder told
him, with determination. "I refuse to believe that
anything can come between us again."

"You know what?" Jamie questioned. "I wish that the
world would stop spinning long enough for me to catch
my breath."

Mulder caressed his back. "Remember the first time we
kissed? How scared I was back then to take the risk of
falling in love?"

Jamie nodded, swallowing incoming tears.

"Life is full of risks," Fox continued. "This is just
another we have to take together."

In the distance the wailing of a police siren became
louder as it approached.

*****

A pyre flickered and spit in the center of a holy
chamber. The light reached for the towering ceiling
and reflected the intricate stained glass images along
the walls. Incense hung thick in the air, wafting
between two tall black candles. Illuminated by the
fast-shifting flames were five black robed figures.
They moved in a continuous circle, chanting low.

Another figure, distinguishable among the others,
appeared and stood before the stone obelisk which
served as an altar. His dark eyes surveyed the bones
of Azathoth arranged before him. He had been present
at the excavation of the Great Old One and would soon
be responisble for the ultimate honor of resurrection.

He moved to a small wooden block atop which rested
ritualistic artefacts. Plucking up a black-handled
knife and a thick velvet cord, the figure broke the
magic circle and stood before the fire. The circle
regrouped to form around him. Offering the knife to
the sky, the sleeves of the ebony cloak fell back to
expose aged arms. An incantation began.

"Witness the rites of Dathomir and guard this sacred
circle. I speak with the voice of one born amongst the
stars. And upon this Earth death will reign."

He grew silent, then addressed the faithful assembled.

"The way was lost but the key to our path has been
found. Within five days he will be brought to us. We
will rejoice when he bleeds!"

From within the folds of his cloak, a photograph of a
strikingly handsome man appeared. As it floated down
into the flames, the coven increased their circular
dance and their chanting surged to a crescendo. The
last trace of the picture was consumed and a fierce
cold filled the chamber.

[Next Episode: Mad Dogs And Englishmen]