*************************
THE CAVENDISH DOOR 1/3
By Patty Hayes
November 10, 1996
*************************


Summary:  Scully walks through a door that doesn't exist and enters a 
parallel world.  Mulder's lost without her and tries to get her back. 
 Includes the character Jake from the Red Shoe Diaries, but isn't 
really a crossover.
E-mail:  YRLD43A@prodigy.com 
Spoilers: References to first three seasons.
Classification :  X-file, MSR, Angst
Rating:  PG, R

Disclaimer:  The characters and situations of the television program 
"The X-Files" 
are the creations and property of Chris Carter,  Fox Broadcasting, 
and Ten Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission.  
No copyright infringements are intended.  This work is not to be 
forwarded or distributed to any newsgroup, FTP, or WWW site without 
the permission of the author.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.


James only had another couple of hours work for today and he would be 
able to relax with his wife and kids for the weekend.  It would be 
good to have a break.  He'd been working sixteen hour days to make 
the extra money they would need for the oldest to go to college.  He 
was proud of all his children, but the eldest son would be the first 
to attend college.  James came from a poor background, his father 
worked hard all his life and died at an early age.  James vowed he 
would care for his family without leaving them alone too soon.  He 
was headed into the two bedrooms on the east side of the brownstone 
to install the baseboards when he saw the door.  The prints showed no 
door at that location.  He set his tools on the floor and pulled the 
blue prints from inside his overalls.  James traced with his finger 
the hallways, the bedrooms, down to the end of the short hall.  It 
was a solid outer wall, no door.  He walked over and opened the door. 
 Outside was a small alleyway, the outer corridor extending about fi
e feet beyond the door.  James walked to the end of the corridor and 
looked left and right.  It was just a walkway, a path along the fence.
  Puzzled, he turned back and when he reached the door, it was no 
longer a door, but a solid, brick wall.

**********
'Where is he?'  Scully wondered as she entered the basement office of 
the Hoover building.  She was about to walk back up the stairs when 
Fox Mulder met her at the landing.  

"Hey, Scully."  He waved a folder at her.  "Are you up for a drive 
this morning?"

As they both entered the office she replied.  "Sure, what's up?"

"The local police from Dott, Pennsylvania called the FBI on Saturday 
on a missing person case.  The woman claims her husband went to a job 
site and never returned.  He did odd jobs, sort of a handyman.   He 
went to make minor repairs at a brownstone that was under restoration.
  They found his tools inside the building, his car out in front, but 
he was no where to be found."  Mulder had sat down and opened the 
folder.  He pulled out a photograph of the brownstone.  It was a 
three story building, colonial architecture.  Beautiful but nothing 
special about the site.

"So where's the X-file, Mulder?  It looks like a normal case, either 
kidnapping or abandonment.  I don't see the need for us to get in on 
this, the Philadelphia office should be able to handle it."  

Mulder pulled out  four more reports from the folder.  "He wasn't the 
only one to disappear from this building, Scully.  The brownstone was 
abandoned five years ago after one of the tenants 'disappeared'.  The 
other tenants claim the building was haunted.  They heard noises, 
screams after he vanished.  They never found him, their claim was 
never validated.  Needless to say no one else wanted to remain.  
Twenty five years ago another tenant 'disappeared'.  A ten year old 
boy.  His best friend, Danny Harper, claimed he went out a side door 
and was never heard from again.  Only there was no side door."  
Scully's brow raised with her interest.  "He was accused of knowing 
what had happened to his friend, of foul play, but it could never be 
proven.  The friend was traumatized, ended up in a mental institution 
for the next ten years.  They never got anything out of him, to this 
day he claims a side door existed.  He's working at a delivery 
company not too far from Dott."  Mulder passed the last two reports 
to Scul
y, these pages were worn and yellowed.  "And again, almost fifty 
years ago.  Shortly after the building was erected, the couple who 
originally bought the brownstone also disappeared.  No one ever 
discovered what had happened to them.  The bank took it back and 
resold it."  Mulder sat back, feet moved to the top of his desk, and 
waited for Scully to finish looking over the reports.

"Well, what do you want to do with this, visit Harper first?  He 
seems to be the only 'witness' available.  I'm still not convinced 
that this is anything more than a typical missing person case, Mulder.
"  She laid the pages back on Mulder's desk.  "The kid might have 
been involved in some sort of joke that turned bad and maybe even 
repressed it himself so that he can't remember what actually happened.
  As far as the current disappearance, well, men have been known to 
leave their wives without any word.  The original couple could've 
just gotten in over their heads and bailed out the only way they knew 
how."

"But Scully, all five at the same building?  These people were never 
heard from again.  Doesn't that pique your interest even a little?"  
He grinned as he stood and grabbed his coat from the back of his 
chair.

"Ask me again after we visit Harper."  She returned the smile.

**********
Three and a half hours later, they were sitting in the administration 
office of the Hilldale Sanitarium.  They had visited Harper's place 
of business and had to come back later in the afternoon, when Danny 
would return.  In the meantime, they decided to talk to his doctor, 
who had treated him fifteen years earlier.  "Dr. Ellins, we just want 
to ask him a few questions, he's not in any trouble."

"Well, Agent Mulder, you understand doctor-patient confidentiality.  
I'm afraid I can't tell you much without Mr. Harper's approval.  It 
was, after all, fifteen years ago.  I still see Danny occasionally, 
but overall, he's doing quite well.  I think he'd be very capable of 
discussing the subject with you."

"Doctor, in your opinion, whatever he did say, did you believe him?  
Do you think he had anything to do with the boy's disappearance?"

Dr. Ellins hesitated, then didn't think his answer would violate the 
confidentiality.  "Yes, Agent Mulder, I believed him and no, in my 
opinion, he had nothing to do with it."

The brownstone was the next stop.  It was in a part of town that was 
being restored.  It had once been a beautiful little community with 
the street lined with brownstones.  There were five still standing, 
all three story buildings with various shades of color decorating the 
exteriors, two on one side of the street and three on the other.  
They were in different states of restoration, but three of them were 
occupied at the moment.  Each brownstone held two to three families, 
depending on how the buildings were restored.  There were currently 
five families occupying the three buildings.  They weren't far from 
the new shopping center that had been opened a short time earlier.

The car pulled up to the address listed on the police report and 
Mulder and Scully surveyed the street as they exited the car.  "These 
are really nice, Mulder.  Someone put a lot of work into these.  Look 
at the old style architecture, and the eaves, just beautiful."  
Scully really admired the work.  Being from a military family that 
moved a great deal, Scully had seen her share of architecture and she 
loved the colonial best.

They lifted the yellow tape across the front and entered the building.
  The inside still had a lot of work to be done.  Scaffolding lined 
the hallways and sheetrock dust was everywhere.  The rooms were large 
and it seemed like walking through a maze as they went from room to 
room.  "Scully, take a look at this."

He was standing near the end of a hallway on the east side.  The two 
doors at the end lead to bedrooms, the concrete floor was covered in 
dust.  Except for a small area at the end by the wall.  There were 
footprints leading toward the end of the hall that disappeared in 
midstep.  "This is where his tools were found.  Look how the dust is 
pretty solid from there to the main hall, but here it looks almost as 
if it'd been blown back.  Like opening a door or window and having 
the wind blow it away."  He began tapping on the wall, searching for 
maybe a hidden panel.  Inspecting every crevice as if one slight 
touch would cause the wall to open up.

When nothing showed up, Mulder walked into the bedroom on the left 
and went to the back window.  He stuck his head out and saw just a 
tight walkway.  The lot next door was vacant.  It was clearly a 
bricked wall.  Scully leaned against the door frame with her arms 
folded across her chest.  "Mulder, I hope you're not suggesting the 
wall opens up."

"Stranger things have happened, Scully.  The report from Harper says 
his friend went out a side door.  But, no, I don't think this wall 
opens up.  There might have been a door before the restoration.  
Remind me to dig up the original floor plans for this place before we 
leave town, Scully."  He smiled as he walked toward her.  "Let's 
check out the upstairs."  

Nothing was out of the ordinary on the upper floors.  As they came 
down the stairs, Scully remarked,  "Well, if this house wasn't so 
beautiful, I'd say it was a wasted trip."

"You in the market, Scully?"  

"Not this far from DC, but if they had one like this in Washington, I 
just might."  They made their way through the maze again and as they 
passed the short hallway they had so intricately inspected earlier, 
Scully glanced at the wall.  Just in passing, more instinct than 
anything else.  She got a few more steps before she realized what she 
had seen.  A door.  She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. 
 

"What's wrong, Scully?"  Mulder was a few steps ahead of her when he 
suddenly felt alone.

She walked the couple of steps back to the hallway and stared at the 
end wall.  It was only a wall, not a door.  She could've sworn it was 
a door.

"What is it?"  He was getting curious.

"Nothing, I thought I saw ...  nothing, let's go."  Scully shook her 
head and walked on out the front.  Mulder stayed for a moment and 
looked once again at the end wall of the hallway before he followed 
her out.

*********
They went into town for a late lunch, they had a couple of hours 
before their appointment with Harper.  "Mulder, I don't think we're 
going to get much from this visit.  According to Ellins, Danny Harper 
doesn't really know anything."

"Why don't we see if we can find the original prints before we go.  I 
want to see if Harper can point out were the door was."

They finished quickly and spent the next hour in the court house, 
sifting through file after file until they found the prints that were 
approved for building.  Mulder laid it out on a conference table and 
they both studied the floor plan.  "I think this is the wall.  
There's definitely no door."

Scully stared at the plans, at the line designating the wall 
specifically.  Her mind could still see the door.  'But it wasn't 
there.  God, I must be tired.'  Scully thought to herself.  Mulder 
was speaking to her when her mind snapped back.

"Scully?  Are you with me?  Scully?"

"I'm sorry, what, Mulder?"

"I asked if you were ready, we need to sign these out before we leave.
  Are you all right?"  He was startled by her sudden bout of 
bewilderment.

"Yeah, I'm fine."  She nodded as she walked ahead of him to the 
registrars office.

Mulder noticed something strange about the way Scully was acting.  He 
tried to think when it had begun.  Sometime at the brownstone.  He 
stole glances at her on the drive to the delivery company.  She was 
somber, quiet, staring out the window at nothing.

Scully didn't quite know what was bothering her.  Surely it wasn't 
just because she thought she had seen a door where there wasn't one.  
A feeling was nagging at her, she had to shake it, though.  She 
didn't want Mulder pampering her, worrying about her.

**********
Danny Harper was waiting for them when they arrived.  "I don't know 
what I can tell you that wasn't in the police report.  Jake and I 
were playing hide and seek.  We were only ten years old.  Jake lived 
upstairs and came down earlier in the morning.  We were making too 
much noise and my Mom threatened to separate us, so we picked a game 
that was quieter.  He was hiding and I was counting, only I was 
cheating.  You know, peeking.  I saw him go through a door at the end 
of the hall.  When I lifted my head, the door was gone.  I know it 
sounds crazy, I thought I was crazy.  But I know what I saw, I'll 
never forget it, as long as I live."

Mulder laid the blue prints out on a nearby table.  "Danny, can you 
show me where the door was?"  

Danny pointed to the same wall they had checked out earlier.  The 
same one where Scully thought she had seen the door.  It unnerved her.
  She stepped back and let Mulder do the talking.  "It has been 
twenty five years.  Why are you so sure there was a door?"

"Agent Mulder, I can still see it happening.  The door opened and the 
light from the sun was so bright, Jake was just a silhouette.  I'd 
give anything to do it all over again, I wouldn't let him go through.
"

Suddenly Scully stepped forward.  "Mulder?  Can I speak to you?"  He 
excused himself and they moved slightly away from Harper.  "Mulder, I 
want to see the house again."

"What do you hope to find, Scully?  What's bothering you?"

"Something about the house.  I want to do another walk through."

Mulder stared into her eyes.  He trusted her more than he trusted 
himself.  If she said something was wrong, then you can bet on it.  
"Ok, Scully.  We can drive back out there and then get a hotel for 
tonight, we can go back to DC tomorrow."  He didn't know what she 
expected to find, but he'd follow her anywhere.

**********
They searched the brownstone again from top to bottom.  Nothing was 
unusual, no hidden passages, no secret doorways.  "Why don't you go 
ahead and call the hotel, Mulder.  Make sure we can get rooms.  I'll 
be right there."  Scully stood in the front room, arms crossed again, 
looking out the front window at the peaceful street.  She often 
wondered when it would be her turn to have a family and live in a 
home like this.  Watching her children from the same window playing 
in the front yard.  She sighed deeply and went toward the front door.


As her hand reached for the doorknob, something inside her told her 
to turn around.  Go back to the hallway.  She stopped just before 
turning the corner, almost afraid of what she'd find if she looked 
down the hall.  'This is ridiculous.'  She chided herself and stepped 
out.  At the end of the hall was a door.  There was a door,  a plain, 
ordinary exterior door.  Painted white to match the walls.  Scully 
looked to the front door.  Should she call to Mulder?  "Hey, Mulder!" 
 She did call to him as she stepped forward to open the door.  All 
she saw was the back walkway.  No monsters, no vortex, just a walkway.
  As she stepped further outside she looked up and down the path.  
The building next door was under construction.  Wait!  She didn't 
remember a building next door.  The lot next to the brownstone was 
vacant!  And the sky was different.  It was no longer a bright sunny 
day, it was cloudy, humid, almost foggy.  She turned around to go 
back into the house but the door was no longer there.  There was only 
a 
rick wall.  She pounded on the wall.  "Mulder!"

Mulder heard Scully and reentered the house.  He thought he saw a 
light coming from the hallway.  "Scully?"  He heard her call again, 
this time the call seemed more urgent.  "Scully?"  He called.  This 
time there was no answer.  "Scully!?"  Again nothing.  "Scully!?"  
Now he began to panic.  He searched every corner of that brownstone.  
Scully was nowhere to be found.

**********
"Well, hell!"  Scully stood with her hands on her hips.  She stood 
back and looked at the building she had just come from.  It was not 
the brownstone.  It looked more like an old medical building.  The 
kind that had a couple of dentists.  Or the kind you'd see in a small 
town.  She walked around to the front.  The street was a busy one.  
Cars moving up and down as if it were a down town street, not the 
quiet suburban block they had arrived on.  Across the street she saw 
a bank.  'First National Bank of Seattle?  What the hell is this?'  
Scully removed her cell phone from her pocket to dial Mulder.  It was 
dead, couldn't get a tone.  'Damn!  Battery must be dead.'  

To her left was a construction site.  She saw two men talking, 
gesturing wildly, as if they were arguing.  After closer inspection, 
she recognized the tall man.  Dark hair, tall lanky body.  Mulder.  
'I'm going to kill him.'  She thought this was a bad joke.  She ran 
to the cyclone fence surrounding the construction site and called to 
him.  "Mulder!"  They kept talking, not noticing her.  She called 
again.  "MULDER!"  This time they both looked at her.  

The tall man said something to the other, then walked over to the 
fence.  He was dressed differently.  His suit was a more expensive 
suit, Italian made.  As he neared the fence he removed his hardhat.  
"Can I help you, Miss?"

"Mulder, what the hell is going on?  Where are we and how did we get 
here!?"  She was mad.

"I'm sorry, I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"So help me god, Mulder, if this fence wasn't here.  Quit joking 
around!"

"Look, Miss, I don't know who this Mulder is, but I can assure you 
I'm not him."  He saw the confused look on her face.  "There's an 
opening down here, if you'll follow me I'll show you my driver's 
license."

She looked at him again and noticed a slight difference.  His eyes 
were more brown than green, his hair was longer.  Definitely not the 
standard FBI cut.  She was confused but refused to believe what her 
mind was telling her.  Scully started walking the length of the fence,
 the man was a few steps ahead of her on the other side.  As she 
neared the opening, she looked up and saw him standing there waiting 
for her.  Then the thought occurred to her.  'Clone.'  And she froze. 
 'This is a set up.'  The man took a step toward her and she 
instinctively pulled her gun.  "Stop!  Don't come any closer."

The man stopped.  He didn't know what the hell was going on.  Who was 
this woman?  "All right, I'm not moving."  He raised his hands, palms 
forward.

They were less that five feet apart.  "Take out your ID.  With just 
two fingers."

He pulled out his wallet and held it up for her.  She reached out and 
snatched it from his hand.  From the right she saw someone 
approaching.  She stepped back and while keeping one eye on the tall 
man, she aimed her gun at the individual walking up to them and 
addressed him.  "Stay where you are."  She pulled her badge from her 
pocket and flipped it open with one hand.  "I'm FBI, go about your 
business."

"You Ok, Jake?"  He asked the tall man.

"Yeah, John, go back to work, it's just a misunderstanding."  He 
watched him walk back to the site.  

Scully had placed her badge back in her pocket and was opening his 
wallet with one hand, the gun's aim returned to him.  The driver's 
license said Jake Saunders, Seattle Washington.  She became dizzy.  
Something was wrong.  She leaned against the fence for support as she 
slowly lowered her gun.

"Are you Ok?"

"What?"  She returned her attention to Jake.  "Yeah, I'm fine.  I'm 
sorry, you look like someone else."  Scully placed her gun in the 
holster and tossed his wallet back to him.  "I'm sorry."  She turned 
around and began walking toward the street.

Jake stared after her for a moment.  She was incredibly beautiful.  
Haunting green eyes, fiery silky red hair, full seductive mouth and a 
slim, graceful body.  He ran after her.  "Miss?  Wait a minute.  Miss?
"  She turned so sharply that he froze in mid step.  "Maybe I can 
help you.  Are you lost?"

Scully thought about it.  She looked around.  "Do you have a phone I 
can borrow, my battery is dead."

Jake reached in his coat and handed her his cell phone.  Scully 
dialed Mulder's number.  "The mobile number you are trying to call is 
not in service at this time."  She dialed again, thinking she 
misdialed.  The same message played.  She dialed the DC office, 
collect to AD Skinner.  "I'm sorry there's no one here by that name.
"

"The Assistant Director, Walter Skinner."  She repeated herself to 
the operator and got the same reply.  

"I'm sorry the AD is Scott O'Brian.  There is no Walter Skinner with 
the Federal Bureau."

This is some joke, a bad one.  "I'd like you to patch me through to 
Agent Fox Mulder, then, this is Agent Dana Scully."  She gave the 
operator both badge numbers.

"Miss, I'm sorry, there is no Fox Mulder or Dana Scully with the 
Bureau, either.  Those badge numbers are not current numbers."  The 
receptionist replied after a couple of minutes.

Dana stared at the phone as she pressed the disconnect button.  'What 
is going on?'  She had never felt so lost in her life.  At least when 
she was abducted she didn't remember anything.  Is that what would 
happen here?  When she made it back, would she remember anything?  
Would she make it back?  She shuddered.  Her head was spinning.

Jake was luckily at her side as she stumbled slightly.  He caught her 
by the elbows and held on.  "Whoa, it's all right, I got you.  You 
want to sit down?"  

She shook herself away from him.  "I'm all right."  She repeated 
herself.

"Look, my office is right around the corner,  why don't you let me 
take you there, you can try to contact someone from there.  You don't 
look too stable."  He looked genuinely concerned.  

Scully swore he even had the same haunted look as Mulder.  She let 
him guide her toward the street and down the sidewalk to his office 
building.  

**********
End of Part 1







>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Nov 18 22:28:20 1996
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Summary:  Scully walks through a door that doesn't exist and enters a 
parallel world.  Mulder's lost without her and tries to get her back. 
 Includes the character Jake from the Red Shoe Diaries, but isn't 
really a crossover.
Spoilers: References to first three seasons.
Classification :  X-file, MSR, Angst
Rate: PG, R
Disclaimer:  See part 1.

*************************
THE CAVENDISH DOOR 2/3
By Patty Hayes
November 10, 1996
*************************

Mulder spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening 
searching the neighborhood for Scully.  He canvassed the area.  He 
knocked on every door, questioning everyone.  Finally he called 
Skinner.  He met him at the hotel close to midnight.  

"Mulder, tell me again, what happened."  Skinner stood with his arms 
crossed against his chest.

Mulder was pacing, running his hand through his hair.  "We went back 
to the house.  Scully had a feeling about it, she wouldn't tell me 
what.  We searched it again.  I was in the front yard on the phone 
making reservations for the hotel.  I heard her call to me.  It 
wasn't a panic call, it was more like she found something she wanted 
me to see.  When I came back in the house, I called out to her.  This 
time when she called to me her tone was more serious and distanced, 
like she was farther away.  I called to her two or three more times, 
but she had disappeared.  Gone, just vanished."  He took a deep 
breath.

Skinner was worried.  But not only about Scully.  Mulder was making 
him nervous as well.  He could sense the panic and hysteria building 
up in Mulder.  The last time Scully was missing for three months.  
Mulder stopped eating, stopped sleeping.  He could barely function, 
oh, he did his job, but he was moody, easily agitated, taking 
dangerous risks.  At the time Skinner feared Mulder would lose it.  
End up getting himself killed.  Now it was happening again.  He had 
to stop it before it started.  "Get a hold of yourself, Mulder.  
We'll get her back."

"No we won't!"  He yelled, startling Skinner.  "Five people have 
disappeared from that house over the past fifty years!  FIVE!  None 
of them EVER returned.  NONE!"  He rubbed his face and his voiced 
softened.  "Where the hell is she?  Where did she go?"

**********
Scully sat in Jake's office, looking at the pictures on the wall.  
They were photographs of several skyscrapers with the most unusual 
but beautiful architecture she'd ever seen.  Jake walked in and set a 
glass of water and a bottle of aspirin in front of her.  "Are you 
feeling better?"  He still looked concerned.

"Yes, thanks."  She had tried her mother's phone, the Lone Gunmen, a 
couple of friends.  All numbers were either not in service or 
belonged to someone else.  She felt she was in the twilight zone.  
She was dreaming, this was not happening.  Up until now, Scully was 
angry, confused and perplexed.  Now she was frightened.  She realized 
that the five people before her never returned.  What was she to do 
next?  

Jake suddenly saw the fear in her eyes.  He still didn't know what 
was going on, she hadn't divulged any information.  She seemed lost, 
like she had been abandoned.  "Can I do something for you?  Contact 
anyone?  Do you want to tell me what's wrong?  I'm a good listener."

Scully thought about it, then decided she would sound like a lunatic. 
 How do you tell someone you've stepped into another world?

Receiving no answer, Jake tried again.  "Do you have some place to 
stay?  Can I drive you anywhere?"

Her attention was focused to the window.  It was getting dark and she 
didn't know where to go.  Her purse had been in the car, she might 
have a couple of dollars in her pocket, she had her gun and badge, 
that was all.  The locals wouldn't help her because her ID didn't 
exist on file, she might even be arrested for carrying false ID.  "I 
don't know."  Her voice was unsteady, unsure for the first time since 
she had met Jake.

"Look, it's getting late, you probably haven't eaten and you need to 
rest.  Maybe things will be better in the morning.  I don't live too 
far from here.  You can stay at my place, I promise you I'm not a 
pervert, I'm not going to hurt you or try anything.  But you need 
time to figure out what you want to do."  He was truly sincere.  He 
wanted to help her.  "You have to trust somebody, I promise I only 
want to help you."

'Trust.'  That word again.  The past four years have been about trust.
  This man looked like Mulder, spoke like Mulder and ever bone in her 
body said to trust him like Mulder.  She would normally never accept 
an invitation like this, but she did trust him, so she accepted.

Scully walked around the loft that was Jake's residence.  It was huge.
  A gourmet kitchen, a basketball court at one end, an area that 
looked like a miniature city.  She had never seen anything like it.  
They were greeted by Stella, Jake's pet.  A beautiful and friendly 
black and white mixed breed dog.  She watched as Jake crouched down 
and petted the animal, as Stella licked his entire face.  

"What do you think about Chinese?  There's a place that delivers.  I 
can dig out a pair of jeans and shirt for you so you can be more 
comfortable."  He talked as he gathered the clothing.  She had hardly 
said a word since they'd left the office.  "The bedroom is right here,
 I'll take the couch tonight.  You can change and freshen up here and 
I'll make the call for dinner.  If you need anything, please yell."

He left her standing in front of the bathroom.  She went in, closed 
and locked the door and sat on the dressing area bench.  This was a 
unique room.  The free standing tub was beautiful, the stained glass 
surrounding the room was breathtaking.  She closed her eyes and tried 
to make sense of this.  

Jake had changed and ordered dinner by the time Scully came out to 
join him.  She wore the black jeans and the light blue tailored shirt 
he had given her.  The jeans were rolled up at the ankles and the 
shirt was tucked in, the shoulder seams hanging halfway down her 
upper arm with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows.  It was the 
sexiest thing he had ever seen.  He blushed at his own sudden desires 
as he took in the sight of her.  She was barefoot, her hair damp at 
the edges framing her face and those eyes, those beautiful green eyes.
  God, she was gorgeous.  The doorbell shook him back to reality.  
Dinner had arrived.

Scully was being way too quiet.  So it surprised him when she began 
asking questions.  "How long have you been living here?"  

"About five years now, I guess.  I was engaged and we needed a place 
that was close to both our work.  We fell in love with the loft.  It 
gives me an area to experiment with designs in architecture.  I 
actually do a lot of work from here."

Scully looked over to the miniature city.  "It really is beautiful."  
Her gaze returned to him.  "What happened to your engagement?"  She 
noticed a brief look of pain cross his face.

Jake hadn't talked about what happened to anyone.  He couldn't bring 
himself to discuss it before now.  Something in this woman brought 
out in him the need to talk about it.  He stopped eating for a moment.
  Stared into Scully's eyes, hoping to find understanding, compassion.
  "She killed herself."

He was completely still, intense, a dark look crept over his face.  
She thought she saw tears briefly form.  Then he smiled slightly, as 
if trying to convince himself he was over it.  She had seen this 
exact look on Mulder's face many times.  "We'd been seeing each other 
for a few years, lived together for a year before we decided to marry.
  You think you know someone, know what they're thinking, what 
they're feeling.  I found her diary after her death.  She was having 
an affair with a total stranger.  He wouldn't let go and she couldn't 
handle the guilt, the complexity.  So she killed herself.  There."  
He pointed to the bathroom.  "I came home and found her there, in the 
tub.  She cut her wrists.  I still don't understand it."  Suddenly he 
wasn't hungry anymore.  Jake went to the kitchen and brought back a 
bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

"I'm sorry."  That was all Scully could say.  She didn't know this 
man, but yet she did.  He was Mulder.

Jake nodded and poured the wine.  If he spoke right then, he might 
have choked up, so he remained quiet.

Scully began talking.  "I don't know how I got here.  I'm a medical 
doctor and a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  
Yet no one there knows me or can identify me or my partner.  None of 
my phone numbers exist.  This morning I was in Dott, Pennsylvania and 
the next thing I know I'm in Seattle, Washington!  Am I going crazy?
"

So this was it.  Jake suddenly shivered.  Chills went up his spine.  
"You went through the door!"

She gasped.  "How did you know?  What was that door?  Where is this 
place, what's going on?"  Scully demanded answers.  It came as a 
complete shock that Jake would know about the door.

Jake watched the anger return to her soft features.  "I don't know.  
You were at the brownstone?  It's still there?"  He waited for her to 
acknowledge.

"Yes.  What do know about it?"

He shook his head.  "It was twenty five years ago.  I was ten.  I was 
playing hide and seek with a friend."

"Danny Harper."  Scully interrupted him.

"Yes, how did you know?"  This was becoming beyond real for Jake.  He 
had begun to think he'd dreamt it all.

"We spoke to him today.  To find out his story.  Two more people have 
vanished since your disappearance.  We were looking for leads.  He 
told us about the door, he told everyone.  No one believed him."  
This was incredible.

"What happened to Danny?"

Scully hesitated.  "He spent ten years in a mental institution."  She 
saw him wince as he lowered his head.  "He went through a lot of 
therapy and is doing really well now."  They were both silent for a 
moment.  "Where are we?  Why didn't you ever come back?"  She didn't 
know if she really wanted to hear the answer.

"I was ten years old.  I didn't know what had happened.  The police 
picked me up and I ended up in a foster home.  Soon after I was 
adopted by an elderly couple.  They explained that they too had gone 
through the door and never made it back.  I don't think I could've 
survived without them.  They helped me understand, otherwise I might 
have ended up like Danny.  I went to Pennsylvania years later, but 
there was no brownstone.  Never had been.  It's all industrial there. 
 I didn't know how to get back.  Like you, everyone I'd known no 
longer existed.  I don't have the answers.  I don't know how to get 
back."

**********
Mulder sat in the dark hotel room.  They had an army of agents 
searching the city.  Nothing was to be found, not a thread of 
evidence.  It was as if she vanished into thin air.  Skinner had 
ordered him to remain at the hotel.  He was barking at the other 
agents, generally causing havoc at the scene.  Now he sat there, 
staring into the darkness.  Wondering where Scully was, what was 
happening to her.  Was she Ok, was she being hurt?  He'd never 
forgive himself if something happened to her.  He never should've let 
her out of his sight.  He knew something had been bothering her, why 
didn't he press the issue?  

So much had happened to him and Scully over the past four years.  
They had lost so much.  Both felt they had only each other.  Now he 
was alone and she was elsewhere, also alone.  Mulder would do 
anything for Scully, even give his life for hers.  He felt helpless, 
there was nothing he could do and it was eating him alive.  He knew 
in the morning he would have to call her mother.  He was dreading it. 
 For the third time he would have to tell her she was missing.  To 
have to look into her eyes and tell her that her daughter was gone 
and he didn't know how to get her back.  He didn't think he could do 
it.  He kept torturing himself.  How could he have lost her again?  
He could not go on without her again, he had to get her back.  Mulder 
knew it was the house.  Something in that house had Scully.  He was 
going to find out.  The first light of day, he would visit Danny 
Harper again.  He got up and went over to the dresser where he had 
put his wallet.  He pulled out two photos.  He kept one of Samantha 
with him a
d in the past year he had acquired the other.  One of Scully.  She 
didn't know he had it.  She didn't know he kept it with him always.  
With the help of the moon light, he stared at the photo.  "I need you,
 Scully.  You have to come back."  A tear fell onto the photograph.

**********
"You're saying, I'm stuck here?  There's no way to get back?"  She 
put her head in her hands.  "Where am I?   OZ?"

Jake came over to her and wanted to put his arms around her.  He 
settled for placing a hand on her shoulder.  He wanted to comfort her,
 but didn't want to scare her.  "We'll find a way."  He didn't know 
how the hell he was going to get it done, but he would try.

Jake sent her off to bed and cleaned up the kitchen before laying on 
his sofa.  His thoughts turned to Dana Scully.  For the first time 
since Alex had died, he was interested in someone.  He didn't really 
know Dana, but he wanted to.

The next morning came and Dana awakened in Jake's bed.  For a minute, 
before she opened her eyes, she thought she'd had a horrible 
nightmare.  Then she realized it wasn't a dream, it was real.  

Jake was already up when she emerged from the bedroom.  Her hair was 
disheveled and she wore Jake's silk robe.  It took away his breath 
when she walked into the kitchen.  "I hope you're hungry.  I'm not 
really a good cook, but I make a mean scrambled egg."  He smiled at 
her.

God, that was Mulder's smile.  She knew this was Jake, not Mulder.  
But it was as if she was seeing Mulder in a new light.  Maybe how he 
might have been had it not been for all the tragedy that had befallen 
him.  A man with a normal job, sleeping normal hours, cooking 
breakfast, doing the dishes.  She wondered what kind of woman his 
fiancee must have been to seek another man.  She wondered what kind 
of husband Mulder would be if his life had been more normal.  But 
Jake had his problems too.  She saw the same hurt look from time to 
time.  To come home and find the person you love, cherish, dead by 
her own hand.  He must have been devastated.  Then to find out why 
she had killed herself, to find out you had been betrayed, she 
couldn't imagine what he'd gone through.

Dana returned the smile.  "It smells good."

It was the first time he had seen her smile, it was intoxicating.

"Jake, can I ask you something personal?"

Jake was unsure.  "I guess."

"Tell me about your fiancee."

He placed the plateful of eggs in front of her and slipped a couple 
of pieces of bread in the toaster.  "Her name was Alex.  She was like 
a lost child.  I guess I'm a soft touch for lost causes."  He noticed 
her reaction.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean ... "  He looked away, 
embarrassed.  "Anyway, everything was new and exciting when I was 
with her."  He set a couple of glasses out with a pitcher of orange 
juice.  "She was in the decorating business, but she was an 
inspiration to me in my work.  I truly loved her, I would've forgiven 
her you know.  I wished she'd have known.  I keep thinking of what I 
did wrong.  What did I do to push her away, to push her into the arms 
of another man?  I still don't understand.  Her diary says she loved 
me, but that I stole her mystery.  She had no mystery left.  Alex 
didn't have a good childhood and she jumped straight from that to me, 
so I guess her mystery, her private thoughts were more important to 
her.  It's ironic, she was always a mystery to me.  To me she was 
like one
of those Victorian boxes, you open one and inside, there's another.  
You open that and inside, a smaller one.  And on and on."  His voice 
was barely above a whisper as it trailed off.

He looked up at her and smiled.  "I'm sorry, didn't mean to space out 
on you there.  What about you?  Is there a Mr. Scully?"

"Only my father."  She smiled again.  "Only he passed away a year and 
a half ago.  No, I guess you could say I'm married to my work.  Don't 
seem to have much time for anything else."

'If she smiles like that too much, I'm going to be in big trouble.'  
Jake thought to himself.  "Well, tell me about your partner.  Is it 
Mulder?"

"Yes, actually Fox Mulder.  But he hates his first name.  I call him 
Mulder and he calls me Scully.  He looks exactly like you, only his 
eyes are hazel and his hair is a bit shorter.  Mulder is driven by a 
passion, an obsession for the truth.  He sister was taken when they 
were young.  He's been searching for her ever since.  He's an 
extraordinary man, really."  Now it was her turn to drift off.  "I 
don't really feel comfortable talking about him if you don't mind."

"It's Ok, I understand."  Jake laid his hand on top of hers.

Scully lost her appetite.  Her thoughts were drawn to Mulder.  What 
was he going through?  Her mother told her what he had been like when 
she had disappeared the first time.  She hoped he hadn't gone off the 
deep end this time.  Looking at Jake, she suddenly missed Mulder.  
Her eyes filled with tears.  "I'm sorry."

Jake was so drawn to this woman.  He had a hard time believing it 
himself.  He wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go. 
 This was new to her, he'd been living with it for twenty five years. 
 He was used to the idea of never going back.  He'd been a kid, in 
childhood things change, you get used to it, you get over it.  But as 
an adult, it was much more difficult.  Especially when it involved 
leaving those you love behind.  He felt the love she had for this 
Mulder.  Somewhere inside him he wished it could've been for him.

Dana awkwardly pulled her hand away.  "Where do think we should start 
today?"

Jake had no idea where to start.  He'd been through this before as 
had his parents, fifty years ago.  But he didn't want to let Dana 
down.  "Why don't we go to the abandoned building where you first 
showed up.  Take a look around, see if there's anything to be found.  
I called my secretary this morning and she dropped off a few clothes 
that might fit you.  I thought you'd be more comfortable."

Two hours later, Jake and Dana were walking around the abandoned 
building.  It had been an old medical building after all.  They went 
from room to room, but Dana kept being 'drawn' to the east side of 
the building.  An outer wall of one of the examining rooms.  "I don't 
know what it is, but something about this room is unusual.  I can't 
put my finger on it."  She walked to the back wall and ran her hands 
over it.  Pressing, looking for weaknesses, looking for something odd.
  It seemed like a normal wall.

They went outside and inspected the exterior.  Again, it was just a 
normal building.  Scully was frustrated. Nothing was found.  They 
next attempted to contact anyone that Scully knew.  Anyone.  They 
tried old school records, military records of her father, even 
Mulders fathers connection to the State Department.  Nothing.  It 
occurred to her that maybe the consortium didn't exist in this world. 
 Then it occurred to her that maybe the consortium is behind this.  
That maybe this is some sort of major conspiracy to not only separate 
her and Mulder, but to finally push them over the edge.  She didn't 
know what to think anymore.  If they were behind this, then what roll 
did Jake play?

**********
End of Part 2






>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Nov 18 22:30:09 1996
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Summary:  Scully walks through a door that doesn't exist and enters a 
parallel world.  Mulder's lost without her and tries to get her back. 
 Includes the character Jake from the Red Shoe Diaries, but isn't 
really a crossover.
Spoilers: References to first three seasons.
Classification :  X-file, MSR, Angst
Rate: PG, R
Disclaimer:  See Part 1.

*************************
THE CAVENDISH DOOR 3/3
By Patty Hayes
November 10, 1996
*************************

Two days later, Mulder was still at the house.  He had acquired 
Harper's aide in searching the house.  They took the wall down brick 
by brick.  There was no trick wall.  No hidden microphones or special 
passages.  He was once again at a loss with no where to turn.  His 
last contact had died, the woman he turned to occasionally wouldn't 
have any information for this.  He didn't believe it had anything to 
do with some conspiracy.  This was something paranormal.  Mulder had 
called Scully's mother.  It broke his heart to tell her what was 
going on.  He wouldn't stop looking until he had an answer one way or 
the other.

Skinner tried to bring Mulder back to Washington, but he refused.  
"No, you can have my badge if you want, but I'm not leaving.  She's 
here, sir.  I know it.  I can feel it."

He sat on the floor staring at the opening that was the wall for a 
long time before sleep overtook him.  It was near dusk when he opened 
his eyes again.  Coming through the opening was a bright light.  He 
thought he was dreaming for a moment.  The light faded slowly and as 
it did, he saw Scully.  She was standing at a fence staring at a man 
in the next building that could have been him.  She was dressed 
differently, but it was her.  He jumped up and started for the 
opening.  "Scully!"  He called out to her.  He saw her turn to face 
him, but as he reached the end of the hall, the light along with the 
vision, vanished.  He stumbled out into the darkening night, to the 
emptiness surrounding him.  Was it a dream?  He dropped to his knees 
and put his head in his hands.  "No no."  

**********
It was getting late and she and Jake were getting ready to leave.  It 
had been three days and they came back to the lot each day, hoping 
that a sign would appear.  As dusk fell, she was standing near the 
fence as Jake walked toward her.  He had checked on the construction 
site while he was there.  He hadn't been to work since he met Scully. 
 She thought she heard something.  Her name.  It sounded like Mulder 
calling to her.  She turned toward the building and saw 'through' the 
wall.  It was Mulder running toward her!  As she started for him, the 
wall 'closed up' and he was gone.  Jake ran after her, they went 
around to the front and stopped when they got to the wall.  She was 
out of breath.  "He was here, I saw him, Jake."  She looked around, 
she had seen him, she could even still feel him.

They stayed at the site for hours, but nothing else happened.  Mulder 
didn't appear again.  Scully was silent on the way back to the loft.  
When she entered the apartment, she walked right past Stella as if 
she were in a trance.  

Jake stopped to greet his dog, crouched, stroking Stella, he glanced 
up at Scully.  "Dana, maybe it wasn't there.  Maybe it was wishful 
thinking."  He didn't want to get her hopes up.  He wished he had 
been looking in the same direction, to see what she had seen.

"I know what I saw, Jake."  Scully raised her voice.  "It wasn't my 
imagination."  She stopped in the middle of the loft and looked over 
at him, suddenly unsure of herself.  "Was it?"

Her eyes became watery and Jake's heart was heavy with compassion.  
He instantly knew he'd fallen for this woman.  He walked over to her 
and put his arms around her and held her tightly.  He felt her arms 
wrap around his waist and just the feel of her next to him caused his 
rational thinking to dissipate.  He enjoyed the feel of her, the 
smell of her, the soft curves of her body.  Jake lowered his face to 
feel the silkiness of her hair and reveled in her response.  He could 
feel her reacting, giving in to her feelings.   His body was 
shivering inside, he so desperately wanted her at this moment.  He 
pulled back slightly to look into her face.  His gaze shifted from 
her eyes to her lips and back again, a tear ran down her cheek.  He 
wanted to make it stop.  He kissed her eye lid, then her cheek, then 
he lowered his face to kiss her mouth.

Scully fell into his arms, needing to be held, to know she wasn't 
alone.  The touch of his face to hers was electric.  When she looked 
into his face she saw Mulder.  This was Mulder's sensual mouth, his 
strong jaw line, his prominent nose, she felt the strength of 
Mulder's arms enveloping her.  To her, it simply was Mulder.  She was 
drawn into his kiss.  Every part of her screamed to surrender as she 
felt herself melt in his arms.  His hands gently moved up her back 
and down her shoulders and arms to her waist.  She could feel his 
arms tighten around her as he lifted her slightly off the floor and 
deepened the kiss.  She could feel how much he wanted her.  She could 
feel the tight muscles in the arms that held her captive.  Their lips 
parted and with her eyes closed, she felt Jake's kisses move to her 
neck and down her throat.

Jake needed this, he needed her.  It had been so long since he felt 
anything this strong for another woman.  When he heard the slight 
moan escape her throat, his body told him this was right and he 
started walking her back to the bedroom.  Then he heard more than a 
moan escape her lips.

"Oh, Mulder."  

Jake's heart crumbled as he froze.  Once again, the woman he wanted, 
the woman he loved, wanted someone else.  He felt her body stiffen 
and reluctantly released her from his grasp.  Her eyes were filled 
with tears and regret.  It was then he realized her true feelings for 
this man she knew as Mulder.  "I'm sorry, Dana."  He said to her, 
still close enough to her to hear her heart pounding, to feel the 
heat emanating from her.

"No, Jake, I'm sorry.  It's not you, it's me.  I just can't do this." 
 She'd seen the look of desire in his eyes, felt the desire in his 
body and selfishly wished it was Mulder.

As if reading her mind, Jake replied.  "I wish I were him."  He 
grabbed his jacket and walked out of the apartment.  He needed to be 
alone, he didn't want her feeling sorry for him right now.

**********
She was within his grasp once more, only to slip away so easily.  
Mulder swore if he got Scully back again, he'd never let her out of 
his sight.  He was beside himself.  He knew this house had some 
connection to her, but he didn't know how or what.  He didn't have a 
clue as to how to get to her.  No place to start.  He didn't want to 
leave the house for fear of another opening, another chance, but he 
had to find help.  

The next morning, as soon as it opened, Mulder went to the local 
library.  He started with the history of that land sight.  He went 
back as far as the landing of the Mayflower.  The town was almost as 
old as Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania's population spread like wildfire. 
  He saw the families grow in numbers until the era where witchcraft 
was popular.  Then they suddenly disappeared.  The town became almost 
nonexistent.  He searched for records, anything that might show where 
the people had gone.  What had happened to them?  Did they die as 
witches?  Were they run out of town, if so, where had they gone?  

The records showed nothing, but he found a name, a local historian, 
Elsa Domirsky.  She was a small, elderly woman, Mulder guessed in her 
seventies.  Her hair was gray and kept in a bun on the top of her 
head.  Her eyes were still bright, though.  And bluer than he'd ever 
seen.  "Oh yes, I remember my mother telling me stories about a 
family named Cavendish.  They were an odd group.  No one knew where 
they came from or where they went but they resided in the same area 
as that brownstone."  Elsa's hands shook as she pointed to a book on 
the top shelf of a cabinet.  Mulder pulled the book down for her.  
"They were the head of a large clan, kept pretty much to themselves.  
Up and disappeared one night, no one saw or heard anything.  Most of 
their furnishings remained, just personal belongings were taken.  
Most of the rest of the town believed they were witches and that's 
how they explained the disappearance."  She opened the book and 
fumbled through the pages.  It looked like a register of names and 
addresses.
 Like a census tally, including the number of people in each family.

Mulder thought of the Kindred.  Were the ancestors of Dott alien in 
nature, able to change sexes at will?  Disappearing at a moments 
notice.  The circle in the wheat field in Steveston inferred a 
spacecraft, did they instead just walk over a threshold into another 
universe, another world?  He shuddered at the thought of what Brother 
Andrew was going to do to Scully, what she would've done if he hadn't 
came to her aide.  "Were there ever reports of anyone vanishing after 
they left?  Vanishing without a trace?  I know of the disappearances 
over the past fifty years, but what about earlier than that?"

"Oh my, yes.  A couple of years after they left, it's been said, many 
people disappeared.  Again it was chalked up to witchcraft.  The 
times, the way they were then, many innocent people were hung for 
witchery.  Cryin' shame it was."  Her mind seemed to drift off as if 
she was actually remembering the incidents.  Her bright blue eyes 
snapped back to face Mulder.  "It was rumored the earth opened up and 
swallowed them."

"What?  You mean an earthquake?"

"Oh, no.  Like a window or a door opened and they just walked through.
  That was the talk."  She smiled.  "Of course, those same talkers 
are the ones who hung the witches."

"Is there any record of this?  How they were able to just walk 
through?"  Mulder was hopeful.

"No, no.  Just speculation.  Like I said, it was all rumors.  No one 
wanted to actually admit to seeing it for fear of being brandished a 
witch.  They certainly weren't going to write it down.  Although I do 
have a book that was left by the clan.  My mother got it from her 
mother. She had saved it, hid it actually.  Let me see, where did I 
put it?"   She stood slowly and Mulder helped her over to another set 
of shelves.  Elsa had an entire room full of old books.  The one she 
pointed to this time was a large, old, dusty book.  As he took it off 
the shelf, Mulder blew off the dust and set it on a table nearby.

Elsa opened it and Mulder saw large handwritten pages.  The old 
English was at first difficult for him to read.  Some of it was faded,
 some of the writing was illegible.  At the end of the book, however, 
he found a passage that was suspect.  

End of thy time nears
Thy paths forsaken
As thy wish, thy want
Thy shall begin again

What did it mean?  Was it a way to get to the 'other side'?  To begin 
a new life?  He copied it down and thanked Elsa for her help.  Mulder 
went back to the brownstone.

**********
Scully was up early the next morning.  She didn't sleep too well and 
had heard Jake come in shortly after she went to bed.  She approached 
him cautiously.  "Morning Jake."  

"Morning Dana."

"I want to talk about last night, Jake."

"You don't have to."

"I want to.  You don't know everything.  You don't understand.  I 
don't even know if all of this is real."  She closed her eyes and 
took a deep breath.  "I was 'taken' a couple of years ago.  I don't 
know by who, although I have a good idea.  And I don't know what they 
did to me.  I mean, I know they did some sort of experiments, they 
implanted a computer chip in the back of my neck but I don't know 
what else they did.  I didn't remember anything.  For all I know it 
could be happening again.  You could be a part of it and when this is 
over, I won't remember again."

"I'm not a part of anything, Dana, you have to believe, you have to 
trust me."  Jake's eyes were full of concern.

"There, you see, those are Mulders words.  'Trust.'  They would know 
what Mulder saying that would mean to me.  I don't have to trust 
anyone but myself.  What is this place anyway?  I don't believe it's 
a parallel world or another universe.  Someone did something to me so 
that I would believe I just walked into this place.  You were the 
only one around."

"Dana, you said it yourself.  I was that little boy who disappeared 
twenty five years ago!  I know how it looks, how it sounds, don't you 
think I know?!  Of all the people here, we found each other!  I don't 
know.  Maybe subconsciously I bought that land to build on because I 
was drawn to it for some reason.  Maybe because that's where I 
entered this place, whatever it is.  I don't remember a whole hell of 
a lot when I was a kid, but the world doesn't seem that different to 
me."  Jake finally let everything go.  All his doubts surfaced.

"Maybe that's what they want you to see, to feel.  Maybe you're an 
experiment, too.  Maybe all those memories are planted!  And maybe 
they made you look like Mulder to see how I would react.  It's all 
too contrived, Jake.  You might have a life, a family you don't even 
remember.  Maybe they think you're dead."  Skepticism was Scully's 
way of life.  She had to question it, it was her nature.

"I am dead to them, Dana.  I died for them twenty five years ago!"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  "I'm sorry.  I don't 
know what to think.  You don't know them.  They're capable of 
anything."

"Who are 'they', Dana?  You keep saying 'they'."

She stared at him, didn't know whether to continue or not.  "I 
believe 'they' are part of an organization, possibly within our 
government, with an unknown amount of power.  They know things, they 
take things, people."  Her eyes watered over.  "They killed my sister,
 thinking it was me.  They killed Mulder's father and might have had 
something to do with the disappearance of his sister, over twenty 
years ago."

'My God, what have they done to this woman?'  Jake thought to himself 
as he watched the tears in her eyes spill over.  "Dana, I don't 
believe my memories are fake.  I've lived them, I know them.  If 
you're right, I'm not a part of it.   I know I can't make you trust 
me, I'm sorry.  I only want to help you, but I don't how."  Jake 
sighed and sat down next to Scully.  "Only I don't want you to leave.
"   He watched her face.  "You love him, don't you."  It was a 
statement.

She searched his eyes, looking for the answer.  "He's my partner, my 
best friend, of course I love him.  I just didn't know I 'loved' him, 
you know?"

Jake nodded.  He knew.  He reached out and placed his hand on the 
side of her face and pulled her over to him.  Their faces touching 
briefly then he put his arms around her and they just held onto each 
other for a few minutes.

****
Mulder stood at the opening of the wall.  He walked through to the 
outside and inspected, once more, the grounds.  What if there was a 
way to go through?  He went back inside and faced the opening again.  
He repeated the phrase out loud.  "End of thy time nears.
Thy paths forsaken.  As thy wish, thy want.  Thy shall begin again."  
He waited, eyes wide with hope.  Nothing happened.  He turned away 
and walked slowly down the hall.  As he walked out the front door, a 
soft light filled the hallway and the 'door' opened.  Mulder never 
saw the light and the opening closed almost as quickly as it opened, 
but it stayed open long enough.

****
Jake and Scully went back to the building as they had every day since 
her arrival.  She didn't know how she knew, but she felt the answer 
was here.  When she was here, she felt like she was close to home.  
'Maybe this is why Jake was drawn to this place.'  

They stood in front of the wall.  "Dana, maybe ....."  He was 
interrupted by a light.  It came from the wall, shown through the 
cracks like the sun was behind it.  

Scully backed up, startled.  Then the wall disappeared and she 
recognized the interior of the brownstone.  "Jake, this is it!"  She 
grabbed his hand and moved forward.  He pulled back.  "Jake?  Come 
on!  Go with me.  You don't belong here, you came from there.  You 
can go back!"

"No,  I can't, Dana.  This is where I belong.  Everything I am, 
everything I ever was is here.  My life is here."

"Jake!"  She looked deeply into his eyes and saw pain and love.  Love 
for her.  She knew she'd never be able to return it.

He pushed her through the wall and yelled to her as the opening 
closed.  "I love you, Dana Scully!  I'll be here if you ever come 
back!"  She was gone.

**********
As Scully fell through the wall she stumbled and landed in the 
hallway, hitting her head on the concrete floor.  The last thing she 
saw was Jake calling to her before she blacked out.

Mulder heard someone yell Dana's name and ran back into the house.  
He found her laying on the hallway floor.  He knelt down next to her, 
tears running down his face, and checked to see if she was alive.  
She was unconscious, but alive.  He called 911.

Mulder was by her side when she awoke in the hospital a few hours 
later.  At first she thought it had all been a dream, then she 
remembered.  She actually remembered it all.  But was it real?  "You 
look like I feel, Mulder."  

He had a four day beard growth, his hair was unkempt and he was 
wearing a wrinkled suit, he also looked like he hadn't slept in days. 
 He smiled at her.  He opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out.
  He shook his head and smiled again.  

She'd never seen him speechless before.  "Where was I, Mulder?  Who 
did it to me?"

"Tell me what happened."

"When can I get out of here, Mulder?  I want some time to think first.
"

"The doctor said you had a slight concussion, but that you're all 
right.  I can take you home as soon as we check you out."

Mrs. Scully had been at the hospital and also had stayed until she 
was released.  She smiled as she drove home, remembering Mulder's 
content look as he wheeled Dana out to his car.  They were sitting in 
Scully's apartment three hours later.  It was nearing evening, yet 
both were too wired to be tired.  Scully told him about Jake, Seattle,
 the building, everything she could remember.  Well, almost 
everything.  "What do you think happened, Mulder?"

He thought about it for a moment.  "I don't know, Scully.  It sounds 
like you crossed over into another world.  A parallel universe.  I 
don't know."  It sounded incredulous.

"I just don't believe it, Mulder.  I think they had something to do 
with this.  Maybe drugged me to believe this happened.  Maybe there's 
another implant, Mulder, feeding me messages, I just don't know."  
She was frustrated.

"You saw what I saw, Scully.  How can you not believe?  You went 
through to another dimension. Another world."  Mulder thought about 
the old woman and the passage he had read at the opening.  She'd 
never believe him.  Scully was his skeptic.  He decided to keep it to 
himself.  

"I'm sorry, Mulder, I just can't."

He nodded and put his arm around her.  Now was the time to confess 
his feelings.  "Scully,"  he began,  "I need you, you know.  I don't 
ever want to lose you again."

"What are you saying, Mulder?"  She could see the torture in his face.
  Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

He looked directly into her eyes.  "I guess I'm saying I love you.  I 
need you.  I want to be with you always."  He looked like a little 
boy, the fear of rejection all over his face.    Mulder looked into 
her eyes.  He was suddenly afraid he'd made a fool of himself.  Then 
he saw the love in her eyes, too.

Scully nodded.  "I love you, too, Mulder.  I didn't know it until you 
weren't there anymore.  I mean, I guess I always knew it, but didn't 
really know how much until ... "  She didn't finish her thought.  
"We're a pair aren't we?"  She laughed.

Mulder wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips to hers.  He 
hesitated for a moment, waiting for her to pull back.  But she didn't,
 she leaned into him, and he kissed her.  He never thought this 
moment would come.  Every nerve ending in his body tingled as they 
explored each other.  A weight was suddenly lifted from both of them. 
 They would never be apart again.

**********
Jake and Stella walked along the train yards.  "It's just you and me 
again, kid."  Earlier he had sighed as he walked into his bedroom 
where she had slept for the past three nights.  He sat on the side of 
the bed and picked up the pillow, held it up to his face.  He could 
still smell her fragrance.  He picked up the ID badge she'd left 
behind and studied it.  It was the only thing left.  He was going to 
have to start over again.  Now he was trying to get on with his life. 
 Jake entered the diner and retrieved his mail from the post office 
box he maintained there.  He sat at the counter and ordered coffee as 
he opened the next letter.  'Dear Red Shoes'.  He didn't see the 
small petite red head enter the diner and sit in the booth behind him.

********************

The Cavendish Door II 1/3
By Patty Hayes
December 27, 1996

********************
Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door.  Thanks 
for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking for.
Summary:  Jake crosses over to Scully's world much to Mulder's dismay 
and Scully is being sought by a killer.

Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  The characters and situations of the television program 
"The X-Files" 
are the creations and property of Chris Carter,  Fox Broadcasting, 
and Ten Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission.  
No copyright infringements are intended.  This work is not to be 
forwarded or distributed to any newsgroup, FTP, or WWW site without 
the permission of the author.


********************
Jake stood in the parking lot staring up at his creation.  The 
building was finished just this month.  He designed it, he built it.  
It's what he did.  He designed the future.  Hundreds of years from 
now, people will still be realizing his work.  He turned slowly to 
the lot next door and stared at the old medical building.  Jake 
bought the land four months ago.  He didn't buy it to develop it, in 
fact he bought it so that no one would change it, or destroy it.  He 
bought it in hopes that she would come back to him.  For the first 
couple of weeks after Dana Scully had gone through the opening, Jake 
visited the site every day.  He knew he had to let her go, but he was 
beginning to regret his decision.  Slowly he stopped coming by, but 
he kept the land and the building as it had been on the day she left.


Stella stood by his feet and looked up at her master.  Her tail 
wagging slightly.  Something was bothering him, she stayed close to 
protect him.  He'd been too quiet lately.  It was like before when 
that other female no longer came home.

"What am I doing here, Stella?"  He asked.  Stella's tail moved a 
little more swiftly in response.  "What would I do if the door opened?
"  Stella suddenly stilled herself, listening.  Something was strange 
about this place today.  She didn't like it.  She nuzzled against her 
master's leg, slowly backing up, whining.  Something was coming.  
Jake knelt down next to her and scratched behind her ears.  "What's 
the matter, girl?  You ready to go home?"  Her actions seemed to say, 
"Yes, Yes, let's go now, hurry."  He stood and turned, heading for 
the entrance.  Stella close on his heels.  It was getting late, Jake 
would get a few files and head for home.  Stella glanced back at the 
building on the next lot before following Jake into the skyscraper.  
As the elevator doors closed, a light emerged from within the old 
medical center.  If anyone had been watching, they would've seen the 
entire building vanish in a bright light for a split second before it 
reappeared and all was normal.

**********

Mulder paced the floor while Scully performed the autopsy.  He knew 
better than to speak while she worked today.  They'd disagreed on 
this case from the beginning.  She was agitated and he wasn't sure 
why.  

She finished closing the body, pushed the tray into it's proper slot 
and stood at the sink taking off her scrubs and washing her hands and 
arms.  Scully normally loved this part of the investigation.  In each 
autopsy, you had a beginning, a middle and an end.  You could tell 
how the person lived, how he died and why he died.  The whole story, 
lying there on a table.  Except in her department, the ending was not 
always available.  The how and why were too often left to the 
imagination.  

"Mulder, I know what you think this is, but I'm telling you it's not. 
 I did the autopsy, I know what I saw.  Based on my medical opinion, 
this man died of heart failure.  He was over fifty, he was out of 
shape, his heart was damaged in several places.  Obviously he'd had 
small attacks before, it just gave out on him.  He doesn't fit the 
profile."  Scully was frustrated.  She'd been arguing with Mulder for 
days about this case.

"Look, Scully, I value your opinion, but .. "

"Do you?!"  She turned sharply to face him.  "Then why won't you hear 
what I'm saying?  Why do you always disregard my opinion?"  She 
didn't expect an answer.  She was mad.  "I don't want to hear it, 
Mulder.  The official cause of death is cardiac arrest."  She stormed 
out of the autopsy bay, leaving Mulder standing alone, stunned.

Scully was tired of myths and monsters, ghosts and aliens.  Ever 
since her return from where ever she had disappeared to four months 
ago, she had been disturbed.  Her entire belief system was in 
question.  Where had she been?  Did it really exist or had it been an 
exercise in mind control?  Her instinct told her to believe the 
latter, but she questioned it.   It was finally surfacing after all 
these months and she had a hard time dealing with it.

Mulder, of course, knew what had happened.  He'd read the book, spoke 
the words, saw the visions.  He knew it was real.  He tried to reason 
with Scully, but she wouldn't have it, so he let it lay.  Now it was 
coming to light again and this time it was interfering with this case,
 her judgment.  He requested a second opinion on the autopsy without 
Scully's knowledge and discovered she was right.  This man was not 
the fifth victim of a serial killer.  They had no reason yet for the 
deaths and there were only two patterns.  One was the method.  A 
small pin prick just below and behind the ear lob.  A long thin 
needle piercing the brain.  No blood and death was instantaneous. The 
other was the fact that all the victims were members of the law 
enforcement community.

The next morning he decided to approach her.  He knocked on her door 
and entered before she had a chance to answer.  "Scully, we need to 
talk."

She sighed deeply and closed her eyes.  She knew what was coming.  
Scully hadn't slept much last night and she was tired, not in the 
mood to argue.  But even more disturbing was the message on her e-
mail that morning.  She jumped right in.  "Mulder, I got a note this 
morning I think you need to see."   Scully took the copy from her 
printer and handed it to Mulder.  The note simply stated,  'Your turn 
will come.'  Mulder looked up sharply.  "It came on my e-mail this 
morning.  I've already had the addy checked out.  It was a bogus 
address."

"Scully, I ...."  Mulder hesitated.  

She interrupted him.  "It's not the first one."  She pulled two more 
from her desk drawer.  The first said, 'What did you think, Doctor?'. 
 The second said, 'Do you like my handywork?'.  "I didn't know what 
the first one meant actually.  By the time the second came I had 
suspected something but still wasn't sure."

"Why didn't you come to me in the beginning, Scully?  My God, you 
could be dead now."  He looked at her incredulously.  "What were you 
thinking?"  He couldn't help being a little miffed.

Scully sighed again.  "I don't know, Mulder.  Like I said, I thought 
it was a mistake, a joke, I don't know."

"Have you seen anyone hanging around your apartment?  Anyone out of 
the ordinary?  What about the phone, have you gotten any strange 
calls?"  He was scared for her.  When she returned four months ago, 
they had declared their love for each other.  Mostly due to the fact 
that it finally occurred to him, he couldn't live without her.  Now 
it was a possibility once again.

"No, no one.  How does he know I'm on this case, Mulder?  I didn't 
even do the first two autopsies.  Give me the profile on this guy."

"Yeah, well, he's killed four law enforcement officers, Scully.  
Three female and one male.  All here in the DC  and surrounding areas.
  Anything from a metermaid to a captain with the DC Police.  There's 
nothing consistent about the victims except their occupations.  The 
ages, sex and race vary, it's not one specific branch of law 
enforcement.  My guess is that it's a white male, thirty five to 
forty five with some medical background.  Not a doctor, maybe a lab 
technician or a paramedic.  He's obviously had a bad experience with 
the police."  He stopped and stared at Scully.

"Mulder, don't look at me like that.  I'm fine, no one is going to 
get to me."  She looked at those soulful eyes, knowing he was 
concerned.  He was a kind, gentle, loving man who needed her.  
Sometimes too much.

"Scully, he's going to come after you.  That's what the note said."  
He walked around the desk and sat on the edge facing her.  This is 
what must have been bothering her.  "You have to tell me these things,
 Scully.  You should have told me about the notes."  

He looked so worried.  She closed her eyes momentarily.  "I'm sorry I 
didn't tell you.  I just know how you worry."  They had been discreet 
in their relationship over the past four months.  They'd actually 
been so busy they hadn't had much time for each other.  They'd 
remained more professional than anything else.  A few brief touches, 
a few stolen moments.

"Why's he picked you, Scully?  Why you?"  He was pacing now, he did 
his best thinking while pacing.

"Maybe he's been at the crime scene, Mulder.  Maybe he knows me from 
the academy, from Quantico.  Maybe from a past case."

Mulder looked up sharply.

**********

Jake woke up the next morning earlier than usual.  He stood at the 
mark, ready to shoot the basketball through the net.  He bounced it 
once, twice, took aim.  And shot.  Nothing but net.  He decided not 
to go to the office today.  He wanted some time to himself, time to 
think.  He dressed and took Stella with him.  Jake walked the city, 
nowhere in particular. When he finally looked up he found himself in 
a part of Seattle he'd never been before.  The buildings were old red 
brick.  Windows broken, deserted.  Stella was on his heels, close.  
She seemed agitated, nervous,  Jake wondered what was wrong.  
Suddenly Stella moved in front of Jake and stopped.  She whined and 
edged him back a step.  

"What's the matter, girl?  Why have you been acting so strange lately?
"  A light appeared from the building next to them.  It started at 
the window, then it became so bright and intense that it shone 
through the cracks in the brick.  With a bright flash the wall 
disappeared and Jake saw an open field on the other side.  He made up 
his mind instantly.  He wanted to go back.  He wanted to find Dana 
Scully.  After all the times he stood in front of the wall at the 
other lot, for it to happen here shocked him.  There was more than 
one opening.  He was giving up everything.  Jake was ready to walk 
away from it all.  What else did he have anyway?  One woman who took 
her own life and another woman a universe away.  He laughed at 
himself.  He felt sure he was going out of his mind.  He grabbed 
Stella by the collar and walked through.

The opening closed almost immediately upon crossing.  Jake was 
standing in an open field.  He could see a few old farm houses nearby 
and began walking.  Stella trotted along side him.  She was hesitant 
in crossing but stayed with her master.  She was there to protect him,
 after all.  Jake found a paved road and walked along for over an 
hour before he came across a gas station.  There he found he was in 
southern Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg.  An older couple gave him a 
ride into town where he rented a car to take him to Washington DC.  
He was ten when he crossed over into the other world, but he 
remembered his allowances and the money hadn't changed.  Jake didn't 
even want to think about the how of it.  He was just grateful it was. 
 He always carried a bit with him.  It would last until he figured 
out what to do.  He hadn't had time to think about that.  As he paid 
for the rent car, he realized there were a number of things he hadn't 
thought about.  He was sure none of his credit cards would be good, 
he was surprised that the clerk didn't run it through.  She took the 
information but was too busy flirting with him to believe he wasn't 
an honest man.  He got lucky, the last thing he wanted was to end up 
in jail.

It would take two to three hours to get to Washington and it would be 
close to evening when he got there.  He would start at the FBI 
building and work from there.  "What if she's out of town?" Jake said 
aloud to Stella, who had been patient through out the ordeal.  "God, 
Stella, what am I doing?"  He was suddenly very unsure.  He'd given 
up everything, his home, his business, his life.  And for what?  A 
woman he'd known for just a few days, a woman who was in love with 
another man.  He was beginning to think himself a fool.

**********

Joseph Strickland was getting off duty.  He'd pulled a sixteen hour 
shift, taking both as a favor for a fellow officer.  Joe had been a 
DC cop for about two years and loved his job.  There were definitely 
moments he could've done without, especially those dealing with the 
death of young children, but all in all he liked being a cop.  He was 
on his way home, his girlfriend was coming by that evening, it was 
their six month anniversary and he felt like celebrating.  He decided 
to stop and pick up a bottle of wine.  He didn't notice the car 
following him.  He was only in the store for a few minutes but it was 
long enough for a person to hide in the back seat.  Joe was nearly 
home when the stranger grabbed him from behind.  He'd pulled into his 
driveway, the street was deserted.  The killer struggled with him 
briefly and was able to overtake him quickly.  He didn't kill Joe 
right away, he took him to a more familiar part of town.  The motel 
was dark and dirty.  It would give him the time to set up the message 
he wanted Dana Scully to receive.

He had been a student at Quantico a couple of years ago where she 
taught when her division had been shut down.  She'd been responsible 
for him failing out.  Ever since his life had taken a turn for the 
worse.  All he wanted was to become a police officer and she had 
ruined it for him.  He tried to commit suicide when he had failed.  
Spent the next year in a mental ward.  It took him a while to 
convince the doctors he was well enough to leave.  He had them all 
fooled.  All the while planning a way to get even.  No one knew.

He put the young police officer in the motel room without anyone 
noticing.  Tied his hands and feet and taped his eyes and mouth and 
went to work.

**********

Scully was finishing a report on the last victim of what was dubbed 
the 'Ice Pick' murders.  She hated the name, an ice pick was too 
thick to be the murder weapon, but it was the first thing that came 
to mind when describing the wound.  She put the last touches on it 
and saved the file on her computer.  Grabbing her coat, she took one 
last look around the office before leaving.  Mulder had left in a 
hurry.  He thought the killer might have been related to a past case 
and was checking that out.  She didn't think so but couldn't put her 
finger on why.  She knew Mulder would be angry that she left without 
telling him, but she was tired and just wanted to get home.  A nice 
hot bath and some soft music, that's what she wanted.

She kept glancing in her rearview mirror as she drove home.  To the 
best of her knowledge, no one was following her.  The notes had made 
her nervous and she was being careful.  When she arrived home, she 
found the note her mother had left her and put the casserole in the 
oven.  Her mother was always doing things like this.  She made a 
mental note to call her and tell her to not come by the house until 
this killer had been captured.  Scully didn't want to scare her 
mother, but it was better to have her scared and worried than dead.  
The casserole would take an hour to heat through so she ran a bath to 
soak in while it baked. 

The hot water felt so good.  She poured a scented bath oil in as it 
ran and sunk down until the water covered all but her head.  The 
water bounced around her neck and chin, her hair was pinned up but 
strands dipped into warm water.  She closed her eyes and listened to 
the music playing from her stereo.  She didn't recognize the piece 
but it was a soft classical violin.  Scully had set an alarm for one 
hour, she didn't want her dinner to burn and she was afraid of 
falling asleep.  The last thing she needed was to burn her home to 
the ground for the sake of a warm bath.

Jake stood outside her building gathering the courage to ring the 
bell.  Stella was still at his side.  It was dark out and the 
neighbors were beginning to look at him funny so he entered the 
building.  Scully's office, of course, did not give out her address, 
but Jake got lucky, it was listed in the phone book.  The hall seemed 
longer than any corridor he'd ever been down as he walked to her 
apartment.  He took a deep breath and rang the bell.

Scully jumped when the door bell rang.  She sighed and thought 
'Mulder'.  She almost didn't answer it.  The hour was almost up, so 
she grabbed a terrycloth robe and ran for the door.  "I'm sorry, 
Mulder, I know I should've ....." .  She saw Stella first and stopped 
in mid-sentence.  She slowly looked up and saw Jake.  

End of Part 1



>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Dec 30 20:13:19 1996
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door.  Thanks 
for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking for.
Summary:  Jake crosses over to Scully's world much to Mulder's dismay 
and Scully is being sought by a killer.

Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  See part 1 

********************

The Cavendish Door II 2/3
By Patty Hayes
December 27, 1996

********************
Jake smiled.  "Hi Dana."  Her face was as white as a ghost.  She 
wavered slightly and her mouth was still open.  She almost had the 
same look as when they had first encountered each other.  She was 
clutching the front of her robe and Jake thought she was going to 
pass out and reached out for her arm.  

The movement snapped her back into reality and she jerked away from 
him.  She looked from Jake to Stella and back again.  "Jake?"  Her 
voice was soft and barely above a whisper.  His face had taken on a 
look of concern.

He smiled again, glad that she remembered him.  "I was in the 
neighborhood."  He tried to joke.  

"How?  When?"  She was speechless.  For the past four months, she'd 
been trying to tell herself that it hadn't been real.  But reality 
was standing on her doorstep, speaking to her.  "Oh my God, Jake, how 
did you get here?"

Jake stuck his hands in his pockets and shifted his stance.  He 
motioned toward the interior.  "Can I come in?"

"Yes!  I'm sorry, please come in."  She stepped aside and allowed 
Jake and Stella to enter.  The alarm on the stove went off and it 
startled her and Stella growled at it.  

"Easy girl."  Jake knelt and petted Stella, soothing her nerves.

"I'm sorry, dinner's ready.  Come on in here."  He followed her to 
the kitchen where she took the casserole from the oven and placed it 
on the table.  She set out a couple of place settings and took a 
bottle of white wine from the refrigerator.  "I was just about to eat.
  I need to change, please help yourself, Jake.  I'll be back in a 
minute."

He nodded.  She was still in shock over this, Jake could see that.  
The casserole smelled good.  He hadn't eaten all day and found 
himself hungry.  He poured both glasses of wine and took a large 
portion of the chicken casserole.  Scully returned in less than five 
minutes, looking better than he'd remembered.  She wore jeans, a tee 
shirt and her hair was still pinned up with strands hanging, wet, 
around her face and neck.  Jake almost choked on his wine.

She smiled at Stella when she entered.  Stella was sitting next to 
Jake watching every bite he took.  Scully took a paper plate from the 
pantry and spooned almost half the casserole for the dog.  "I don't 
think this will hurt any.  It's mostly chicken and vegetables.  Do 
you?"

"No, I'm afraid I've been neglectful today.  Thanks."

Scully sat across from him and took a bite.  "I guess it was real 
after all."

This surprised Jake,  he'd never thought it'd been a dream, then he 
remembered her doubts when she was with him.  "Yes, it was real."  He 
told her of the opening, the field.  How he came to be at her doorway.
  "I had to come.  I had to see you.  I haven't been able to get you 
out of my mind."  

His eyes bore into her soul.  She didn't know what to say.  What to 
feel.  She let him talk, they ate and drank and she hardly said 
anything.  They moved to the living room a while later and took a 
second bottle with them.  She'd had too much already, the situation 
being so much for her.

"Talk to me, Dana.  You haven't said anything.  Tell me what you're 
thinking.  Please."  He pleaded with her.

Scully just didn't know what to say.  "I ... Jake, ...."  She sighed. 
 "I can't, not now.  I'm sorry.  I need to think."  He nodded.  It 
was a lot to take in.  "Do you have a place to stay?"  She asked him.


He shook his head no.  "I can find some place, though."

"You can stay here.  The sofa's not too bad."  She grinned.  "You 
might have a hard time finding a place that will take Stella."  She 
went to gather the bedding, it was late and she couldn't take anymore 
this evening.  

"I need to take Stella for a walk.  Do you want to get some fresh air?
"  

Scully agreed.  Maybe the fresh air would help clear her head.  It 
was cool and windy out.  She didn't take a jacket and was chilled 
immediately.  Jake took off his jacket and put it around her 
shoulders.  They didn't stay out long, when they returned, Scully 
made sure Jake knew where everything was in case he needed something 
in the middle of the night.  She also noticed the light on her 
answering machine blinking and pressed the message button.  "Hey, 
Scully.  Where are you?  Call me as soon as you get in."  Mulder.

She avoided Jake's eyes.  She just couldn't deal with this now.  
Scully knew she'd have to call Mulder or he'd be knocking on her door 
within the hour.  She'd been looking at the answering machine when 
she felt a touch on her arm.  She turned to look into Jake's soft 
brown eyes.  He was standing so close and the wine was making her 
lightheaded.  Jake put his arms around her and held her.  She didn't 
pull away at first, she leaned in against him, then slowly pulled 
back.  "Good night, Jake."

"Good night, and Dana?"  She turned back to him.  The look was one 
she'd seen a hundred times from Mulder.  "Thanks."  She nodded and 
closed the bedroom door behind her.

Scully didn't mention Jake to Mulder when she returned his call.  He 
was worried that she had left the office without letting him know and 
it escalated when she didn't answer the phone so late at night.  She 
was able to put him at ease quickly and promised to talk to him in 
the morning.  She fell asleep surprisingly easy.  She'd been 
exhausted and somehow felt reassured that Jake was in the next room.  
She awoke the next morning to the aroma of coffee assaulting her 
senses.  She threw on her robe and followed the smell to the kitchen. 
 Jake was standing at the counter, waiting for the drip to cease.  He 
was in his dress pants, but was shirtless and the sight of him gave 
her a warm feeling she felt deep inside.  Scully blushed slightly and 
a shiver ran through her body.  "Smells good."

Jake turned around, her voice surprising him.  Stella was lying in 
the corner of the room and her head perked up at the sudden movement 
of Jake.  He smiled.  "I hope you don't mind.  I'm not myself till I 
have the first cup.  I'm sorry if I woke you."

"No, it's ok.  It's late, I needed to get up.  Do you want any 
breakfast?"  She moved to get a couple of coffee cups from the 
cupboard.

"Coffee will be fine, but don't let me stop you.  Thanks for letting 
me and Stella sack out here last night.  I know this is all a bit of 
a shock, I know it is for me at least."

"It's the least I could do after all you did for me, Jake."  They 
stood staring at each other, both afraid to get too close.  A moment 
later she heard the front door close and a familiar voice rang out.

"Scully?"  Mulder was used to letting himself in.  He didn't think 
anything of it.  He smelled the coffee the minute the door opened so 
he knew she was awake.

Scully panicked for a moment and turned away from Jake heading for 
the living room. "Mulder."  He was walking toward her.  He stood 
close, towering over her, leaned down and kissed her cheek.  "Morning.
  The coffee smells good.  We got another call this morning Scully.  
A hotel down .... "  He moved past her to the kitchen and stopped 
dead in his tracks when he saw Jake.  

Jake was still standing at the counter, leaning back against it with 
a cup in his hand.  'My God, she wasn't kidding, we could be twins.'  
He was shocked at the resemblance between himself and Mulder.  "Hello.
"

Mulder nodded and turned to look at Scully.  She was standing there 
in her robe, the man without a shirt.  He looked her over, saw the 
blush in her cheeks and did the same with Jake.  This didn't look 
good.  "Am I interrupting something?"  His voice was soft and Scully 
could hear the feeling of betrayal as well as see it in his eyes.

"No, Mulder this is Jake Saunders from Seattle.  The man that was 
missing twenty five years ago.  The one from four months ago, I told 
you about it."  

Mulder looked back over at Jake and was amazed at the appearance of 
the man.  Scully had told him of the resemblance but this was 
incredible.  Despite the eye color and the slight difference in hair, 
Jake could pass for Mulder easily.  Scully walked past him and poured 
Mulder a cup of coffee.  When she gave it to him, she edged him 
toward the table.  The three of them sat around the table.  Stella 
was a bit leery of the new man.  She sensed a potential danger and 
took a position next to Jake, staying alert.

Scully told Mulder how Jake came to be at her apartment and Jake told 
him how he crossed over to their world.  Mulder believed, he knew the 
history.  He could see the confusion in Scully's face, however.  He 
told them the story of the Cavendish family and the phrase he had 
used to open the door for Scully to return.  "Why didn't you ever 
tell me, Mulder?"

"I knew you weren't ready to believe it, Scully."

"And now?"

"Now the proof is sitting here in your kitchen."

"It still could be a trick, Mulder.  Maybe they played with his mind 
the same way they could've with mine."  Scully got up and brought 
back the coffee pot to refill his cup.

Mulder looked at Jake and saw him smile.  "Well, I hate to break this 
up but we have another victim, Scully.  A downtown hotel.  Joseph 
Strickland.  A newbie with the DC police.  Same basic M.O.  but 
there's a twist they want us to see."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, they said we'd have to see it.  We need to get over 
there before they take the body away."  He looked at his watch.  It 
was going to take twenty minutes to get there as it was.

"Give me a few minutes to get dressed.  I'll hurry."  She didn't want 
to leave Mulder in the same room with Jake unattended but she didn't 
have any other choice.  She hoped they would behave themselves.  

They were alone now.  Both were uncomfortable with each other.  Jake 
knew of her feelings for Mulder, but he didn't know what she had told 
Mulder about himself.  He could feel Mulder staring at him and he 
suddenly felt too exposed.  He stood and walked over to the sink.  
Stella stayed with him.

"She's a beautiful dog."  Mulder said.

"Thanks.  This is Stella.  Speaking of which, I need to take her out 
for a few minutes, if you'll excuse us."  

Mulder watched him go into the living room and put on his shirt and 
jacket.  'We even dress alike.'  Jake didn't take the time to button 
up the shirt before he and Stella were out the front door.   Mulder 
looked at the sofa, the bedding strewn about.  'Why didn't I see that 
when I came in?  I'm slipping.'  He wondered what exactly happened 
here last night.  He knew Scully wouldn't do anything stupid but he 
couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Scully handed Jake a key to the apartment and her cell phone number.  
"I don't know when I'll be back, but you can make yourself at home.  
We'll figure it out when I get back."  Mulder stood back and took it 
all in.  He didn't quite know what to think about it.  He definitely 
wanted to talk to Jake about the world he had come from, but he 
didn't like the idea of him staying at Scully's.  He could sense Jake 
wanting to talk to Scully, but Mulder was not going to leave them, he 
was feeling very territorial at the moment.

Jake turned his back to Mulder and whispered to Scully as he took her 
hand in his.  "I don't want to put you out or cause any trouble, Dana.
  I'll find another place to stay if you want."  He was giving her a 
way out.

"No, Jake.  I want you to stay.  We can talk when I get back."  She 
squeezed his hand and left him standing in the doorway.

They were both silent as the car pulled away from the curb.  Mulder 
glanced at Scully from the corner of his eye.  She was staring 
straight ahead, avoiding the confrontation.  "Scully, do you think 
that's a good idea?  I mean, you don't even know this guy.  He could 
be a killer.  You said yourself he could be a plant.  Someone they 
sent to mess with our heads."

She lowered her head, inspecting her hands then slowly looked over at 
Mulder.  "I do know him, Mulder.  For four days, he helped me, gave 
me a place to stay.  He went out of his way to help me.  And now he's 
here, Mulder, and he needs help."

"So are you saying you now believe in this other place, a parallel 
universe?  And that he came from there?"  His voice was getting 
louder.  She wasn't going to give in on this.

"You were the one who said it was true, Mulder.  I don't know, just 
let it go for now!" 

They were silent again.  She was her own person, Mulder knew that.  
If he just didn't care so much, if she just didn't matter so much, if 
she wasn't the biggest part of his life, then he wouldn't be so 
bothered.

The motel was a shabby by the hour type.   Scully didn't like the 
looks of it.  They showed their badges and met the lead detective.  
"You're almost too late.  We were just about to take the body away."  


They followed him into the room and Scully knelt by the body.  It was 
covered by a sheet from the bed.  The room had been dusted and 
photographed and most were ready to leave by the time they arrived.  
When she pulled the sheet back, she saw a young man, twenty five to 
thirty.  His face was pretty badly bloodied and bruised and there was 
a gash in his skull, but she didn't think that was the cause of death.
  Sometimes it was hard to stomach.  To see a once young, vibrant 
human life taken so needlessly with such brutality.

Mulder was talking to the detective about the evidence they had 
collected.  Which was next to nothing.  "We found virtually no prints,
 the killer cleaned things up pretty well.  He was really neat about 
it.  We did find the razor blade, but there were no prints on it.  He 
used the kid's gun to do the damage to his skull, we think.  There 
were traces of hair and skin on the butt of the gun."

Scully looked up at him.  "Razor blade?"  She didn't understand.  The 
detective leaned over and pulled the sheet further down the body.  
The victim was completely nude and carved across his stomach and 
chest was her name.  'Dana Scully.'  "Oh my God."  She closed her 
eyes and stood.  Mulder was behind her in an instant, one hand on her 
arm and the other on her back to steady her.

"There was very little blood actually, I don't think the cuts are 
very deep.  Do you know who this guy is?"  Detective Henry Sands 
asked.

"No."  Scully walked out the front door and Mulder glanced at her 
before kneeling to inspect the cuts on the body.  "Did you find 
anything in the room or on his clothing?  Any notes, messages?"  He 
turned the head from side to side to find the puncture wound behind 
the ear.  It was there, behind the left ear. 

"No, have there been before?"

Mulder nodded.  "Wrap him up and send him to the FBI lab.  We'll do 
the autopsy on him."  Mulder took one last look of the young man's 
face.  "Did you know him?"

"I didn't, he's from another precinct, but some of the guys that were 
here earlier did.  He was single but had family here.  Such a waste.
"

Scully was standing by the car when Mulder joined her.  "You ok, 
Scully?"

She nodded.  "I'm mad, Mulder.  Who is this guy?  Why me?  How many 
more before we catch him?"

"I think you need protection, Scully.  He's getting more brutal and 
he's getting pompous.  I believe his note, Scully.   I think you'll 
be next."  He waited for her to argue.

But she didn't.  She didn't say anything for a few minutes, she just 
stared out the side window as they made their way back to the office. 
 Finally she laid her head back on the headrest.  "Ok, Mulder.  What 
do you want to do?"

"I don't think you should stay at your apartment.  He's bound to know 
where you live.  And I don't want you anywhere near this case until 
it's over.  Take a week off, you have it coming."

"Where do you suggest I go, Mulder."

"What about your Mom's?"

Scully shook her head no.  "I'm not putting her in that kind of 
situation, Mulder."

"What about my place?"

She didn't answer.  She knew he was right, but she couldn't help but 
think that he was trying to separate her and Jake.  "I have a place." 
 Her aunt and uncle had a summer home in Baltimore Bay.  "I'll go 
tonight.  Mulder, this case could take a long time, how long do you 
expect me to twiddle my thumbs?"

He didn't answer.  He didn't like it any more than she did, but he 
wasn't taking any chances.  They were silent for most of the ride to 
their office.  Mulder spoke as he pulled into the parking area and 
knew he was asking for it.  "I'll take Jake Saunders in until we can 
clear this up."

She'd expected something like this.  "That won't be necessary."

"Scully ..."

"Look, Mulder, I'm a big girl.  I can take care of myself.  If you 
want to come out and talk to Jake, then fine.  I know there are 
things you want to know about him and about where he comes from.  But 
he came here to see me.  I don't know how long he's here for, if it's 
permanent, then he gave up everything for this.  I'm not abandoning 
him.  That's final."  She got out of the car and headed for the 
elevators.

***
The killer stood in the shadows of the parking garage and watched 
Dana Scully argue with her partner.  He couldn't hear what they were 
saying but it was obvious they were disagreeing.  She suddenly got 
out of the car and walked to the elevators, leaving him behind to 
sulk.  The killer smiled as he watched the man run to catch up with 
her.  Tonight, tonight he would visit Dana Scully.
***

Mulder caught up with Scully as she waited for the elevator.  He was 
quiet until they stepped in and the doors closed.  Then he had a 
captive audience.  He pushed the stop button and they hung between 
floors.  

"Mulder, what the hell are you doing?"  She reached for the panel.

He stepped in front of it, blocking her access.  "Scully, please, 
just listen to me."  He begged.

She looked into his eyes and hadn't seen that look since she returned 
four months ago.  His eyes pleading with her to understand.  The sad 
look of helplessness.  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  
She leaned back against the elevator wall.  "Ok, Mulder, I'm all ears.
"

He leaned back on his side of the elevator and crossed his arms.  
"Scully, I'm sorry.  There's a mad man out there who wants you dead 
and I'm sorry if I'm a little too protective.  But you're right, it 
is more than that."  He lowered his arms and placed them on the 
railing at his back.  His voice also softened.  "I just couldn't take 
it if something happened to you.  We haven't had a lot of time 
together lately.  I don't trust this guy, Scully.  What if you're 
right about 'them'?   We've seen them do a lot of things, they're 
capable of setting us up again.  I don't want you to get hurt."  He 
moved closer to where she was standing but didn't reach out.

Scully's eyes were on the floor for most of the time, she slowly 
raised them to look at him.  He seemed all right, a slight smile 
making it's way onto his face.  He looked like a little boy pleading 
for approval, his bottom lip stuck out pitifully, she had to smile.  
She reached out and took his hand and pulled him to her.  His arms 
reached around her as he leaned down.  At first they searched each 
other's eyes and found the love they both needed.  Then he kissed her.
  A moment later he pulled away as the elevator phone went off.  He 
sighed and pressed the button, the elevator began moving again.

End of Part 2



>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Dec 30 20:15:09 1996
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door.  Thanks 
for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking for.
Summary:  Jake crosses over to Scully's world much to Mulder's dismay 
and Scully is being sought by a killer.

Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  See part 1 

********************

The Cavendish Door II 3/3
By Patty Hayes
December 27, 1996

********************
Scully gathered a few things from the office and Mulder escorted her 
home.  They stopped at a phone booth and she called her mother to see 
if the house in Baltimore Bay was available.  The conversation was 
casual enough that anyone listening wouldn't be aware of the reason 
for the call.  They didn't trust the cell phones, anyone could pick 
up that signal and the phones at the office and at home could be 
bugged.  They didn't want anyone to know where she would be.  It 
wasn't a sanctioned safe house.  Mulder would visit her mother later 
to let her know what was going on if necessary.

She met Jake and Stella coming in.  Stella seemed almost excited to 
see her.  Scully packed a few things and she even packed some of the 
clothes Mulder kept at her apartment for Jake.  After a half an hour 
she was ready to leave.  She would explain to Jake on the way, he 
seemed satisfied with that.  He remembered her perseverance when she 
stayed with him.  She hardly said two words to Mulder and he to her.  
They both knew what had to be done.  

Mulder sat in his car and watched them drive off.  He looked for 
anyone who might try to follow them.  After a couple of minutes, no 
other vehicle pulled out, so he took out after them.  He caught up 
with them in no time and stayed a few places behind them.  Scully was 
to take several odd turns and Mulder would check for tails.  They 
were both satisfied that no one was following so Mulder turned back 
to DC and Scully proceeded to Baltimore.

***
The killer sat in his apartment, smiling.  They were driving all over 
the city.  Looking for someone tailing them, he was sure.  He watched 
the little red dot move over the DC streets, north and south, east 
and west on the electronic surveillance device he had obtained a few 
days ago.  He knew this last murder would send her running.  The bug 
on her car wouldn't be found.  They weren't that thorough.  He had no 
idea where she was going, so he decided he better set out, before the 
signal got too far away to read.
***

"Wow, this is really beautiful."  Jake was impressed.  The design of 
the home was one he thought unique.  It sat on a ridge overlooking 
the bay.  The wall facing the bay was solid windows.  It was split 
level with the kitchen and utilities on the lower floor and the 
living area and den on the middle floor, the bedrooms on the upper 
floor.  The building itself was only as tall as a two story home over 
all, but was designed so that it ascended with the ridge and became 
the three levels.

"I'll take that as a compliment, coming from you."  She smiled as she 
opened the rest of the drapes.  "It really is nice up here.  We used 
to come here as children.  I was always in awe of it."

Jake picked up the luggage and followed Scully upstairs to the 
bedrooms.  She showed him his room and left him to get settled.  She 
unpacked quickly and went down to the kitchen to check out the 
provisions.  There were plenty of dried goods, canned goods and the 
freezer was pretty well stocked.  She'd have to make a quick trip for 
milk, bread, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruit.  

"So how are we, Doc?"  Jake came up behind her.

She turned, a bit startled.  "Actually, pretty good.  We just need a 
few things.  Feel like a trip to the grocery store?"

"Sure, why not."  He turned to Stella.  "Stay here, girl.  We'll be 
right back."  He scratched behind her ears, reassuring her.

Jake cooked dinner that evening and they sat on the balcony 
overlooking the bay.  The moon peering through the clouds to give 
shimmering lights on the water below.  Scully was comfortable and at 
ease with Jake.  It was time to find out why he was here.  He poured 
her another glass of white wine.  As if reading her mind he said, "I 
guess you want to know why I came."  She nodded.  "When I went 
through that door twenty five years ago, I was a little boy.  I 
didn't know what had happened.  I was lucky to have people who 
understood and they kept me safe, but I had a family here.  And I 
didn't realize what they meant to me until you came.  I was 
successful, financially sound, had a career I enjoyed."  He stood and 
moved to the railing.  "But I was missing something and I didn't know 
it until you left."  He turned to face her.  Her face shone in the 
moonlight.  It was soft and smooth and he wanted to touch her.

He stared a little too long.  "Jake, I told you I was with someone 
else.  I can't give you what you want."  Her voice was soft and silky.


"I want to find my family.  I want to start a life here, where I 
belong.  I want to get to know you.  I want to be close to you."  
Jake knelt down beside her chair and looked into her eyes.  They were 
so bright, so green tonight.  He looked over her face, her hair soft 
and shiny.  He looked from her eyes to her lips and back.  

He looked so much like Mulder.  His full bottom lip slightly 
separated from the heart shaped upper lip.  His eyes were a soft 
brown, that was one of the few differences.  His dark hair falling to 
his brow.  She wanted to reach up and brush it back.  She could feel 
herself being drawn toward him.  

He spoke softly.  "I know I've only known you for a few days, Dana, 
but I feel I've known you my whole life.  I gave up everything to 
come here to see you again.  I didn't plan it.  The door opened and I 
had to make a decision in a split second.  This was right, I had to 
come."

"Jake."  She didn't know what to say.   She was so confused.  Once 
again she was facing a man that looked like Mulder, spoke like Mulder 
and felt like Mulder.  But it wasn't Fox Mulder.  

"Don't say anything, please.  I've been so alone, Dana.  And when I 
met you, I knew you were the one.   I won't pressure you, but I want 
you to give me a chance.  Help me find my family, spend some time 
with me.  That's all I ask."

His face was so close to hers, she reached up and touched his cheek, 
feeling the roughness of his unshaven face.  She did have feelings 
for him.  He leaned into her touch, kissing the palm of her hand.  
She felt her body react to it.  He moved closer and kissed her cheek, 
then lightly kissed her mouth, testing the waters.  Her eyes 
fluttered and she watched his mouth move to hers again.  This time 
the kiss was more passionate, a kiss born from a hunger and she 
succumbed to it.

***
Mulder left the office and headed out of town.  There had been no 
development in this case and he felt sure something was going to 
happen at the house tonight.  This killer was dangerous and he didn't 
like leaving Scully to fend for herself.  It wouldn't take more than 
a half an hour to get there and being after eight in the evening, 
traffic should be light.  He pushed a little harder than he should 
have.
***

The killer watched them from the water below.  He hoped he would only 
have to deal with her, but it wouldn't be to difficult to take out 
the man as well if he could catch them off guard.  And by the look of 
things, he could catch them quite off guard.  He silently rowed the 
boat to the shore and tied it off the pier.  He would have to go 
around the ridge and come up the front.  The cliff was too steep to 
climb.  It wouldn't take more than fifteen minutes.  That should give 
them enough time.
***

Jake, his mouth still covering Scully's, took her glass and set in on 
the table.  He reached over and embraced her.  Holding her tightly.  
When he released her, her eyes were still closed.  He stood and 
taking her hand, pulled her out of the chair.  He walked inside the 
house and she followed, still mesmerized by his kiss.  She did want 
him, she realized that.  Her body screamed for him, but her heart and 
her mind fought it.  The fight going on inside her, startled her back 
to reality.  She stopped, tugging his arm as he continued.  He turned 
to face her and knew it was over.

He let go of her hand and picked up the tray that had carried their 
dinner to the balcony.  "I'll dry if you wash."  He smiled.  She 
nodded and followed him back out.  They spent the next few minutes 
collecting the dishes and ended up in the kitchen.  Neither said 
anything for a while, then Scully spoke.

"Jake, I want to help you find your family.  I know Danny Harper will 
be glad to see you."  She smiled, then turned serious.  "I'll always 
be here for you Jake.  You saved my life before and I can never repay 
you for that, but I'll always be your friend.  Can you deal with that?
"

"The F word, uh."  He smiled.  "Yeah, I can deal with that."  He set 
the towel down and grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her to face 
him.  "I'm not going to give up so easily, can you deal with that?"

Scully began to laugh and fell into Jake's arms.  He held her and 
laughed with her for a moment before she pulled back, patting his arm.
  "Yeah, Jake, it wouldn't be you if you stopped trying."

He put his arm around her shoulders and flipped the light switch off 
as they left the kitchen.  In the living room, they turned on the 
television and sat down to relax.  Stella moved over to Scully and 
nuzzled under her hand.  She reached down to pet her.  

"She likes you, Dana."  He sat forward and placed his elbows on his 
knees.  He turned his head around to look at her.  "Thank you, Dana." 
 

Those eyes again.  'Boy, this is going to be hard.'  She nodded and 
smiled as Stella lay at their feet.  

He could see the kitchen was dark from the window in the door.  He 
tried the door knob and knew it would be locked.  The window pane 
were small 4 inch squares.  He didn't think they'd make much noise, 
besides, they would be on the third floor by now.  He took the gun 
he'd stolen and broke the pane next to the door handle.  He heard the 
glass tinkle on the floor below.  Not much noise at all.  He 
carefully unlocked the door and opened it.  He was sure they hadn't 
heard it.  

Stella heard.  She raised her head and a low, menacing growl escaped 
her.  Scully sat forward instantly.  The growl sent chills down her 
spine.  Jake strained his ears to listen.  He heard the door open.  
"Kitchen door."  He whispered to Scully. 

She pulled her gun from the holster behind her back and reached over 
to turn the lamp off as Jake turned off the television.  They were 
plunged into darkness and silence.  "Hold onto Stella."  She 
whispered to Jake.

Scully stood and Jake pulled Stella close to him, holding onto her 
collar.  They waited for the intruder to come to them.

He heard the television suddenly go quiet, then saw the faint light 
coming from the main room disappear.  'Damn it,' he thought, 'so much 
for the element of surprise'.  He looked around, there were two 
staircases leading from the kitchen.  One to the living room and a 
back staircase leading to the bedrooms.  They were in the living room 
so he took the back staircase.

Stella was getting hard to hold.  She whined slightly and Jake tried 
to shush her, but he noticed she wasn't facing the opening to the 
kitchen, she was whining at the stairs leading up.  Scully was 
standing, both hands on the gun in front of her.  "Dana."  He 
whispered.  "I think he went upstairs."

She looked to her left at the staircase, then back to the kitchen.  
She then looked to Jake.  He started for the stairs and Scully 
grabbed his arm.  She shook her head no.  "Dana."

"No.  Stay here."  She started to move away when suddenly Stella ran 
past her up the stairs silently.

He heard them whispering.  He couldn't tell what they were saying, 
but he heard the sounds.  He didn't like the situation.  He'd heard 
the dog growl.  Now he had to deal with both the man and the dog 
before he could deal with the woman.  The dog was scratching at the 
door.  He went through the bathroom that connected two of the 
bedrooms and exited the other bedroom door.  Stella turned to attack. 
 The killer took aim and shot.  Stella dropped to the ground with a 
whimper.  There was no turning back now.  They would've heard the 
shot.  He stepped back into the bedroom.

Jake started up the stairs with Scully behind him.  "Jake, wait!"  
She whispered to him.  He slowed and let her catch up.  She saw the 
anguish on his face.  Scully moved ahead of him with her gun in front.
  At the head of the stairs, they saw Stella lying at the end of the 
hall.  Jake moved slowly to her.  Scully moved cautiously next to him.
  When they reached her, Jake saw that she was still alive and 
carefully picked her up.  Then they moved back downstairs.

He listened as they made their way back down the stairs with the dog. 
 They wouldn't be alert for a few minutes.  He had to move now.  He 
peered down the stairs and saw no one.  He crept down farther and 
farther until the living room came into view.  They were at the couch.
  She was a doctor, she'd be examining the dog if it wasn't dead.  He 
took aim again and pulled the trigger.  This time Jake went down.

Scully dropped to the floor as Jake fell onto her.  She felt as if 
they were moving in slow motion.  Jake in her lap, she checked his 
pulse.  He was alive but barely.  He had a bullet wound to the head.  
His breathing was slow as was his pulse.  She didn't know how long he 
had.  'Oh God.'  She was breathing heavily and tears stung her eyes.  
'Who the hell is this guy.'  She was fully alert now and waiting.  
She heard the footsteps coming down the stairs and started to shoot.

Mulder heard the gun fire as he got out of his car.  He pulled his 
gun and ran to the door.  He saw the broken glass in the kitchen door 
and called the local police before he entered.  No one was in the 
kitchen.  Then he heard the voices.

"I can sit this out as long as you can, Ms Scully.  But your friend 
will die.  You come with me and I'll call an ambulance for him as 
soon as we're gone."

"Who are you?  What do you want?"  She called out.

"Don't you know by now, Ms Scully?  I want you.  You ruined my life, 
I want yours in exchange."

Mulder figured Scully was in the far corner of the living room, the 
killer to his right, probably on the stairs.  He headed up the back 
stairs.  'Just keep him talking, Scully.'

"And you think that will make things better?"  She had to get Jake to 
a hospital.  She heard him take another few steps.  Her hands were 
beginning to shake, she was covered in Jake's blood.  She saw a leg 
descend and took a shot.  Missed. 'Damn it!'

Mulder made his way around to the hallway that held the stairs 
leading to the living room.  He saw the blood on the carpet and 
caught a glimpse of the killer on the stairwell.  He moved in the 
shadows toward him.

"I'm not going alone, Ms Scully."

Mulder was close enough.  "Don't move!  Drop the gun!  Hands in the 
air!"  He shouted as he advanced toward the killer.

Startled, the killer turned and fired.  But Mulder was quicker and 
emptied his gun, the killer was hit, falling down the stairs.  Scully 
was at the bottom with her gun aimed as Mulder followed the body down.
  She checked for signs of life and found none.

"Scully, are you Ok?"  He saw the blood that covered her arms and 
chest and panicked.

"Yeah, but Jake's not."  She ran to the phone and dialed 911.  

"The police are on their way, Scully."  

**********

Scully walked into the hospital four days later.  They life flighted 
him to Georgetown where Jake underwent surgery and hadn't regained 
consciousness until now.  She had stayed at the hospital for the 
first two days, when Mulder finally talked her into going home.  They 
had no idea how he would be when and if he did awaken.  She met the 
doctor at the nurse's station.  Mulder was close behind her.

"Agent Scully, Agent Mulder."  Dr. Hamilton greeted them.  "He's 
fully conscious now.  There are some difficulties, most we suspected, 
but he's going to be just fine.  As you know, there was damage to the 
limbic system of the brain.  We'll be keeping a close eye on him for 
seizures, but there is some memory loss.  He knows his name and few 
bits and pieces from the past couple of years, but with those 
exceptions, he doesn't recall anything else for a two year period.  
As far as he's concerned it's 1994."

"Oh God."  Scully whispered.  They listened to the rest of what the 
doctor had to say, then thanked him.  She wanted to talk to Mulder 
before they went in.  "Mulder, that means he doesn't know where he is.
"

Mulder studied her for a moment then looked to the door of the room.  
"He doesn't know he crossed over."

"No, how are we going explain this to him?"

Jake drifted in and out of sleep.  Flashes of images and people 
entered his dreams.  He seemed to know them and they him, but it was 
so vague.  A beautiful woman with fiery red hair, soft full lips.  A 
bright light and an open field.  A flash from a gun.  He awoke with a 
start.  

Scully was sitting by the bed, watching him as he slept.  He was 
dreaming, she could see the rapid eye movement beneath his eye lids.  
It startled her when he woke with a gasp.  She moved to his side 
immediately.  "It's Ok, Jake.  You're all right now."

He closed his eyes, tried to control his breathing.  He looked up at 
the woman.  "I know you."  It was a statement.

"Yes, Jake.  I'm Dana Scully.  Do you remember me?"  

"I don't know, I've seen you, I just don't know where.  What happened 
to me?"  His speech was sketchy, like he was trying to make sense of 
it.

Scully had asked Mulder to let her do this alone.  She was the reason 
he was here and she felt responsible for what had happened to him.  
She told Jake how they had met and he did remember the door from his 
childhood.  She told him he was here to find his family and that she 
would help.  He seemed to accept it better than she'd expected.  Or 
maybe better than she would have.

"Where's Stella?"  He asked.

"Stella's fine.  She's recovering with a friend of mine.  She'll be 
glad to see you.  You'll be here for a little while longer.  I'll 
keep her till you're on your feet."  She smiled at him.

**********

Scully stood at the terminal gate next to Jake.  Stella was already 
in cargo.  She had found his mother while he spent two months 
recovering in the hospital.  Now he was off to see her for the first 
time in over twenty five years.  

"I wish I could remember more about us, Dana.  I feel like I'm 
missing something."  Jake placed a hand on her face.

Scully smiled and covered his hand with hers and lowered it.  "You 
know all there is to know, Jake."

"I'll be back in a month to supervise that building in Baltimore, do 
you think we can see each other then?"  He stared into her eyes.  He 
showed several of his designs to a few builders and his services 
became in great demand.  He would have no trouble getting settled in 
his career.

"Sure, we'll have dinner."  She smiled again.  "You better go, they 
want to close the gate."

He nodded, leaned down and kissed her cheek.  Their eyes locked for a 
moment.  "I can never thank you enough for all your help."  

"You just did."

"Good bye, Dana."

"Bye, Jake."  She watched him walk down the gateway.  He turned once 
near the end of the walkway for one last look, before turning to 
board the plane.  And then he was gone.

She didn't move for several minutes.  The plane taxied to the runway. 
 Scully felt a hand on her back and she jumped.  

"It's just me, Scully."  He smiled.  "Did he get off all right?"

"Yeah."  She took one last look at the plane, then turned to Mulder.  
"He's going to be fine, Mulder."

"What about you?"  He walked next to her and reached over to take her 
hand.  "I know it's been a hard couple of months."

She squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.  "I'm fine, Mulder.  Just 
fine."

It was a ten hour flight to Portland and while Jake was tired, he 
couldn't sleep.  His thoughts kept returning to Dana Scully.  Every 
time he closed his eyes, he saw her face.  Today was no different.  
Only the visions that came to him, came in bits and pieces.  As he 
closed his eyes he saw a moonlit bay, a balcony and a bottle of wine. 
 Then he saw himself kissing a beautiful red head.  At first all he 
saw was the red hair and the soft full lips, then he realized it was 
Dana.  He opened his eyes and smiled.

********************

The Cavendish Door III  1/3
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
January 20, 1997

**********

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door II.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.

Summary:  Jake's memory returns and pursues Scully, to Mulder dismay.

Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  The characters and situations of the television program 
"The X-Files" 
are the creations and property of Chris Carter,  Fox Broadcasting, 
and Ten Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission.  
No copyright infringements are intended.  This work is not to be 
forwarded or distributed to any newsgroup, FTP, or WWW site without 
the permission of the author.

********************

The Cavendish Door III  1/3
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
January 20, 1997

**********
It had been six months since Jake had been to Washington DC.  The 
skyscraper was underway and he now would spend the next year in DC 
overseeing the construction.  He was surprised at how much of his 
memory had returned over the past few months.  She had tried to 
discourage him, but he knew it was an effort on her part.  Jake 
smiled as he buckled his safety belt and the plane taxied to take off.
  In a few hours he would be in DC.  Tomorrow he would call Dana 
Scully.

Jake had spent the first two months visiting his mother, they'd had 
twenty five years to catch up on.  It took her two weeks before she 
stopped shedding tears every time she looked at him.  She just 
couldn't believe he was back. Jake learned a lot about his childhood. 
 Danny even flew in and spent some time.  Jake remembered their 
conversation.

"Danny, I wish I could've somehow communicated with you.  To let you 
know you weren't crazy.  To let them know you weren't crazy."  Jake 
was saddened by the pain Danny had gone through.  Spending 10 years 
in a mental institution over what he had seen when Jake crossed over 
so many years ago.

"Jake, if I had to do it again, I wouldn't have let you go through.  
I blamed myself all these years.  I thought you were dead, I'm glad 
you're not."

Jake laid his head back on the seat as the aircraft lifted them into 
the air.  So many people, so much pain.  All for what?  He remembered 
what Mulder had told them about the door.  He wanted to research it, 
Jake wanted to find out what it was, who these people were.  There 
was so much to do and so little time.  Then he'd realized, he had the 
rest of his life ahead of him.  And he wanted only one person by his 
side.

***

Scully kicked her shoes off the minute she walked into the apartment. 
 A deep sigh escaped her as she leaned back against the door.  It had 
been a grueling day.  Two autopsies, gruesome but nothing paranormal. 
 No matter how much Mulder wanted it to be, these were just straight 
gang land killings.  She noticed the blinking light on her message 
machine and walked over to press the button.  As it rewound, she 
headed into the bedroom to change.  The first call was from her 
mother, calling to say hello, the second and third was a disconnect, 
then she heard a familiar voice.

"Dana, it's Jake.  I'm going to be in town tomorrow and I wanted to 
see you.  Maybe we can have lunch.  I'll call you in the morning 
before you leave for work.  I hope you're in town, well, I'll call 
you.  It'll be nice to see you again.  Bye."

His voice was so smooth, so deep.  A shiver ran up her spine and she 
smiled unknowingly at the sound of his voice. She was surprised to 
discover she'd actually missed him.  He was so much like Mulder, yet 
so different.  'What's he doing in town?'  She wondered.  Scully 
lowered her head and closed her eyes.  'God, what the hell am I 
thinking?'  She and Mulder had been comfortable with each other the 
past few months.  'Maybe too comfortable.  Great, where did that come 
from?'  She debated the argument with herself.  They'd been partners 
for five years, closer than partners for the past year.  He'd always 
taken advantage of her.  'No, that's not fair.  He relies on me, not 
takes advantage.'  She was so confused.  She looked forward to seeing 
Jake, yet knew it was dangerous.

Scully changed into a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, Mulder was 
coming over for dinner tonight.  They would have a nice dinner and 
watch a good movie and be able to relax together.  Just the two of 
them.  She had just put the spaghetti in the boiling water when 
Mulder came through the front door.  

"Honey, I'm home."  He called out to her with a slight broken Latin 
accent.

"Very funny, Mulder.  Dinner will be ready in little while.  What 
movie did you get?"  She still hadn't seen him, she called to him 
from the kitchen.

Mulder came to the doorway.  "They didn't have 'Yojimbo' and I went 
to four different stores."  Scully gave him one of her 'get real' 
looks.  "I got 'White Nights', I thought you might like that one."

Scully was impressed.  "Yes!"  She emphasized the word by making a 
fist with her right hand.  "Thank you."  She hated leaving the 
decision up to him, he always came back with a bazarre selection.

Mulder went back into the living room while Scully stirred the tomato 
sauce.  She heard Mulder turn on the television and ignored the noise.
  After a couple of minutes she heard her mother's voice and a 
beeping sound and her heart stopped.  'The machine!  I forgot to 
reset the messages.'  Scully dropped the spoon and ran to the living 
room just in time to hear Jake's voice.  She stopped in the middle of 
the room and waited for Mulder's reaction.

He slowly turned to her and his look was one of confusion and maybe 
betrayal.  "Jake's back?"  Was all he said.

"I don't really know, Mulder.  I heard the message when I got home, I 
guess he'll call tomorrow."  She tried to sound casual, turning to go 
back to the kitchen.

Mulder followed her and stood in the doorway, leaning against the 
frame, arms folded across his chest.  He didn't say anything for a 
moment, just watched her work.  Mulder knew she was being secretive.  
Why?  What was there to hide?  He knew how she felt about Jake.  She 
didn't have to hide it from him.  "Do you want some help?"

"Sure, why don't you set out the plates, we can eat in the living 
room.  Oh, and toss the salad for me, ok?"

He nodded and slowly set about the work.  She could tell what was on 
his mind and sooner or later, he would ask.  But what would she tell 
him?

Mulder brooded.  He didn't like the situation.  It had taken him four 
years to get the courage to tell her he loved her.  He was in 
constant fear of loosing her everyday.  Who knew when the Consortium 
would once again play their little tricks and snatch her away?  Who 
knew if when the next time they would be in a gun battle, she would 
be the one to fall?  All of these things crossed his mind in a matter 
of seconds.  He couldn't lose her, not now, not after all this time.  
He didn't dislike Jake, hell, he didn't know him.  A part of him 
wanted to find out where Jake had been for the past twenty five years,
 but the bigger part just wanted him to go back.  It angered him to 
feel this way.  It angered him to feel so insecure.  He was so deep 
in thought, he didn't hear Scully calling to him.

"Mulder!"

"I'm sorry, what, Scully?"  He looked over at her.

"I asked what you wanted to drink?"

He stared at her, standing at the counter with a glass in her hand.  
She was so beautiful.  Her copper red hair pulled back away from her 
face, the freckles peeking through the day old makeup.  The face of a 
girl.  So frail and so small.  But she had the body of a woman.  A 
sensual woman.  All the right curves in all the right places.  One 
look at her, one smile from her and he could die fulfilled.  

"Mulder?"

'If there's an ice tea in that bag, Scully, it could be love.'  He 
smiled at the remembrance.  "Ice tea, Scully, will be fine."

Scully fixed the tea and set the glasses on the table.  She went back 
to the stove and discovered the pasta ready to drain.  As she dumped 
the contents into a colander in the sink, some of the hot boiling 
water splashed her arm.  "Damn!  Damn!"  She dropped the pot into the 
sink.

Mulder was behind her in an instant.  "What happened?  Let me see.  
What did you do?"

"It's ok, Mulder, just some hot water splashed up."  She was 
inspecting the burn mark on the inside of her forearm.  It wasn't too 
bad, but it would leave a mark for a few days.  She ran it under cold 
water.

Mulder held her arm under the faucet and placed a towel under it to 
dry when she turned the tap off.  Neither said anything.  He patted 
her arm dry and looked at the burn.  She had such beautiful skin, so 
smooth, so silky.  He leaned down and lightly kissed the mark.  He 
pulled back from it only slightly, then placed his lips on her arm 
again, lingering.  Feeling the heat of the burn on his lips.

Scully watched him, mesmerized.  She couldn't turn away, she couldn't 
blink, she could barely breath.  He had always had this effect on her.
  Her eyes followed his every move.  

He finally lowered her arm and looked into her eyes.  They changed 
color daily, from a hazel blue to a haunting green.  Tonight they 
were dark,  a dark blue green with large dark pupils.  He placed his 
hands on her face and brought his mouth to hers and kissed her 
fiercely.  All the pent up tension being released.  A sudden fear 
forcing him to feel that nothing could come between them.  He pulled 
his lips away from her and embraced her, holding her tightly, as if 
she'd just been returned to him from death.

Scully wrapped her arms around him.  She knew what was wrong.  "It's 
all right, Mulder.  I'm not going anywhere."  She felt him relax a 
little, not completely, but a little.  He'd had these 'panic attacks' 
before.  Not often, but enough for her to recognize.  They came when 
an assignment became too dangerous, whenever she was uncomfortably 
late from a meeting or when the nightmares became too strong.

"I love you, Scully."  He whispered in her ear.

"I know.  I love you, too, Mulder."  She patted and rubbed his back 
and he released her.  "Come on, the spaghetti will get cold."  They 
fixed a plate and settled themselves in front of the television.  
Mulder flicked on the movie.

They ate in silence, watching the television screen.  But neither 
really watched the movie.  Mulder was uncomfortable, he wanted to 
broach the subject of Jake, but didn't really want to hear her 
response.  He didn't want to know she might still have feelings for 
Jake.  An image of Scully in Jake's arms raced through his mind and 
he shuddered.  The longer he sat brooding over it, the angrier he 
became.

Scully's thoughts were a mixture of wanting to see Jake again and the 
heartache of what that want would do to Mulder.  She knew she loved 
Mulder but Jake had something Mulder did not.  A normal life.  He 
didn't have the ever present, underlying, obsession that Mulder had.  
Even though Mulder's search had become hers as well, Scully still 
longed for a normal life.  She wanted to settle down, have a child to 
love who would love her and depend on her.  Mulder was way too quiet, 
she knew he was working up to asking and when he did ask, it would 
end in an argument.  One thing she never did, was lie to Fox Mulder.

After a couple of hours, even their physical positions on the sofa 
showed their emotional positions.  They started out sitting close to 
one another, Mulder's arm around Scully's shoulders.  By the end of 
the movie, Mulder was sitting on one end with his feet on the coffee 
table and Scully at the other end with her legs tucked under her.  
Mulder turned to look at her for the first time since the end of 
dinner.  "Are you going to see him, Scully?" 

This is what she was waiting for.  Based from the look on his face 
and the tone in his voice, it would end in an argument.  She hated it 
when he was so possessive.  "Probably."  She waited for a reaction.  
He turned back toward the television but sat up, with his feet on the 
floor.  He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, clasping 
his hands and stared at the floor.  'Please, Mulder, please don't 
make a lot from this.'  She pleaded in her thoughts.

His mind was whirling, angry.  Why did she feel the need to see him?  
How could he deal with this?  He had so much on his mind as it was, 
he didn't need this.  He slowly nodded.

"Mulder, I'm just going to have lunch, see how he is.  That's all.  
Don't make a big deal of this.  There's nothing to it."  She tried.  
God knows she tried.

Mulder nodded, still avoiding her eyes.  With a sigh he stood.  "I 
better get going, it's getting late and I need to finish a few things 
early tomorrow."  His tone didn't reveal his disposition.

Scully stood with him, almost chasing him as he headed for the door.  
"Mulder, please."

He stopped at the door and lightly kissed her cheek.  "I'll see you 
in the morning, Scully."

"Mulder!  Please don't do this."  She held his arm.

Mulder turned and looked her square in the eye.  Then he smiled and 
placed his hand on her face.  "I'm ok with this, Scully, really, just 
a little tired.  I know you love me."  He almost whispered the last 
statement as he leaned in and gave her a passionate kiss.  Then he 
was gone.

Her eyes still closed, she felt the cool air cross her face as he 
left her standing in the doorway.  She always felt a little empty 
when he left, whether they'd made love or not.  When he wasn't by her 
side, she still felt alone in a room full of people.

Mulder drove home in an automatic mode, he actually didn't remember 
making the turns as he parked at his apartment building.  He had to 
let Scully make her own decisions, he couldn't have a relationship 
with her based on guilt.  No matter how much it hurt.  He tossed and 
turned throughout the night, getting less sleep than usual.  He was 
going to have to let her work this out for herself.  If she truly 
loved him, she would stay with him.  He had to believe that, he had 
to have faith in her.

The next morning Scully was up early.  She normally left for work at 
7:30 and it was now 7:55.  She felt ridiculous waiting for the damn 
phone, she was an adult after all, not some school girl waiting for 
the quarterback to call.  Why didn't he call?  Did she really want 
him to call anyway?  Nothing about this was going to be easy.  
Finally she picked up her purse and keys and headed for the door just 
as the phone rang.  She ran to get it, a little too fast.  "Scully."

"Dana, it's Jake.  Sorry I'm late, I got hung up on a call from my 
office."  He sounded so at ease.  Like it was just yesterday she'd 
spoken to him.

Her chest tightened and she could hardly breath.  Scully felt 
positively giddy.  "No, it's all right, I was just getting ready to 
leave.  It's good to hear from you.  How have you been?"  She found 
herself smiling without realizing it and her tone revealed it.

It felt so good to hear her voice.  He was excited by the fact she 
seemed genuinely pleased to hear from him.  "Great.  Just great.  
Things are actually pretty good.  Can you fit me in for lunch today?  
I'd really like to get caught up with you."  There was more meaning 
to that than either would admit to.

"Um, yeah, ok."  She stuttered.  "That would be nice.  How about 
11:30?  There's a Chinese restaurant a block from the office, I can 
meet you there."  'Why am I doing this?'  She closed her eyes and 
blushed.

"Perfect, I'll see you then, I guess."  He stammered a bit.  Why did 
they both seem so nervous?  "I look forward to it, Dana."  

"Me too, Jake.  Bye bye."  She hung up the phone and released the 
breath she'd been holding.  'Oh God.'  Scully ran for the door.

Mulder was at his desk with his head lowered, deep in work.  He heard 
Scully come in but didn't look up or saying anything.

"Sorry I'm late, Mulder.  You Ok this morning?"  Scully noticed his 
mood right away.

"Yeah, Scully, just didn't sleep too well.  I've got some research I 
want to do on an old case, so I'll be tied up for most of the day.  
Do you need anything before I take off?"  He was giving her an out, 
making it easier on her.  He couldn't have her always wondering what 
if.  

Scully was relieved and disheartened at the same time.  She wanted to 
see Jake without feeling guilty about 'deserting' Mulder but 
subconsciously wanted Mulder to 'fight' for her.  It frightened her.  
"I guess not."  She said a little disappointed.  "Will I see you 
later?"

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."  He hesitated while taking his coat 
off the rack.  "Are you seeing Jake today?"  His voice deepened and 
was maybe a bit accusing.

She wavered.  "We're just having lunch."  Scully sounded defensive.

He nodded.  "Well, have a good time and say hello for me.  Call if 
you need anything."  He glanced at her and put on his coat, then 
headed out the door.

He was so cavalier and, in a way, so predictable.  Damn it, she was 
not going to let this get to her.  She was her own person, she had 
nothing to feel guilty over.

***
End of Part 1





>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Jan 27 22:11:54 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door II.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.

Summary:  Jake's memory returns and pursues Scully, to Mulder dismay.


Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  See Part 
I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

********************

The Cavendish Door III  2/3
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
January 20, 1997

**********

Scully was running late as she walked through the restaurant door at 
11:45.  She was catching her breath as she looked around and saw Jake 
sitting at a corner table in the back.  Her heart skipped a beat and 
a warm blush crept up her cheeks.  He smiled and waved as he stood.  
Jake hugged her briefly and kissed her cheek, then took her coat and 
held her chair for her, all the while smiling, so charming, so 
chivalrous.  She was actually blushing, soaking it all up.

"It's so good to see you, Dana.  How are you?  I've missed talking to 
you."  He smiled.  Jake noticed the blush and it pleased him.  She 
was positively beaming, he realized just how much he had missed her.  
She was even more beautiful than he remembered.  Her eyes sparkled 
and her smile touched something deep inside him.

"It's good to see you, too, Jake.  I've been good.  You look good, 
how is your mother?"  She returned his smile.  In fact, she found it 
hard to stop smiling.

"She's fine, she's finally got used to the fact, I'm not dead.  She 
had a hard time letting go of me to come here."

"I can imagine.  Where's Stella?  Is she doing all right?"

Jake was rarely without Stella.  She had been with him for years, 
even took a bullet to save him.  She was a loyal pet and friend.  
"Stella is Stella.  She's good.  She's at my Mom's right now.  I'll 
be here a month, but if I decide to stay, I'll bring her back with me.
"

"You might be staying in DC permanently?"  Scully said almost 
hopefully, her eyes wide with wonder.

Jake grinned, he heard the hint of anticipation in her voice.  "I 
might.  It depends on my long term goals."  He said mysteriously.  "I 
have a few prospects and possibilities I want to explore.  I've had 
several building contracts that I'm considering."

"That's great, business is good, then."  She tried to change the 
subject.  If he stayed in DC, she didn't know how she'd react.

"Yeah, too good, I'm swamped."  They laughed.

The lunch was spent with mostly small talk, each telling the other 
bits and pieces of everyday life.  Both avoiding the real reason they 
were there.

"Mulder says hello, Jake.  He would've joined us, but he's doing 
research on a case."  She felt she needed to include him somehow.

Jake nodded.  "Dana, I would like to talk to Mulder.   I want to find 
out how and why my life was changed years ago.  I want to know about 
the door.  I want to know about the Cavendish family.  Who they were 
and what they were.  I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I 
have to know.  Do you think he'd talk to me?"

Scully sighed quietly.  Did she really want these two men to get 
together?  "I'm sure he will.  Actually, I think he's just as curious 
as you."

Jake mistook her hesitation.  "Dana, that's not why I asked you to 
lunch, though.  I really wanted to see you again.  I want to spend as 
much time as you can spare while I'm here.  Do you think we can?"  He 
placed his hand over hers on the table.

They both felt the spark as his hand touched hers.  It was electric.  
She searched his eyes.  Those soft brown puppy dog eyes.  'I'm in 
trouble now.'  "I think I can spare a little time."  She smiled and 
blushed again.

Two hours had gone by before either had realized and when Jake's cell 
phone rang they both noticed the time.  His presence was required at 
the job site.  Jake didn't want to go, he wanted to spend the rest of 
the day with Scully.  He'd felt so empty since Alex died and then 
when Scully left him a year ago, he'd even felt more alone.  

Scully also didn't want to see him leave.  She was enjoying his 
company, she hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time.  "Do you want to 
have dinner tonight?"  Mulder said he'd see her tomorrow, that meant 
he hadn't planned on stopping by her place tonight.

Jake's face lit up.  "Yeah, that'd be great.  I can probably get away 
around six or seven, is that all right?"

"Perfect."  She jotted down her address as he paid the bill.  They 
didn't say anything for a moment but couldn't look away from each 
other.  "It really is good to see you again, Jake."

He nodded and slightly smiled, his eyes crinkling and Scully melted.  
They stood to leave and as they reached Scully's car, she turned to 
him.  Jake's voice was barely above a whisper.  "I've missed you, 
Dana."  He leaned down and kissed her, lingering just above her mouth 
for a second.  He was scoping it out, wanting to see if she wanted 
what he wanted.  His heart leapt to his throat when he discovered she 
wanted it too.

Scully's face turned almost the same shade as her hair.  "I'll see 
you later."  She said as she pulled away from him and got into her 
car.

Jake stood in the lot and watched her car pull away.  He took a deep 
breath and released it slowly.  All his fears and anxieties expelled 
with the breath.  He had a chance after all.

Mulder watched the scene from a distance.  He hadn't been there long, 
he wasn't actually following her.  Her car stood out as he drove by 
and he decided to see what was going on.  When Jake leaned in to kiss 
Scully, his heart broke.  Instinct closed his eyes and he sighed 
deeply.  'Why?  Why, Scully?'  He knew why.  Jake could be something 
he could never be.  Normal.  With a normal life, no risks, no dangers.
  He looked at himself in the rearview mirror.  He looked tired, the 
dark circles under his eyes grew darker each day and the glint in his 
eye was no longer there.  Maybe she was better off without him.  She 
certainly deserved the kind of life Jake could give her.  A home with 
a family, she could practice medicine privately.  Get on with her 
life.  He was so good at beating himself up, taking the blame for 
everything, why not this too.  She drove off in the opposite 
direction, never noticing Mulder's car.  Tears welled up in his eyes, 
but couldn't spill over.  Mulder put the car in gear and drove off.  

e couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.

***

Scully didn't hear from Mulder at all that afternoon.  She didn't 
quite know what to make of it.  This situation was so confusing to 
her.  Why did she feel like she was doing something behind his back.  
She wasn't doing anything wrong.  So Jake had kissed her, so what.  
'You liked it, that's what.'  She chided herself.  Why was she so 
drawn to Jake?  Scully shook her head, she didn't want to think about 
it, she wanted it to go away.  There was no working this afternoon so 
Scully left the office about four.  She made a quick trip to the 
grocery store, then headed for home.

The meatloaf was in the oven and everything was set on the table.  
She just had to change and give herself the once over.  Jake would be 
over in just a little while.  'Why am I primping?'  She did anyway.  
Scully dressed with care, wearing a royal blue dress with a 
sweetheart neckline with black trimmed short sleeves.  She put her 
hair up with a few strands framing her face.  Her heart quickened 
when the doorbell rang.

Jake stood outside the door fiddling with his tie and running his 
fingers through his hair.  He was at least a half an hour early.  
Fact was, he just couldn't wait any longer, he had to see her again.  
When she opened the door, his breath was taken away.  She was a sight 
to behold.  Her pale skin exquisite against the dark blue dress, her 
red hair swept up away from her beautiful face.  It took him a few 
seconds before he could speak.

Scully stepped aside to let him in.  "Hi, come on it and make 
yourself comfortable."  She watched him as he passed her and when he 
brushed against her, she tingled all over.  He smelled wonderful and 
she took a deep breath.

They ate and talked and laughed.  It was as if they'd known each 
other forever.  Jake told her of several projects he had in the works 
for Washington.  He'd walked into this life as if he'd always been 
here.  Contacts were plentiful as his work became legendary.  Scully 
envied his drive, his style, his commitment to beautify the city 
skylines.  She listened with a style and grace all her own.  Her eyes 
sparkling and a smile constantly on her face.

Jake was in heaven.  He wanted this night to last, he wanted to stay 
with her forever.  As he talked, he watched her every move.  Her hand 
as she lifted the fork to her mouth, her eyes dancing with every 
smile and her full, soft lips turning upward, shaping each word.  
They moved to the sofa after dinner with a bottle of white wine.  
"Dana, I've been monopolizing the conversation all night.  Tell me 
what you've been up to."

She stared at him for a moment before replying.  "I've enjoyed just 
listening to you.  I'd just as soon not talk shop."

Jake nodded.  He'd been there four hours already and it seemed he'd 
just walked in the door.  "Ok, let's talk about us, then."

"Us?"  Scully blushed, yet once again.  "I like you Jake, I like you 
a lot."

"But."  He felt it coming so he said it for her.

Scully smiled.  "I ...  I guess you have to give me time.  I'm 
confused right now.  Mulder and I  ...  well, he means a lot to me.  
I always thought he was the only one for me."

"And now?"

"And now ...  Jake, I don't want to do this.  I don't want to make a 
choice.  I do love Mulder, but I have feelings for you too.  I'm not 
sure what they are yet.  I don't want to let you go, but I can't make 
any promises."  

For the first time that evening, Jake saw a sadness in her eyes and 
regretted being the one to put it there.  "I won't pressure you, Dana.
  I just want us to have a chance to get to know each other better.  
Deal?"  He tried to put a smile on her face again.

She did smile.  "Deal."

"I'm going to Dott the day after tomorrow to find out a little 
history, I would like it if you would come with me."

"Yeah, I think I'd like that.  We can drive up early.  I'll ask 
Mulder if he wants to go, I know he has information that can help."  
She was interested herself about the door.  Scully still had 
reservations about the validity of it, even with Jake sitting right 
next to her.

"It's getting late and I know we both have to work tomorrow, I guess 
I better be going.  I really enjoyed tonight, Dana."  He moved closer 
to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"I had a really good time too."  She smiled at him, searching his 
eyes.

He caressed her arm and looked down at her, his stare wavering 
between her lips and eyes.  A strong look of desire appeared in his 
eyes and it frightened her temporarily.  Her breathing quickened as 
he inspected every inch of her face.  Jake hesitated before kissing 
her, giving her a chance to object.  When she leaned forward in 
response, his desire became stronger and when he kissed her, it was 
intense and passionate and breathtaking.  Their mouths merged and 
nothing else was as important as that kiss.  It was something he'd 
been wanting to do for so long and it was what she'd been longing for 
as well.

Scully's mind was racing.  'Oh God.'  She thought to herself.  'Stop 
this now!'  She didn't want to, but knew she needed to.  She pulled 
away from him.  "I think you better go now."  She whispered, smiling.


"Yeah."  He was just as breathless.  He cleared his throat and stood. 
 Scully followed him to the door and stood in the doorway as he 
crossed the threshold.  He turned once more to look at her.  "Can I 
call you tomorrow?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

He took her chin and gave her one last small kiss, then turned and 
walked away, not looking back again.

Scully watched him till he turned the corner of the hall and then 
closed her eyes and leaned against the door frame.  'You are in big 
trouble, Dana Katherine Scully.'

Mulder awoke with a start.  He'd been dreaming again.  The nightmares 
never ended.  Would they ever?  He sat on his couch in the dark.  
Scully was always a phone call away when he needed her but now he 
didn't know if he could call her.  He knew Jake was at Scully's, he'd 
seen him enter the building.  He had stopped by earlier to talk to 
her, to straighten things out.  But he was a second too late and when 
he pulled up, Jake was entering the front of the building.  He didn't 
stop.  It was now well after midnight, he wondered if Jake was still 
there.  

***

"Morning Mulder."  Scully was in early the next morning, but she 
never seemed to beat Mulder in.

"Hi Scully."  

He didn't meet her eyes, but sounded normal enough.  Scully decided 
to delve right in.  "Mulder, Jake is going to Pennsylvania to 
research the door.  I'm taking a few days off and going with him."  
She waited for a reaction, his jaw working, clenching.  "I'd like you 
to come too.  You found some of the ..."

Mulder interrupted her.  "I thought you didn't believe, Scully."  He 
looked up sharply.

She caught his eyes and they saw straight through her.  "Mulder, I 
just want to help him find out the truth.  You know about the truth, 
don't you, Mulder?"  Her voice getting louder, emphasizing the word, 
truth.

He looked as if she had just slapped him.  Mulder was stunned for a 
moment, then he stood and made his way to the door.  "I don't think 
you need me for that."  He slammed the door as he left.

Scully sat down and the tears fell.  This was all her fault, she knew 
that.  She just didn't know what to do about it yet.  

Two hours later, Mulder had still not returned.  Scully went in 
search of him and found him in his usual spot.  The bench by the 
river.  He was looking out over the water and Scully wasn't sure he 
saw her walking up to his side.  "Can I sit down?"

Mulder didn't look at her but he nodded and moved over.

"Mulder, I'm sorry."

"What for, Scully?"

She thought about how to answer that, watching him staring out at the 
water.  Her eyes closed and when she opened them, Mulder was looking 
at her.  "Mulder, I want you to come with me tomorrow.  I need you to.
"

He could never let her down.  They'd had their arguments, their 
differences of opinions, but they respected each and besides, he 
could keep an eye on her.  "Ok, I'll go."

"That's it, you'll go?"

"You're right, Scully."  He sighed.  "I do want to know what happened.
"

***
End of Part 2





>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Mon Jan 27 22:13:42 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door II.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.

Summary:  Jake's memory returns and pursues Scully, to Mulder dismay.


Spoilers: None
Classification :  X-file, MSR

Disclaimer:  See Part 
I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

********************

The Cavendish Door III  3/3
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
January 20, 1997

**********

The three drove to Dott the following morning.  He told the story as 
they drove.  "There were settlements set all around Philadelphia, 
Dott was one of those.  Populations grew in record numbers until the 
mid to late 1800's when they started burning people at the stake or 
drowning them for witchcraft.  It was during that time the town just 
about disappeared.  I met with a local historian, Elsa Domirsky, it 
was her family that had the Cavendish 'clan' journal.  She said the 
earth opened a door and they walked through it.  The book was faded, 
some of the pages were missing and most of it was written in Olde 
English.  That's where I found the passage."

Jake sat listening intently.  "But I don't remember saying anything 
when I went through the door twenty six years ago and I sure as hell 
didn't say any passages when that building disappeared last year.  
How was it I went through those times?"

"There seems to be more than one way.  There wasn't any light at the 
door I went through."  Scully agreed with Jake.

"I don't know.  I think we'll get the book first and try to decipher 
it.  There are obviously things happening we know nothing about."  
Mulder kept glancing at Jake in the rearview mirror. 

They reached the brownstone area shortly after noon.  The field in 
which Jake returned was about an hour northeast of Dott.  The 
brownstone had been sold and there were two families occupying the 
building and the third floor was rented out by Danny Harper.  He met 
them on the front steps.

"I guess I wanted to make sure no else had the kind of problems we 
had, Jake."  He led them through the first floor hallways and they 
all stopped at the place that had changed each of their lives at one 
time or another.

It was strangely silent as they stared at the blank wall.  Mulder 
wondered if he used the passage now, would the door appear.  Would 
the 'earth open up and swallow them'?  "How long have you lived here?
"  He asked Danny.

"About six months.  After I came back from visiting Jake, I found out 
about the room for rent.  I figured, it was some sort of sign.  I had 
to take it."

"Have you had any 'disturbances' since you've been here?"  Scully 
asked.

"Not a one.  I've asked the owners to notify me of anything strange, 
so far nothing."

As they left, Jake noticed the strange hue to the sky.  The clouds 
seemed to be swirling at a rapid pace, large dark billowy clouds.  
"Looks like a storm coming."  He commented.

Their next stop was Elsa's.  Scully liked the old woman, she was 
colorful and spry.  Nothing seemed to stop her.  "I knew you'd be 
back, young man."  She spoke to Mulder then winked at Scully.  "They 
always come back, my dear."  She pointed to the book shelf.  "It's 
right up there, the black binder, you see it?"

Mulder pulled the book down and brought it to the table.  Elsa took 
her chair at the round table and they all joined her.  The book was 
passed from one to another as Elsa told the fable, as she did to 
Mulder a year ago.

Mulder half listened as he was more interested in the book.  He read 
through the pages, understanding most of it, but finding nothing that 
referenced the door.  There was a lot of family history for the 
Cavendish clan.  The children, the parents, the grandparents and on.  
They held a number of jobs.  Doctors, farmers, blacksmiths.  Nothing 
out of the ordinary for that era.  But the page that held the passage 
was unique in itself.  It was on the last pages of the book.  It was 
clearly written by a different hand.  What had occurred for them to 
leave so suddenly?  Who was this 'stranger' who had made the final 
entries?

"Ok, Mulder, lets talk about the passage."  Scully was reading the 
last page.  "'End of thy time nears.'"

"Well, it's obvious they felt it was time to move on.  That time for 
them here was over.  The end of the world story."

"'Thy paths forsaken', now, I think it means they had no where else 
to go.  They were abandoning the paths they took here, the choices 
they made."  Scully was getting the hang of this.

"Very good, Scully.  'As thy wish, thy want.'"  Mulder challenged her 
again.

This time Jake spoke up.  He'd been very quiet during this analysis.  
"I think it means, be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.
"

Scully looked at him and smiled.  "I know that.  Maybe it's not a 
warning but a fact, just wish for it and it will happen."

"Maybe that's how I came to be here this time.  Maybe that's why the 
door opened for you a year ago."  Jake look closely at Scully.  She 
suddenly looked pale.  Jake continued.  "'Thy shall begin again.'  A 
chance to start anew.  A new place, a new time to start all over 
again.  Their own rules, their own laws.  Maybe they were witches."  
He pulled the journal to him and began turning the pages.

"I don't think you can just wish for something and it happens, I'm 
sorry, things don't work that way."  Scully was being her cautious 
self again.

"I want to try something."  Mulder waited for them to listen.  "I 
want to quote the phrase at the brownstone."

"Mulder, I don't know."  Scully was the first to object.

"What's the worst that can happen, Scully?  I want to see what 
happens.  Then we can try it again in the field."  Mulder was getting 
excited.

"No."  Jake stated flatly.  They both turned to look him.  

"Excuse me?"  Mulder asked in shock.

Jake was reading another passage from the journal.  "Listen to this.
"

"Choose thy path carefully
Evil is at hand
Thy door opens once
To begin again
Thy door opens twice
To begin no more"

Jake suddenly felt a tremendous fear.  Dana was in danger.  If he 
allowed Mulder to open the door again, something was going to happen. 
 He just knew it.  Maybe not directly to Dana, but something bad was 
coming.

"No.  We don't open it.  I think we've played around with fate a 
little too much.  You don't know what you're dealing with.  Who knows 
what we could end up doing.  Who's to say we don't open a door that 
won't close?"  Jake was adamant.  "Letting who knows what to wander 
back and forth.  No.  We're finished."

"Look, this was your idea.  You were the one who wanted to research 
this."  Mulder jumped at the chance to argue with Jake.

"Well, I changed my mind.  Maybe this is something better left alone.
"  Jake left the room and stormed outside.

Mulder stood silent, a bit shocked.  What was it that changed his 
mind so quickly?  Scully hesitated also, then followed Jake out.  
"Let's go, Mulder."

He watched her walk out.  Mulder didn't know what to think.  He 
thanked Elsa, copied the passage and helped her put the book away.  A 
few moments later he went to the car.

They were on the road again heading east.  Jake was quiet and moody 
in the back seat.  He didn't notice the direction they were moving.  
He was watching the sky.  The clouds were moving with them, rolling 
and rumbling.  Dark and menacing, lightning flashed and thunder 
shouted from them.  Something was about to happen.

Scully did notice the direction Mulder was heading.  "Mulder where 
are we going?"

"Harrisburg."

"It'll only take us three or four hours to get back to Washington.  
Why don't we head on home?"

Jake answered. "Because he wants to see the field.  You can't leave 
it alone, can you, Mulder?"  Jake's voice rising.  "You want to see 
her dead, too?!"

Mulder pulled the car over and got out.  Jake exited the back seat 
and they squared off in the middle of the road to Harrisburg.  Both 
yelling at each other.  "You don't know what you're dealing with!  
I'm not letting you do this to her!"  Jake was in Mulder face, so 
close, and both were red faced.

"What the hell are you talking about?  What do you know about it?  
You can stay in the car for all I care!"  Mulder wasn't backing down.


A loud clap of thunder startled them as Scully jumped in the middle.  
"Stop it!  Just stop it."

"I heard about you, Mulder.  Everyone near you dies or goes away.  
That's not going to happen to her!"  Jake was yelling.

Mulder was stunned.  Jake had hit a nerve.  He turned away from them 
and began to pace in front of the car.  Scully was at the rear trying 
to talk to Jake.

"How dare you say that to him!  Damn it, Jake!  You don't know.  You 
don't know anything about him."  She couldn't believe his behavior.  
Where had this come from?

"Dana, you're going to be the one to get hurt.  I'm not going to let 
that happen." 

"You don't have a say in it.  Damn it, Jake.  Just get in the car."  
She turned her back to him and walked to Mulder.

He was several feet in front of the car, pacing.  "Mulder, he didn't 
mean it.  He was wrong."

Mulder suddenly stopped and stared at her.  "No he wasn't."  Then he 
turned to the car.

Scully closed her eyes and just stood there.  'How the hell did I get 
into this?'  She followed him.

Mulder stopped at the drivers door where Jake was standing, staring 
at the sky.  Mulder turned to look up also.

"It's coming, Mulder.  What ever it is, it's here.  I let in when I 
came back and it's found me."  Jake said softly, never turning away 
from the sky.

"What is it?  What's found you?"  Mulder eyed him.

"Evil."  Jake finally looked at Mulder, then got in the car.

They drove in silence back to Washington.  It was dark when they 
returned and Mulder dropped off Jake at his hotel.  He waited for 
Scully as she walked Jake to the front entrance.  He noticed the 
storm followed them back to DC.

"I'm sorry, Dana.  What I said was reprehensible.  Did you ever have 
a feeling that something was wrong?  That's what I felt back there, 
Dana, fear.  Something bad was going to happen.  I can't be 
responsible for that.  Do you understand?"  Jake pleaded with her.

"Yeah, Jake.  I understand.  I'll call you tomorrow."  She squeezed 
his hand and left him standing there.  Scully understood, but was 
still upset.

Mulder next drove to Scully's apartment. Once again, the drive was in 
silence.  He didn't cut the engine off when he put the car in park.  


"Mulder, do you want to come in?"  Scully asked.

He thought about it.  "No, I better not."

"Mulder, you're coming in."  It wasn't a question this time so he 
turned off the motor and got out of the car, following Scully inside. 
 As he neared the door, he realized the skies were now clear.  It 
shook him slightly.  Maybe there was something to what Jake had said. 
 

Scully took his coat and hung it up with her jacket and fixed them 
both a drink.  She sat next to him on the couch.

They both sat in silence for a couple of minutes.  Mulder was the 
first to speak.  "What's happening to us, Scully?"

The question took her off guard and when she looked up, she found 
those hazel eyes begging for the right answer.  She looked away.  "I 
don't know, Mulder.  But I don't like it.  I know you're confused 
about Jake and to be honest, Mulder, so am I."   Finally turning to 
look at him again.  "I love you, Mulder.  I have for over five years 
now.  We lost so much time and this past year has been the best 
because of you.  But I can't deny I have feelings for Jake too.  I 
just don't know what they are.  I can't explain it.  I don't know why.
"

"I know why."  Mulder knew she was confused and that it was just as 
painful on her as it was for him.  "He can give you a life I can't.  
A safe and secure life with kids and a house with a white picket 
fence.  You'd never have to worry about being shot at or abducted 
again."  He was silent for a moment.  "Tell me you don't want that."

Scully thought that was exactly what she wanted.  Until now.  It 
suddenly struck her what it was she really wanted.  "Mulder."  She 
smiled and shook her head.  "I don't want any of that if I can't have 
it with you."

"You'd be better off with Jake, Scully.  I know that." 

"I didn't realize until now, Mulder, what it is that I do want.  I 
saw you, Mulder, in Jake.  He is what you might have been.  It's what 
I would like to see for you.  To be happy."   Scully watched his face,
 her voice lowering to a whisper.  "I do love you and I want only you.
  But there is a part of me that needs to see you happy, satisfied.  
I don't think I've ever really seen you satisfied.  There is so much 
in your world that is unknown and it's heartbreaking to see you go 
through it sometimes.  You are so driven and you drive me.  But I 
can't make it happen for you and that's what I want."

Mulder was surprised.  This is not what he expected.  "You do make me 
happy, Scully.  You are the only thing in my life that does.  You 
can't make my happiness your responsibility, Scully."   He reached 
over and took her hand.  

Scully nodded and squeezed his hand.  They sat for a while longer, 
just being next to each other.  Sometimes words were not needed.  For 
the next half hour, they remained quiet, leaning against each other.

Neither had said a word, they both just knew.  He took her in his 
arms and kissed her.  He felt he'd gotten his life back, he was alive 
again.  He didn't care if he was being selfish, he couldn't give her 
up.  She reacted to every movement, every touch.  She was right, he 
couldn't even get enough of her.  She belonged to him once again.

Two hours later, they lay in each others arms.  Neither had said a 
word over the past couple of hours.  They knew each other too well.  
As they watched each other, Mulder was the first to speak.  "Scully?
"

"Yeah."

He reached for her and pulled her to him.  "You satisfy me."

She smiled.

***

Scully saw Jake the next morning.  "I love Mulder.  I was seeing in 
you things that I want to see in him.  It was confusing, but, Jake, I 
want to be with him.  I'm sorry."  

Jake nodded, he understood, he loved her too much.  He had no choice 
but to let her go.  She had to make her own choices.  "Me too."  He 
touched her face and smiled, knowing he would never see her again.  
They sat at a diner drinking coffee.  Jake new it was coming but 
couldn't help feeling a bit surprised.  His life had been in such 
turmoil and he thought he might finally have some peace.  He envied 
Mulder.  Mulder belonged here and now, to her, with her.  Jake was a 
lost soul, not really knowing where he belonged.  Scully was talking, 
trying to ease his pain, but Jake wasn't really listening.  They 
hugged and he watched her leave.  She walked out of his life forever. 
 Once again, Jake looked to the sky and they were still there.  The 
dark and foreboding clouds loomed above him, following him, calling 
to him.  He knew what he had to do.

Jake returned home a couple of days later.  Stella was happy to see 
him.  He had a lot to do before leaving.  He'd made up his mind.

Two weeks later Scully received a letter from Jake.  "I'm sorry for 
any problems I created for you, Dana.  It was not my intention to 
cause you pain.  I love you and hope you will always remember me.  I 
only want what will make you happy and I know that a life together 
isn't possible.  It's funny, you know, I realized I don't belong in 
either world.  I have to find a place that belongs to me.  Maybe our 
paths will cross again someday."

Mulder looked up from the letter.  "What do you think he means, 
Scully."

"I tried to call him last night.  His number was disconnected.  I 
called his mother this morning, she said he left town day last night. 
 She didn't know when he was returning.  He said he'd keep in touch." 
 Scully sat down with a sigh.  

"Do you think  ......"

Scully nodded.  "I think he's going back, Mulder.  We have to stop 
him."  

"Scully ..."

"We have to, Mulder.  You heard the second passage, it could be 
dangerous, who knows what it really means."  She waited for him.  
"Are you coming with me or am I going alone?"

Mulder stood and grabbed his coat.  "Where do you think he's headed?
"

"The field."

***

Jake and Stella sat in a car in the field an hour away from 
Harrisburg.  It was raining, drizzling actually.  The ominous and 
sinister storm had followed him to and fro and was now threatening to 
unleash the torrent of evil it carried.   Stella whined, nudging his 
hand and Jake scratched behind her ears.  "You ready, girl."  Stella 
seemed nervous.  She'd been through this before.  "We might not make 
it back next time."  

He opened the car door as a loud thunderous roar came from above.  
Stella pulled back, frightened by the noise.  Jake stopped and looked 
to Stella, through the window he saw a car approach.  He recognized 
the occupants.

Mulder brought the car as close to Jake's as he could get.  Scully 
jumped out as the rains started.  Jake got out of the car and met her 
halfway.  "What are you doing here?"  He had to yell to be heard over 
the downpour.

"I can't let you do this!"  She yelled back at him.

Mulder joined her.  By now all three were soaking wet.  "Follow us 
back, Jake, we can talk about this."

"I don't belong here!  I don't belong there!"  Jake shouted as he 
slowly backed away from them.  "It's here now, I have to go."

A lightening bolt struck a nearby tree and shook the ground.  All 
three jumped.  Mulder called to them.  "Get in the car!"  Jake 
continued to back away.  Scully moved to go after him, but Mulder 
grabbed her arm.  "You're going to get hit by lightening, Scully."  
He pushed her toward the car.

Jake stood in the rain and took the piece of paper from his pocket.  
The ink ran but he knew the words by heart.  He took one last look at 
Scully then spoke the words.

"End of thy time nears
 Thy paths forsaken 
 As thy wish, thy want
 Thy shall begin again."

A light peered through the clouds and seemed to swallow Jake.  Stella 
barked, still inside the car at the open driver door.  When the light 
hit Jake, she ran for him, to protect him.

Scully and Mulder watched, but were unable to move.  Jake and Stella 
disappeared in the light and when it is was gone the rain stopped.  
Mulder looked up to the sky, the dark, looming clouds were gone.  A 
few sparse cumulus remained.  The ground was wet and muddy from the 
rain, they were both soaking wet.  Scully seemed shell shocked, she 
couldn't hide the tears welling up in her eyes.  Mulder could see 
them mixed with the rain drops, he reached out and pulled her to him. 
 

***

Mulder sat at his desk a few days later, staring at the two passages 
that belonged to the Cavendish clan.  He'd never know the answer, 
they'd never know what happened to Jake and Stella.  Unless he 
returned, but Mulder didn't think that likely.  Scully had been torn 
between a life with Jake and a life with him and the X-Files.  He 
loved her, he needed her, as selfish as that is, he was glad she was 
with him.  "I hope you made the right choice, Scully."  Mulder said 
aloud to no one.  He slipped the papers into the folder and took the 
report off his printer to join them.  Then he placed the folder in 
the file cabinet with the other X-Files.

********************

The Cavendish Door IV  1/5
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
February 16, 1997

********************


Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door III.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.  Thanks to Bronwyn for her persistence.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

Spoilers: None
Rating:  Strong R for sexual content.
Classification :  F,C,X,T,S, MSR
Summary:  Mulder can't leave the 'door' alone and crosses to Jake's 
world.  Meanwhile, Scully battles a deadly virus in her own world, 
needing Mulder to bring the antiserum.

Disclaimer:  The characters and situations of the television program 
"The X-Files" 
are the creations and property of Chris Carter,  Fox Broadcasting, 
and Ten Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission.  
No copyright infringements are intended.  This work is not to be 
forwarded or distributed to any newsgroup, FTP, or WWW site without 
the permission of the author.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Four Months Ago

It was cold and raining as Jake fell to his knees.  The crossing 
hadn't been as easy this time.  The door didn't open for him to just 
walk through, this time it jerked him back.  Stella whined and licked 
Jake's face as if to assure herself he was all right.  He sat flat 
and looked around, breathing heavily, seeing his own breath in the 
air as he expelled it.  He had landed back at the spot in which he'd 
left.  An old part of Seattle, empty red brick buildings with broken 
windows and deserted streets.  The headache growing stronger each 
time he opened his eyes.  Stella whined periodically, her master not 
responding.  He sat for a long time, trying not to think of anything, 
trying to breath deeply, trying to alleviate the pounding in his head.
  

Finally Jake reached out for Stella and ran his hand over her head.  
"It's all right, girl.  We're home, I think.  Let's get out of here." 
 He stood slowly and after a few seconds he realized his footing was 
strong, so they began walking.  He rounded the corner and the street 
was familiar to him.  Two cardboard boxes covering the homeless from 
the cold and rain on his right, eyes peeking out from beyond watched 
him pass by.  It took him and Stella another two hours to get home, 
dusk settling quickly around them.  As he stood at the front door of 
his loft, he suddenly wondered if it was still his loft.  He'd been 
gone for over six months, no one had known where he'd been.  What if 
they had declared him dead and closed his business, packed up his 
belongings?  For a moment, he didn't want to open the door.  He 
feared it.

Jake put the key in the lock and breathed a sigh of relief when it 
turned.  He opened the door and went in.  Nothing had changed, the 
loft looked just as it had when he left.  Stella trotted in after him 
and went from room to room, no one else was there.  The fruit in the 
bowl on the counter was bad and smelled and the bread was moldy, but 
he thought it funny that it wasn't as bad as he'd thought.  The 
message light on his answering machine was blinking and he pressed 
the flashing red light.  His secretary, Joan, had called, wondering 
where he was.  John, the foreman on his last job needed a bid.  A 
couple of calls from a friend.  But that was all.  No one seemed 
overly concerned and it saddened him a bit.  He jumped as the ringing 
of the phone startled him.  "Yeah."  He answered.

"Jake?  Is that you?"  A woman's voice.

"Yeah, Joan, how's it going?"  How was he going to explain where he's 
been?

"Everything's fine, Jake.  I sure hope you enjoyed your little 
vacation, you've got so much work stacked up, it's going to take you 
another three weeks just to get caught up."

"Three weeks?"  He was puzzled, he'd been gone for more than six 
months.

"I wish you'd at least let me know when you go on these little jaunts,
 Jake.  I can hold everyone off if you'd let me in on things."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Joan.  It was the spur of the moment thing, you 
know?"  How long was he gone, anyway?  "Joan, when was I last in the 
office?"

"Jake, are you all right?"  She waited for a positive response before 
continuing.  "It was a little over three weeks ago.  You left on 
Thursday, called in on Friday, said you wanted a little time off and 
I haven't heard from you since.  Where'd you go anyway?"

"Look, Joan, I'll tell you about it someday.  I'm still on vacation, 
if anyone's looking for me.  I'll be in the office next week, you 
think you can hold them off for a few more days?"  She was the best 
secretary he'd ever had.

"Sure, Jake.  Say hello to Stella for me and I'll see you next week." 


Jake placed the receiver down and looked down at Stella.  "Joan says 
hi, girl."  He knelt down and scratched behind her ears.  "Three 
weeks, Stella, we were only gone three weeks."

*****
Present Day

Mulder sat at his desk and frowned over the file lying under his nose.
  It'd been several months since Jake vanished in a brilliant flash 
of light and it still bewildered Mulder.  He needed to know what had 
happened.  Too many people had vanished and never returned, save one. 
 Scully.  What was beyond this Cavendish Door?   Where was this other 
world?  Mulder had to find out, it was his nature.  Anything beyond 
the normal realm of day to day life was his for the taking.  He 
yearned for it.  He'd been passe about this for fear of loosing 
Scully to it.  She almost hadn't made it back.  What did the second 
incantation mean, anyway?  Could it be that Jake could never again 
cross to this world, or could he never make it back home and was now 
in some suspended universe.  A state of being between here and there. 
 Or could it mean Scully could never go back, having been there once. 
 He read the two passages again.

"End of thy time nears
 Thy paths forsaken 
 As thy wish, thy want
 Thy shall begin again."

"Choose thy path carefully
Evil is at hand
Thy door opens once
To begin again
Thy door opens twice
To begin no more"

Mulder knew he should let it go, but he couldn't.  He had to find out.
  There were at least two 'doorways' that they knew of.  Both in Dott,
 PA.  One at the brownstone and the second in the field between Dott 
and Harrisburg.  How many more were there?  Mulder looked at his 
watch, 8:15, Scully should be in at any moment now.  He placed the 
papers back in the folder and slipped it into the manila envelope.  
He would investigate later.

As if on cue Scully walked into the office.  "Morning, Mulder."  She 
greeted him professionally.  Their relationship was as strong as ever,
 but at the office they agreed to remain as professional as they had 
been before.  "What are you up to?"  She noticed the guilty look on 
his face.

She could read him like a book.  Mulder blushed slightly and tried to 
cover it up.  "Nothing, Scully, I'm just glad to see you, that's all.
"  He said as he walked over to her and stole a kiss on the cheek.

"Ok, now I know you're hiding something.  Give it up, what is it?"  
She demanded.

"You've been around me too long, Scully, you're getting paranoid."  
He grinned at her.

Scully hesitated, watching him carefully.  Maybe it was just her 
imagination.  "You do remember I'm teaching a special class at 
Quantico this week, don't you?"

He remembered, in fact he was counting on it.  It would give him some 
free time to look into other things.  He didn't want to deceive her, 
he just didn't want to worry her.  Or make her mad.  "Yeah, I 
remember."  Mulder turned on his best puppy dog look.  "I'm going to 
miss you."  He pouted.

She smiled.  It was good that he'd miss her.  "I'll be back on Friday,
 it's only three days."  Scully was packing a few files into her 
briefcase.  "I've left some things in the freezer if you get hungry 
and don't want to cook."  She stopped and looked at him.  "You can 
stay at my place if you want."  She said hopefully, she wanted him 
there, she wanted to know he was near even if she wasn't there.  
Scully smiled.

Mulder stared into her eyes for a moment, then walked to the door and 
turned the lock.  As he turned back to her, he had a mischievous grin 
on his face and slowly came to her.

"Mulder, we're at work now."  She warned him as he put his arms 
around her.

"Work is taking you away for three whole days.  I'm just stealing a 
couple of minutes."  He pulled her to him and lowered his head to 
kiss her.

She tilted her head up but he pulled away slightly, the corner of his 
mouth turning up just a bit, knowing she wanted it.  "Quit teasing me,
 Mulder, or you're going to be standing here alone."

He knew that was right and leaned down and kissed her.

*****

Mulder did stay at Scully's that night.  And he did miss her.  He 
could smell her fragrance on the bedding as he had laid staring at 
the ceiling.  She would be so mad if she knew where he was headed.  
He was on his way to Dott to see if he could talk Elsa out of that 
book one more time.  He felt a little guilty but rationed that it was 
for her own good.  Once again he was about to ditch her.

He borrowed the book and took it to the local library where he could 
copy some of the pages.  He spent more than four hours reading the 
journal.  There were more than the two 'incantations'.  He noticed 
another one in particular.

"Thy time is not mine
Nor are thy laws of nature
We have come from afar
Only to further venture"

His memory went back to the Kindred and he made the correlation's.  
The Amish appearance, 'Thy time is not mine'.  The rituals of 
changing sex, 'Nor are thy laws of nature'.  The circles in the crop 
fields, 'We have come from afar'.  Their sudden disappearance, 'Only 
to further venture'.  Were they involved in this 'door'?  Jake 
certainly didn't say anything had appeared different from when he 
left.  Of course he was only ten at the time.  How much did a ten 
year old boy know about the world anyway.

He was surprised at how he could have missed these passages.  He was 
usually so thorough.  Were they even here when he first looked?  He 
began to wonder.  He left the library and took the book back to Elsa. 
 She led him to the room that held all the books.  He stayed for a 
little while and rummaged through them.  

"What are you looking for, young man?"  Elsa was so quiet coming into 
the room, he jumped at the sound of her voice.

"Just a little more information about the Cavendish family, Elsa.  I 
appreciate your letting me go through the records."  He gave her one 
of his best smiles.

Her bright blue eyes lit up.  "Ah, yes, the Cavendish Clan.  That's 
what you were after before, with your friends."  He smiled and nodded 
again.  "Where are your friends now, Mr. Mulder?"

"They have other things to do.  This is just an interest of mine."  
He answered, head down in another book.

There was a long pause of silence as Elsa contemplated her next 
statement.  "Thinking of crossing, are we?"  She asked slowly and 
deliberately.

Mulder looked up sharply.  "Excuse me?"

"I believe you heard me, Mr. Mulder.  Be warned, it is very dangerous 
at this time."  She said coyly.

"What do you mean, Elsa?  What do you know about it?"  She knew, she 
was one.  "Who are you?"

"I'm an old woman, Mr. Mulder.  Just a tired old woman who's seen a 
lot of life."  She suddenly looked tired.  Her bright eyes dimming.

"What have you seen?"  He wasn't letting her go just yet.  Mulder 
stood and began to pace.

"I've seen 'them', coming and going.  The ones you seek."  She was 
being very cryptic.  "They don't age as quickly, oh, the ones they 
take age as we do, but the originals ...... "  Elsa's voice tapered 
off, she was shaking her head and her eyes seemed to glaze over.

"How many do they take?"  Mulder asked.

She looked up at him, debating whether to continue or not.  "I don't 
really know, a few a year.  I don't know why and I don't know how 
they pick them.  I don't even know where else in the world they come 
into.  I suppose they take our people to help populate their world."

He saw tears forming in the old woman's eyes.  "Who are the originals?
  Where did they come from?"

"I can only guess, as you can.  They come from 'afar'."  She smiled.  
"Take that any way you want."   Again, she looked off to the distance,
 her mind wandering.

"Elsa, what did you mean, they don't age as we do?"  He sat down, 
close to her, trying to keep her mind in the here and now.

"They stay young, they look the same, they don't get old."  She 
sighed.  "I envy them, yet pity them at the same time."

"Why is it dangerous now?"

Her eyes darted to and away from him.  "I can feel it.  Something new 
is happening, I can't explain it.  It's in the air, Mr. Mulder, I've 
seen it once before, during the war.  There's always death and 
destruction surrounding it."

Mulder ran his hand through his hair.  "How long have they been here?
"

Elsa looked up into his eyes, fear shining though.  "Mr. Mulder, 
'they've' been here for a long, long time." 

He'd heard that before.

*****
Four Months Ago

"What do you plan to do, Nathan?"  Thomas Anderson waited for his 
boss to respond.

Nathan Lewis stared out the window of the high rise, arms folded 
across his chest.  Nathan was a tall man, about forty five, dark eyes 
and dark hair to match his dark disposition.  "If Mulder crosses, we 
have to destroy him."

"Do you think that's wise, Nathan?"  

Nathan turned sharply.  "Are you questioning my decisions, Thomas?"  
His voice deep and menacing.

He was rather ominous in his dark, crisp business suit.  Thomas knew 
it was a stupid thing to say.  "No,  no, Nathan, not at all.  What 
ever you say, it's fine.  We'll do it."

"I want the other one, too.  He's served his purpose. I'm getting 
tired of dealing with this problem."  Nathan sat behind the huge desk,
 the window to his back.  "Things are getting out of hand.  Too many 
are aware of the doors, we have to close them for a while.  Limit the 
access to only those necessary."

"Yes, Nathan."  That's all Thomas was, a yes man.  He was there to do 
what Nathan told him to.  "I'll see to it."

"Do we have Casey in place?"

"Yes, she'll be meeting him today."  Thomas didn't like this plan, 
but there was nothing he could do about it.  Yet.

"Good."  Nathan dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

*****

Jake slept till noon the next day.  He didn't realize he'd been so 
tired.  Stella must have been, too, for she didn't attempt to awaken 
him at all.  As he fixed himself something to eat, he wondered how 
he'd spent his life just living.  Why didn't he notice anything odd 
about this place?  Why didn't his adoptive parents tell him anything? 
 What about Alex, where had she come from?

It was mid afternoon before he left the house, Stella close on his 
heels.  He wasn't sure where to start.  The library was his first 
stop.  He wanted to check out the history of the local area.  
Normally dogs are not allowed, but one smile from Jake and the 
librarian looked away and allowed Stella in.  She was good dog, a 
good friend to Jake.  Within two hours, Jake had a dozen books open 
and lying in front of him.  But he wasn't sure what to look for, he'd 
know it when he found it.

Something caught the corner of his eye and forced him to look up from 
his studies.  A woman had entered the library.  A small petite woman 
with fiery red hair cut just above shoulder length.  She was the 
image of Dana Scully.  He stared, mouth agape, his mind reeling.  She 
was walking toward him.

"Hi."  She smiled demurely as she walked passed him.

He was dumbfounded, this was obviously not Dana, but it was too close 
for comfort.  He nodded as his eyes followed her.  She glanced back 
at him once, a little blush crept over her face as he continued to 
stare.  

She stopped and slowly turned, then walked back to Jake.  "Is there 
something I can do for you?"  She smiled mischievously.

Jake stood and turned a shade of red he'd never been before.  "I'm 
sorry, it's just.., well, you look like someone I know."  He'd never 
been speechless before either.  Stella stood next to Jake and a low 
grumble came from her.  Something wasn't right.

The woman hesitated, staring at Stella.  Jake reprimanded Stella.  
"Hey girl, it's all right."  He patted her and said to the woman, 
"I'm sorry, she's not usually like this."

The woman smiled, then pulled out the chair across from Jake and sat 
down.  "My name is Casey.  Casey Parker."

"Hi, Casey.  I'm sorry for being such an ass, staring and all."  Jake 
felt a strong attraction to this woman.  Was it just because she 
looked like Dana?  "I'm Jake Saunders."

"You're forgiven ....   Jake."  Her smile captivated him.  "Are you 
finding what you're looking for?"  She motioned to the stacks of open 
books.

"Well, not really.  What I need is an historian." He couldn't look 
away from those deep blue eyes and full red lips.

"You're in luck, I have a degree in history and I grew up here.  What 
are you looking for?"  She began flipping through one of the books.

Jake's sixth sense kicked in and he suddenly became wary.  Did he 
want to trust this woman?  God, he was more like Mulder than he cared 
to be.  "Nothing really, just a little history about the founding 
fathers.  I'm an architect and thought about a dedication for my 
current project."

"Yes, you do wonderful things."  She looked up at him and smiled.

"So you've heard of my work?"  Jake's work was well known but he 
stayed pretty much out of the lime light.

"Yes, aside from being a history major, I'm a fan of great 
architecture."

Jake smiled, still a little unsure of this woman.  But she seemed to 
be able to hold his attention, he was still unable to look away.

"Would you like to get a cup of coffee?  Maybe I can help you with 
what you're looking for."  She was seductive in her mannerisms.

As unsure as he was, Jake couldn't refuse her.  He seemed to be under 
some sort of spell.  He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't 
turn her down.  It was as if she was the puppeteer pulling all the 
strings and he could only follow.

"Perhaps we could spend the day together."  Her smile was almost evil,
 yet he suddenly wanted to cover that mouth with his own.

*****
End of Part 1




>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Tue Feb 18 00:37:49 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door III.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.  Thanks to Bronwyn for her persistence.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

Spoilers: None
Rating:  Strong R for sexual content.
Classification :  F,C,X,T,S, MSR
Summary:  Mulder can't leave the 'door' alone and crosses to Jake's 
world.  Meanwhile, Scully battles a deadly virus in her own world, 
needing Mulder to bring the antiserum.

Disclaimer:  See Part 1.

********************

The Cavendish Door IV  2/5
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
February 16, 1997

********************

Present Day

Jake stood in the bedroom, watching Casey turn down the bed.  How the 
hell did he end up here?  He'd only met this woman a few months ago.  
Did he really know her?  Oh, he knew the body, the hair, the eyes, 
the mouth.  They were Dana Scully.  But this woman was not Dana 
Scully.  Even with that knowledge, he couldn't refuse her.  They had 
spent a lot of time together, it was as if he were with Dana again.  
But something wasn't right, Jake didn't like it, the strings were 
being pulled.  Casey walked over to him and put her hands against his 
chest.  It was as if he was watching from outside his body.  His 
breath quickened, his body reacted even though his mind resisted.

"Jake."  She whispered.  His eyes looked down upon her face, she was 
standing so close, running her hands over his chest, his arms.  He 
couldn't resist any longer, he was being pulled to her.  Jake lowered 
his head bringing his mouth to hers.  Their kiss was strong and 
passionate.  They were suddenly frenzied, tearing at each others 
clothes.  His mouth still against hers, he pushed her to the bed and 
they fell together.  

Her mind was reeling, she was on assignment, but she was so attracted 
to this man.  Had been for a long time.  It took a lot of control to 
be with him for so long without being able to do this.  She didn't 
mind this assignment at all.  It took her two years of studying Dana 
Scully's mannerisms to get it down right.  It was finally paying off. 
 She smiled to herself at her ability to manipulate his mind, his 
body, his will.  She'd had this ability for many years and it still 
amazed her.

Suddenly, he felt in control of his actions, but he didn't want to 
stop what he was doing.  He wanted her.  She looked like Dana, she 
even smelled like Dana.  He buried his reasoning deep down inside and 
let his emotions take over.  Jake hovered over her, tenderly touching 
her shoulders and let his fingers tickle her arms.  He felt her 
shiver and tremble beneath him.  It excited him.  

She didn't release total control, but wondered if he really wanted 
her.  She would never know with total control of his mind, she had to 
know that he would go willingly, but couldn't take the chance right 
now.  She let go little by little and was pleasantly surprised to 
find him responding on his own.  Casey started at the sudden movement 
from him.  His forcefulness frightened her and excited her at the 
same time.  He went from urgent to gentle in a brief moment.  She 
sighed as his fingertips caressed her.  He held her arms above her 
head and brought his mouth to hers, rubbing his body against hers.  
She arched upward and moaned.  Jake released her hands and nibbled 
her neck before moving down.  He teased her with his mouth, her body 
writhed beneath him.  She urged him on with both her body and her 
powers, she wanted him.  Their lovemaking took another turn for 
urgency and it was over almost as quickly as it began.  Casey had to 
fight to retain control, he had left her breathless.  She skirted out 
from under him and lay on her back.  Watching him as he lay with his 
eyes closed, she reached out to him.

His eyes were a bit glazed when he opened them to see her staring at 
him.  A brief thought went through his mind.  'What am I doing?'  
Jake felt the feathery touch of her fingertips running down his back 
and arm.  He shivered.  The passion returned, he couldn't control 
himself, why was he doing this?  This time he didn't feel the 
desperation, the need, so strongly.  This time he moved slowly.  He 
reached up and kissed her mouth, slow and hungry.  His hand moving 
over her stomach, her breast.  Jake felt himself moving but it didn't 
feel real, it was like a dream.  His mouth moved away from hers as he 
began kissing her neck and moved lower.  As he took her nipple in his 
mouth, he gently sucked, causing Casey to arch her back and moan 
loudly.  He felt her tremble beneath him.  It excited him to have 
this kind of power over a woman.  She called to him.  "Jake, I want 
you."  Her hands working their magic over him.  He moved above her 
and kissed her again as they merged.

When Jake awoke he was alone in his bed.  He groaned and rubbed his 
face.  Stella came to the side of the bed and whined, licking her 
masters face.  "What the hell happened?"  Jake said aloud.  He walked 
around in a daze, wondering where Casey was.  It was close to dusk, 
he took Stella for a walk, he didn't remember when she'd been out 
last.  Jake stopped by his favorite Chinese restaurant for take out 
as they headed back home.  He felt his head would split in two as 
they worked their way back to his loft.  Three aspirins taken with 
dinner might do the trick.

*****

Mulder stood in the middle of the field and looked around.  He was in 
the right spot, he remembered the landmarks surrounding it.  The 
trees, the hills, they were all familiar.  He wanted to go, he felt 
he had to go.  What was stopping him?  The possibility of not 
returning.  Scully was all he had, he was curious, he needed to find 
out, but at what cost?   The phrase would not come.  As he looked 
around, he noticed the clouds forming overhead, the wind was picking 
up.  It hadn't looked like a storm was coming earlier.  Was he going 
to be dragged in like Jake was?  No, Jake had spoken the passage.  He 
took a deep breath and decided not to speak.  It would have to be 
another day.  Mulder turned toward the car and in the blink of an eye,
 it disappeared.  He flinched at the bright light that flashed and 
swept over him.  If anyone had been watching, they would've seen what 
might have been pain on Mulder's face.  The next thing he knew, he 
was awakening in an alleyway of a deserted street, more than a 
million mil
s from home.

*****

"Damn it!  Who brought him?"  Nathan was furious.  How the hell did 
he get here?  He knew Mulder made the conscious decision not to come. 
 Someone brought him anyway.  "I want to know who's responsible!"

Thomas didn't like it.  Nathan was extremely unpredictable when he 
was angry.  "Sir, I'll find out.  We'll take care of the problem."

"Do it!  I don't want anymore trouble." Nathan turned away.  "And 
close all the doors, no one comes or goes!"

Casey smiled as she waited for Nathan in the outer office.  She had 
always been afraid of Nathan, maybe by bringing Mulder here she could 
finally get away from this place.  She wanted to go home.  She hadn't 
intended to use Jake, she actually loved him.  But her desire to 
leave this place was stronger than anything else.  When the intercom 
rang, she became suddenly afraid again.

Casey stood in front of Nathan's desk.  She was standing firm even 
though her nerves were on edge.  Nathan could kill her if he so chose.
  "Nathan."  She couldn't control him.  When she first arrived here 
as a child, they'd performed their experiments.  Her mind became more 
useful, she developed powers.  But as a child, she had been unaware 
that not everyone had these powers.  Nathan had taught her how to use 
them, how to control them.

He raised his hand, it meant silence.  His silences could break down 
even the strongest of people.  He sat back in his chair and looked 
Casey over.  "You let me down, Casey.  We put a lot of time into you. 
 You said you could handle the job.  We needed Saunders dead."  His 
voice was too smooth.  

That had been her assignment and for the past few months, Nathan had 
been patient.  He wanted to find out what Jake knew.  Now it had been 
time to dispose of him, only she couldn't do it.

"Nathan, it's not ...."  The hand went up again and she bit her 
tongue.

He pressed a button on his phone and Thomas came into the room.  
Nathan motioned to the two chairs and both Casey and Thomas sat down. 
 Nathan stood and walked to the front of the desk and sat on the edge.
  His eyes went from Thomas to Casey and back.  With a nod of his 
head, Thomas began speaking.

"I've closed all the accesses, no one can get through.  I've had a 
few complaints from the other side, but none of an urgent nature.  
The damage has been controlled."  He looked to Casey.  "We just have 
to take care of Saunders and Mulder, it's a workable situation."

Nathan nodded, still processing the situation in his mind.  "When our 
people opened these doors to travel to other worlds, they didn't 
intend on them being swinging doors and they certainly didn't intend 
them being used in the manner in which we use them.  They have been 
kept hidden from the other worlds for thousands of years.  They've 
brought us a hell of a lot of money and power.  I don't intend for 
that to stop.  This is not going to be spoiled by a couple of nosy 
paranoids."  He began to pace, running his hand across his chin.  "I 
knew we took a big chance when we brought Mulder's partner here.  We 
took care of a few things for their government but they've gotten too 
cocky.  I think we need to put them in their place, too."

"Sir, if I might suggest."  Thomas waited for the nod.  "Maybe we can 
send something there way they can't control.  We have a few 
experimental biological agents to be used in warfare, perhaps a small 
town as ground zero.  We can contain it, issue the antiserum at the 
right time."

"I like it."  Nathan was nodding.  He took his seat and looked at 
Casey.  "I want you to deliver it."

Casey had to fight from reacting.  The assignment seemed simple 
enough, but Nathan would find a way to kill her.  She had to take the 
first opportunity to get out.  She gave a slight nod.  Nathan waved 
his hand, that was her cue to exit.  If she wasn't watched too 
closely she might be able work something out.  She could kill 
Saunders and Mulder if she chose to, but somehow she knew she'd need 
them eventually.  Now was the time.

When the door closed, Thomas turned back to Nathan.  "You want me to 
handle her?"

"Yes, get it ready, I want it to go tomorrow morning."  Nathan smiled.
  "And Thomas?"  Thomas looked up again.  "She'll be patient zero."

*****

The sun had just gone down and Mulder had no idea where he was.  His 
cell phone didn't work and the surroundings were unfamiliar.  He 
began to have his suspicions.  Mulder had walked a number of blocks 
before deciding he couldn't just keep walking.  He spotted a phone 
booth at the corner and raced to it.  The phone book was hanging from 
a chain and he tossed the book onto the small platform beneath the 
old style rotary pay phone.  He found two listings, one for Saunders 
Architecture and another for Jake Saunders.  There were plenty of 
Saunders, but only one Jake, he took the chance it was the same.  
Mulder picked up the receiver and began dialing.  The corner was well 
lit and he was no longer in the deserted alleyway, there were a 
number of people passing him by.  One in particular caught his eye.  
A petite red head.  Small in stature, hair, a copper red, hung 
shoulder length.  She wore a maroon business suit with a white blouse 
and sensible shoes.  'Scully?!'  He replaced the receiver and ran 
after her.

"Scully!"  He called as he ran to catch up to her.  Mulder grabbed 
her arm.  "Scully?"

"Excuse me?"   The red head turned, trying to pull away from the tall 
man who had grabbed her.

"I ....  I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."  Mulder was out 
of breath and let go the woman's arm as he started walking back to 
the phone booth.  He could have sworn that was Scully.  But why would 
she be here?  She was at Quantico.  Wasn't she?

Mulder tore the page from the phone book and tried dialing the number.
  He hung up when the answering machine picked up.  Not really 
knowing where to go, he began walking.  A diner sat a block away and 
he made his way to that.  A cup of hot coffee would taste good right 
now.  He went in a sat in a booth near the front window.

The waitress was smiling as she brought a coffee pot and mug to him.  
"Jake! I haven't seen you in a while.  What have you been up to?"

This might be easier than he thought.  "I'm afraid you have me 
confused with someone else.  But actually I'm looking for a Jake 
Saunders, you know him?"

"Yes, it's amazing, the resemblance between you two."  She poured the 
coffee as he pushed the mug forward.  "I hope you understand, I can't 
just give out his address to anyone."  She smiled.

"I have his address, I just need directions, if you can help me."  He 
smiled, knowing most women couldn't resist his charm.

*****

Casey was waiting on Jake when he got home.  Standing outside the 
gate, smiling, but Jake saw something in that smile.  "Hi, what 
happened to you this afternoon?"

"I had a few things to take care of, I hope you weren't too 
disappointed."  Casey smiled again.  "You weren't feeling too well, 
so I let you sleep.  Are you doing ok now?"

Jake nodded, still eyeing her curiously.  He unlocked the gate and 
motioned her ahead.  Stella followed, she'd gotten used to Casey.  
She no longer thought of the woman as a threat.

Jake set up the dinner he had picked up and they shared the cashew 
chicken.  Casey didn't say much, just small talk.  He was mystified 
by the woman, how much she looked like Scully.  He'd grown very fond 
of her, but still didn't know much about her at all.  "Who are you, 
Casey?  What are you doing here?  What do you want with me?"

Casey was strongly attracted to Jake, not to mention, he was her 
ticket out.  She knew Nathan would kill her the first chance he got.  
He would also set out to kill Jake, she wanted to stop it.  She had 
to tell him tonight.  Why would he believe her?  "Jake."  Her voice 
was but a whisper.  How could she tell him how much she loved him, 
how she was supposed to have killed him but couldn't do it?   She 
walked over to him and stood very close.  Her breathing quickened 
just by being next to him.  She searched his eyes and leaned up to 
kiss him.

He was swept away again.  Jake took her in his arms and kissed her.

*****

He walked several blocks and came upon what looked like a warehouse 
section, near the railways.  Mulder heard the train nearby.  As he 
neared the door, he saw a dark figure coming from the gate.  He 
pulled his gun as the man spotted him and took off.  He followed him 
for a block then lost him to the darkness.  Mulder went back to the 
loft and cautiously entered.  The gate was open and he went up the 
first flight of stairs to the elevator.  It was a typical warehouse 
lift, an open freight style elevator.  He stepped in, pulled down the 
outer door and pressed the button.  It opened directly into the loft. 
 

Stella was waiting for him as he entered the main room.  She nudged 
him and whined and trotted across the room as if she wanted him to 
follow her.  Then he heard a noise from the other room.  Mulder had 
his gun out and was ready.  The front room was dark, he noticed the 
miniature city with tiny white lights scattered about in one corner.  
He had to cross a large open area that surrounded a basketball hoop, 
he looked around and followed the wall to the door of the bedroom.  
Stella was at the door, whining, scratching.  Mulder hesitated, after 
all he really didn't know that Jake was in trouble.  The man in the 
front might not have been inside at all.  He slowly turned the knob 
and pushed, the door swung open.  Mulder called out.  "FBI!  Hands in 
the air!"  Mulder lowered his gun when he saw the two in bed.  Jake 
and a small petite red head.  Scully?!.  'Oh God!'  His heart 
shattered like a bullet cutting through glass.  He was dumbfounded, 
confused, angry, hurt.  And mistaken.

Mulder stared for a moment, his mouth agape.  Then he turned and 
walked out of the room, not knowing how to take this.  How the hell 
did she get here?  When did she get here?  He'd never get that 
picture out of his mind.  Scully in bed with another man!  He still 
had his gun in his hand as Jake came out of the bedroom.

"What the hell are you doing?  You shouldn't have come."   He said to 
Mulder, pacing across the open floor.  "How did you find me?  I told 
you, you have no idea what you're dealing with.  You just might not 
make it back, don't you understand that?"  Jake wasn't as angry as he 
was concerned.  

"Yeah, well, I didn't exactly come of my own free will."  Mulder 
replied, anger building inside him.  "There was someone coming out of 
the gate, he ran when he saw me.  I thought he'd broken in."  He 
wasn't comfortable with Jake at all.  In fact he wanted to do harm to 
this man, it was hard to keep his anger in check.  "I want to talk to 
Scully."  He said in a low menacing tone.

Jake was frowning with a puzzled look on his face.  Casey.  "Mulder, 
that's not Dana."  He turned to see Casey standing in the doorway.  
She was dressed in her jeans and his shirt, hanging to her knees.  
Her arms folded across her chest, her hair disheveled.  Now was the 
moment of truth, it was time to tell them of the dangers.  The two of 
them could get her home.

Mulder did a double take.  It was Scully.  The hair, the eyes, the 
curve of her body, he'd had these things memorized.  How could it not 
be her?  He closed his eyes in an involuntary reaction to another 
flash of the scene of her and Jake, together.

"Mulder, this Casey Parker."

"Who are you?"  Hybrid is the first thing that came to mind.  A clone.
  What did they do?

Jake didn't give her a chance to answer.  "Why are you here, Mulder?  
What are looking for, why couldn't you just leave well enough alone?  
I've got enough to deal with without having to keep your butt out of 
the fire."  Jake was mad.

"I can take care of myself, Saunders."  Mulder said sharply.  Then he 
sighed.  "I needed to know.  I needed to know what this place was, 
where you went.  I couldn't let it go."

Jake nodded, he understood.  "We need to get you back.  Do you 
remember where you came in?"

"I'm not going back just yet."

"The hell you say!  Damn it, Mulder, you're going to get us both 
killed!"

"There are answers here, Saunders.  Answers, I've been looking for my 
whole life.  I'm not leaving until I find them."  Mulder was yelling. 
 Then he quieted and turned to Casey.  "You know something, don't you?
"

"They'll be coming, we have to leave."  Casey said.  Jake turned 
sharply towards her in amazement.

"Who, who's coming?" Mulder asked.

"I have to get out now."  Casey gathered her purse and keys.  "I'll 
meet you back here in an hour.  Maybe I can stop them."  She ignored 
the pleading from the two men.  

Jake grabbed her as she stepped into the elevator.  "Wait!  Casey!  
What's going on?"

"I have to stop them, Jake, they're going kill you and Mulder and me 
if I don't stop them."  She pulled away.  "I'll be back."

They were silent as the elevator descended and she was gone.

"Saunders, look...."

"My name is Jake, I'm not you, Mulder.  I have a first name, use it." 
 Jake shouted, he was edgy.  Stella ran up to him, worried about her 
master.

"Who was she, Jake?"

Before he had a chance to answer, a noise came from below.  From the 
window, Jake saw two men in black exit a car and walk up to the gate. 
 He motioned to Mulder to follow him.  Stella was close behind as 
they headed for the corner of the room.  Jake opened a tiny door in 
the very back, a staircase appeared in a dark stairwell.  "I had this 
built in case the elevator quit working."  He whispered to Mulder.  
The stairwell opened in the far corner of the loft behind the 
miniature city.  The room had some light coming in from the windows, 
but was dark in this corner.  They listened for movement, the two men 
quietly stepped off the elevator and seeing no one in the front room, 
headed for the rear of the loft.

Mulder pulled his gun and stepped in front of Jake.  They made their 
way to the open floor and crossed to the other side of the room.  The 
two men came out of the bedroom talking, wondering where the hell 
their assignments were.  Mulder stepped up and yelled.  "Drop the 
weapons, hands in the air!"  But that never really worked.  One man 
raised his gun and fired, missing both Jake and Mulder, but hitting 
Mulder's gun, knocking it out of his hand.  They jumped the two men, 
trying to wrestle the weapons away, each getting in solid hits.  All 
four halted when a shot was fired across the room.

The two men look a bit relieved when they saw Casey with a gun in 
each hand pointed at Mulder and Jake.  They picked up their weapons 
and straightened themselves and spoke.  "We had it under control.  
What are you doing here anyway?"  

They were pigs.  More of Nathan's flunkies, his personal 'yes' men.  
It disgusted her.  She looked from Mulder and Jake to the two 
flunkies, then as calm as  they'd ever seen anyone, she turned the 
guns on the two thugs and fired.  Silencers prevented any noise to 
escape as the two men dropped where they stood.  In the blink of an 
eye, the guns were once more aimed at Mulder and Jake.  

*****
End of Part 2




>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Tue Feb 18 00:41:14 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door III.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.  Thanks to Bronwyn for her persistence.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

Spoilers: None
Rating:  Strong R for sexual content.
Classification :  F,C,X,T,S, MSR
Summary:  Mulder can't leave the 'door' alone and crosses to Jake's 
world.  Meanwhile, Scully battles a deadly virus in her own world, 
needing Mulder to bring the antiserum.

Disclaimer:  See Part 1.

********************

The Cavendish Door IV  3/5
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
February 16, 1997

********************

Scully left Friday morning for home.  Her lecture had gone well, she 
actually finished ahead of schedule.  She was anxious to get back to 
Mulder.  She hadn't heard from him at all and kept getting the 
machines at their homes and office when she tried reaching him.  

The apartment was empty, in fact is was alarmingly quiet.  It 
unnerved her.  Scully unpacked first, then tried Mulder's cell phone. 
 It was either turned off or the battery was dead, at any rate, she 
couldn't reach him.  She tried the office, next, but he wasn't there 
and the receptionist said she hadn't seen him for a couple of days.  
Where the hell did he run off to now?  The office was as still as the 
apartment.  She sat at his desk, not touching anything, just looking. 
 A slip of paper caught her eye.  It was sticking out from under the 
desk pad,  she pulled it out and read it.  It was the first 
incantation from the Cavendish journal.  "Damn it, Mulder!  Don't 
tell me you did what I think you did."

It was close to dark when she arrived at the field between Dott and 
Harrisburg.  Mulder's car was sitting there out in the open.  No one 
around it.  She looked around, but knew she wouldn't find anything.  
Scully pulled the piece of paper she had found on Mulder's desk from 
her pocket and read the phrase.  Nothing happened.  She turned around.
  'Maybe this isn't the location.'  She thought to herself.  No, this 
was the place.  Scully was so mad and it kept building until she had 
to release it.  "Mulder!"  she screamed at the top of her lungs.  She 
would kill him when he got back.  If he got back.

*****

Mulder and Jake stood perfectly still, waiting their turn, so to 
speak.  Jake was in shock.  How had she known these men?  Casey 
lowered the weapons and walked to them, handing each of them a gun.  
Then she pulled a third from behind her back.  They stared at her, 
waiting for some explanation.

"Casey?"  Jake spoke only her name.

"Who are these guys?"  Mulder jumped in.

Casey lowered her head and Jake thought he saw her blush slightly.  
"They were here to kill you.  I couldn't do it, so he sent them.  You 
were my assignment, I had to get you away from researching.  They 
don't want you to find out who they are."

"Who are 'they'?"  Mulder demanded.

She sighed, she wasn't going to get out of this without some sort of 
explanation.  But it didn't have to be the whole truth.  "They're 
just a group of business men, Mulder.  They want their investments 
protected."

"I want it all, I want to know what the hell's going on and I want to 
know where the hell we are."   Silence filled the room.  "I'm 
listening."  Mulder was adamant, he wanted answers.

Casey hesitated, staring out the window.  She finally turned to 
Mulder.  "I'm just trying to survive, Mulder.  I got mixed up with 
Nathan a long time ago and he's used me up.  He's out to kill me now, 
too."

"Who's this Nathan?"

"Nathan Lewis.  He's the head of a multi million dollar corporation, 
C. I.,  Cavendish Industries."

Mulder looked at Jake, his head was lowered but he was listening.  
"What do they do?"

"They create the future.  They steal things from your world.  Ideas, 
inventions, and the people they need to succeed.  They've taken 
people to help populate this world as well.  I was one of those 
people.  I was six when I was taken.  Just coming out of school, I 
only lived a couple of blocks away, a car pulled up and grabbed me.  
I was placed with Nathan's family, they wanted a little girl."  Her 
tone became bitter and biting.  

"How did you find out about all this?"  Jake finally spoke.  He'd 
been here twenty five years and had never known any of this.

Casey lowered her head and remained silent.  She sighed deeply, 
remembering her childhood.  The private hell Nathan put her through.  
"Nathan was four years older and didn't like someone stealing his 
parent's affection.  He played me against them and them against me my 
whole life.  I had no choice, he had me in so deep before I even 
realized, that I couldn't get out."

"Why do you look like Scully?"  Mulder asked softly.

"They thought it would be the best way to get to you, Mulder.  When 
she was here a few years ago ....."

"A few years ago!  She was here?!"  Mulder grabbed Casey by the arm.  
"What did they do to her?"

Once again, Casey hesitated, struggling to pull away from Mulder.  It 
was all so complicated and she didn't have all the answers.

"What did they do to her?!"  Mulder raised his tone.  

Casey jumped at his voice and began pacing.  "I don't know, I wasn't 
involved in that, I don't know!"  Tears began falling.  "All I know 
is that they held her for your government, as a favor.  They 
performed tests on her, like they do some of the others they bring 
over.  Radiation testing to produce superovulation, implants to help 
them keep track of her, like tagging them.  They did this to a lot of 
women, to create their version of a perfect specimen.  Their perfect 
soldiers.  They're afraid of you, Mulder and I don't know why."

He'd scared her, she turned inward, not saying anything or looking at 
anyone.  Mulder hit a door facing in anger.  Jake, at the moment, was 
the only level headed one in the room, other than Stella. "Look, 
Mulder, what do you want to accomplish here?  She wasn't the one who 
took Dana, tone it down."

"Where are we, what is this place?"  Mulder looked defeated, tired, 
so tired.

Casey took a deep breath and began again.  "Best I can figure, a long 
time ago, the people of this world figured out how to 'transport' 
themselves to far off places.  They were able to open gateways 
through the heavens, through the stars.  We are on a world millions 
of miles from your earth.  I don't know how many other worlds they 
travel to, if any.  I know they had planned to colonize on your world.
  They have many of their kind there now.  But Nathan's closed all 
the gateways.  He controls them, no one is getting through and we're 
stuck here."

Jake sat in silent astonishment.  How could this be?  How the hell 
could this have happened to him?  Why did they want him?

Casey looked from Jake to Mulder and spoke hesitantly.  "Listen,  I 
left without notice, they'll be looking for me and when Nathan can't 
find me, he'll know that I know.  I was supposed to carry a deadly 
virus to your world tomorrow morning and I think I was supposed to be 
patient zero.  They thought I was too stupid to catch on.  When they 
don't find me, he might step up the project.  If we don't get to them 
first, he could send someone tonight."  She waited for that to sink 
in.  "He has the antiserum and would release when and only when he 
felt your government buckle, but now, I just don't know what he'd do.
"

*****

"What do you mean she's gone?  Damn it, Thomas!  Do I have to do it 
all?"  Nathan was pacing.  "Find them!  If they get away, it could 
ruin us.  Do you understand!  Thousands of years of work wasted, I'm 
not letting that happen!"  Nathan's face was beet red, he was a 
madman.  "I want all available people on this."  He paced, murmuring 
to himself.

"Sir."  Thomas was afraid to speak.  "Sir."

"What!"

"Nathan, they'll come here.  Think about it.  Casey knows that all 
access has been denied.  They'll have to come here to override it."

Nathan perked up, this was promising.  They'd be walking right into 
his hands. They had to get ready.

"Get the virus.  I want it over there immediately.  And I want them 
to know why, Thomas.  Find a way."  Nathan sat back down, his fingers 
strumming on the desk.  "And get the chopper ready, I'm going to the 
compound."

*****

Casey gave directions to Mulder and they drove in silence for a while.
  It would take a good three hours to get to the main plant.  Casey 
kept glancing at Jake.  He finally asked the question burning in his 
mind.  "Why me, Casey?  Why am I involved in all this?"

"You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, Jake.  Once you met 
Dana Scully, you were targeted.  Then you became a little too curious.
"

"Why didn't you kill me?"

Casey sat next to him and turned in her seat to look at Jake.  It 
amazed her how much he and Mulder looked alike.  Her resemblance to 
Dana Scully had been surgical, theirs was natural, coincidence.  How 
could she tell him?  How could she tell him she'd been in love with 
him from the moment they met a few years ago.  They'd even gone out 
once.  But he was too distraught from the loss of Alex.  When she had 
killed herself, Jake had shut himself off from everything and 
everyone.  His secretary, Joan, had set them up on a blind date and 
she had fallen in love immediately.  Jake was so vulnerable and even 
in his state of mind, he treated her like a queen.   Casey opened her 
mouth to speak, but couldn't.  It wouldn't come as the tears flowed 
down her face.  She turned away and laid her head against the window 
and sobbed silently.

Mulder glanced at her, but left her alone.  After a couple of minutes,
 Jake placed his hand on her shoulder.  "Casey."  He spoke in a low 
voice.  When she didn't respond, he turned to Mulder.  "Mulder, can 
we stop?  I need to let Stella out for a minute."

Jake opened the door and Stella climbed out, he followed.  He walked 
around to the other side of the car and opened the door, holding out 
his hand to Casey.  She took his hand and got out.  They walked a 
little ways from the car, Stella running from tree to tree.  Mulder 
stood at the car, stretching his legs.  He didn't like this.  They 
needed to be ready for anything, it seemed that Casey might be a bit 
unstable.

After a moment Jake asked her again.  "Why didn't you kill me, Casey?
"

She took a shuddering breath before speaking.  "I met you a couple of 
years ago, Jake.  It was shortly after Alex died.  Joan set us up.  I 
followed your career, I ...  "  Casey sighed then the words flow 
quickly.  "I couldn't.  I know we only went out once, but I fell in 
love with you Jake.  These last couple of months have meant 
everything to me.  You mean everything to me.  I could never hurt you.
"  She looked up into his eyes, tears falling down her face.

He put his arms around her and pulled her to him, holding her tightly.
  Reveling in her soft red hair.  His thoughts went back to the times 
they'd been together.  He remembered being with her, how good she 
felt, how long it had been since he'd made love to a beautiful woman 
without thinking of Alex.  He made a decision, he hoped he'd be able 
to keep it.  "We're going back home, Casey and you're coming with us. 
 We don't belong here, this is not our world.  We were both ripped 
from our homes, our families.  It's not your fault, but you can help 
us.  We have to be strong if we're to get out of this alive."  He 
pulled away from her.  "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes.  Yes.  I want to go home, Jake."  He nodded.

Mulder watched them from the car.  Once again, he felt a pang of 
jealousy, anger.  The vision of Scully with this man was something he 
couldn't get rid of.  A few months ago, he'd almost lost Scully to 
this man and it had shaken him to the core of his being.  He suddenly 
wanted to get back to her, he needed to see her again.  Stella came 
up next to him and whined.  He stooped down to talk to her as he 
petted her.  "What do you think, girl?  Can we trust her?"  Stella 
licked his face in response.  "Is that a yes?"

As they drove on, Casey filled them in on how the security worked at 
the compound.  Who would be around, who they would need to avoid.

As they set outside the compound, Casey went over the layout with 
them.  "How does it work, Casey?  How do they transport people?"  
Mulder asked as he surveyed the scene through binoculars.

"I'm not completely sure.  It has to do with electromagnetic fields.  
Nathan has sensors everywhere.  They're set off  by a number of 
things.  Some use a phrase, a computer activates it based on key 
words.  Other times, Nathan plays his little games and activates it 
just to see who comes through.  He can also control it through a 
'window'.  He opens it for a brief moment and can see what's going on.
"  Casey lowered her head.  

"Who in our government is involved with this?"  Mulder wanted to know.


"I don't know, I never met any of them.  I wasn't allowed that close 
to the operations."  Casey shook her head.

"We're going to shut it down, Casey.  The doors close forever tonight.
  Can we do that?"  Mulder asked.

Casey sighed.  "I think so.  There's a main control room, but it's 
tightly guarded.  If we shut it down, we can't leave.  How are you 
going to do that?"

Mulder shook his head, he didn't know.  "There has to be a door on 
the compound.  They've got to have a secluded place for themselves to 
cross."

The compound sat on several acres a hundred miles outside the city.  
The building was a two story, half office space and half laboratory.  
It covered about half the land area, leaving the rest open space for 
security.  It was going to be hard getting into the compound.  
Surrounding the perimeter was a brick wall with electric wiring 
running along the top.  They needed a diversion.

"All right, I'm going to get a closer look and see if I can work out 
some sort of plan, stay here and stay out of sight, I'll be back."  
Mulder slid out of the car and took off toward the compound.

Jake took Casey's hand and looked into her eyes, the moment was 
awkward between them.  Casey was blushing, she tried to avoid Jake's 
glances.  He placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to 
him.  She couldn't stand the silence anymore.  Her voice was soft and 
quiet.  "I'm sorry you got caught up in this, Jake.  I truly am.  I'd 
give my life for this not to have happened."

He nodded, not knowing how to respond.  Jake didn't even remember the 
'date' they'd had a couple of years ago.  He didn't even know what 
she had looked like then.  He was so distraught after Alex had died, 
he blocked out quite a bit of his life.  But then Dana walked into 
his life and he couldn't get her out of his mind.  Here he was 
staring at an exact replica of Dana and he didn't know what to feel.  
Even her voice was Dana's.  He watched her mouth move, not hearing 
the words, just following the lips and the movement of her jaw.  He 
remembered her seductions and he shivered.  Was it just a job to her 
or did she truly feel something for him, like she said?  Could he 
love her for her or was his feelings really for Dana?

Casey knew he was staring at her.  "Please, Jake, just say it."

"When we were .....   together, was it just an assignment?"  

She turned suddenly and looked right into his eyes, her eyes full of 
tears.  "No!  No.  I could've gotten you away from the library 
without ....  "  She lowered her head.  "God!  I know you don't know 
me, but I know you."  Casey sighed.  "And I've wanted you to love me 
for a long time.  It was wrong, I'm sorry.  I'm sorry."

He hated to see her break down, to cry.  Jake kept remembering how 
she felt in his arms, the fragrance of her hair, her silky skin, her 
soft and luscious lips.  He wanted to know more about her.  
Everything happens for a reason, he believed that.  Maybe this was 
fate.  'There are more mysteries in heaven and earth than are dreamt 
of in our imagination.'  "I don't even feel this is real any more."  
He reached over and took her in his arms.  "When we get out of this, 
I want to get to know you again.  Do you think we can do that?"

He couldn't see the smile on her face as he held her, but he felt the 
nod of her head below his chin and he felt her tremble in his arms.  
Casey said a silent thank you as she answered him in a whisper.  "Yes.
"

*****
Thomas stood in a level five biological safe suit and watched the 
small man enter the chamber.  When he left, they would wash down the 
chamber to be on the safe side.  The man didn't know the vial he was 
carrying had a timer on it.  In less than a half an hour after he 
arrived, it would explode and the airborne virus would be released.  
They picked a small city, comparatively, Frederick Maryland.  It was 
close to both Washington, DC and Baltimore.  Two of the largest 
cities in the area.  'They should be sweating bullets in a little 
while.'  Thomas thought to himself.

Nathan had an office downtown but tonight he was here, at the 
compound, waiting.  They would be coming and he would be ready.  He'd 
sent most of the personnel home, this was something he had to do 
himself, with very few witnesses.  Thomas was in place and he had two 
others standing by.  No one would get by tonight.  He was actually 
looking forward to meeting the infamous Fox Mulder.  Nathan found it 
quite humorous that this man was feared by his own government.  It 
was a weak government by his standards if they couldn't contain one 
man.

*****

Mulder made his way back to the car and climbed in the seat to report 
his findings.  "As far as I can see, there's only one entrance with a 
guard.  The rest looked to be secured with a key card entry.  Do you 
have access?"  He asked Casey.

Casey smiled.  "Yes, but they'll looking for me.  I planned ahead, I 
have someone else's card.  Someone they won't expect."

"It looks too suspicious to me.  If they suspect we're coming, they'd 
have this place well staffed.  No, they're waiting for us."  He 
studied Casey, wanting to be sure she could be trusted.  There's that 
word again, trust.  Here he was, once again, looking at having to 
trust a total stranger with his life and maybe the life of millions 
at home.  "Ok, here's the plan."

*****
End of Part 3




>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Tue Feb 18 00:45:57 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door III.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.  Thanks to Bronwyn for her persistence.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

Spoilers: None
Rating:  Strong R for sexual content.
Classification :  F,C,X,T,S, MSR
Summary:  Mulder can't leave the 'door' alone and crosses to Jake's 
world.  Meanwhile, Scully battles a deadly virus in her own world, 
needing Mulder to bring the antiserum.

Disclaimer:  See Part 1.

********************

The Cavendish Door IV  4/5
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
February 16, 1997

********************

The man appeared in the set of woods on the outskirts of Frederick.  
He knew his assignment.  It would take an hour by foot to get 
downtown, but he got lucky.  A few minutes after appearing, he found 
the road to town, a car stopped and gave him a lift.  They made Main 
street in twenty minutes.  He had one foot out of the car when the 
vial exploded.  It made very little noise, like a small glass 
breaking, but Roger Gosset  knew what it was and suddenly he knew 
that he'd been sacrificed.

Roger got back in the car immediately and slammed the car door.  He 
turned to the driver, a look of panic on his face.  "You have to take 
me to local hospital, now.  We both could die in a matter of twenty 
four hours if we don't get help."  He saw the confused look in the 
man's eyes.  His voice became loud.  "Now!  I'm carrying a deadly 
virus and it's just been released, we have to get help, now."

With each breath they took, they expelled air that was dangerous to 
the populous.  This virus was an airborne pathogen, he had to keep 
exposure to a minimum.  This wasn't supposed to happen, he was 
supposed to leave it and go home.  He'd been betrayed and he wasn't 
going to let Nathan get away with it.

The driver pulled into the emergency parking.  "Keep your hand on 
that horn!"  Roger told him.  Then he pulled out paper and began 
writing.  Damage had to be kept under control.  The problem was, he 
didn't know much about the virus, he was just the delivery boy.  

As the technician reached the car, he saw the sign in the window and 
had to get close to read what Roger had written.  'Deadly virus, 
airborne.  Notify CDC and get us secured.  Less that 24 hrs to live!' 
 The technician turned ghostly pale.  "Holy shit!"

Six hours later Dana Scully was home pacing the floor, cursing Mulder,
 when the phone rang.  She jumped to get it.  "Mulder?"

"Dana, it's Carrie.  We've got something you might be interested in.  
It might have something to do with your partner."  Carrie Westerly 
had been a college friend of Dana's.  While Dana was recruited by the 
FBI, Carrie was being recruited by the Center for Disease Control.

"What is it, Carrie?"  Her voice anxious.

"We've got a virus of unknown origin.  It's airborne, it's fast and 
it's deadly.  According to who I think is our patient zero, it was 
released intentionally.  He's carrying a letter that says Agent 
Mulder is to blame for this.  Only he says it's a ruse."  A part of 
Carrie was excited by this virus.  The thought of a new strain being 
discovered fascinated her.  But she hated the fact that something so 
small, a billionth our size, could destroy the human race.

"Where are you, Carrie?  I'm coming."  Scully was half way to the 
door.

"No, Dana.  I told you it's airborne, it's too dangerous and besides 
USAMRID won't let you in.  They've got a net over the entire city."

"I'm coming anyway, Carrie.  I'm a doctor, you know I can help.  
Where are you?"  She respected USAMRID, the United States Army 
Medical Research of Infectious Diseases, but knew how tough they were 
to get around.

"I'm in Frederick Maryland, Dana.  Let me get you cleared.  They'll 
get you properly suited.  To be honest, Dana, I could use some help 
getting the cure for this one.  We have to work fast with this, 
patient zero says he'll be dead in about twelve hours."  Her voice 
was bitterly serious.

Scully watched the troops lining the streets as she was escorted to 
the hospital.  It had been turned into a base station.  The last news 
she received, there were the two original men ill and four others had 
been admitted.  In no time, she had been suited up and was standing 
next to Carrie.  Scully brought along a friend, someone that she knew 
could help.  Agent Pendrell was suited up next to her, ready to go to 
work.  He went right to work after Carrie briefed them, brought them 
up to date.  Scully wanted to see the man with the note.

"The note's gone, Dana."  Carrie informed her.

"What do you mean, it's gone?"

"USAMRID came in and took over, we're assisting on the antiserum, but 
they're handling the questioning.  They took all the evidence and 
won't talk to me."  She stopped and looked at Scully.  "I'm hoping 
you can get through.  If we can find out where this came from, Dana, 
it'll be a big help in finding the cure."

They left Pendrell working at testing serums.  Scully pushed her way 
into the ward and looked at the man inside the walls of sealed 
plastic.  She felt comfortably safe in the level five safe suit, but 
it was still unnerving to be in the middle of a deadly virus.  
Knowing that one tiny rip, one minuscule opening in the suit would 
mean certain death.  "Mr. Gosset?"  She surveyed the damage the virus 
had already done to this patient.  The virus was apparently similar 
to the Ebola virus, as he was bleeding from his eyes, nose, ears and 
mouth.  Open red sores on his body were starting to bleed.  Scully 
shut her eyes and took a deep breath.  Then fear hit her as she 
thought about that breath and expelled it quickly, as if trying 
desperately to rid herself of the enemy.

Roger turned his head slowly to look at Scully.  His voice was just a 
whisper, but he made himself be heard.  "They did this.  To teach you 
a lesson.  They can't be destroyed or controlled."  His breath was 
shallow and shaky.

"Roger, what about Agent Mulder?  Your note said he was involved.  
How?  Where is he?"  Scully asked.

"He's  ....  not here.  .....   I don't know  ......   if he's still 
alive."  He could barely get the words out.  Scully's heart jumped to 
her throat.

Carrie touched Scully's shoulder in sympathy.  Scully could feel the 
pressure through the suit and looked up at her, acknowledging the 
support and consolation.  She turned back to the patient.  "Where is 
he?"

"He's crossed ....  "

A commotion behind them caused both Scully and Carrie to turn around. 
 Three soldiers bearing weapons had entered the room with force.  
"You are here to work on the antiserum, Agent Scully.  You will exit 
the room and return to your assigned location or you will be escorted 
to the brig.  Do you understand?"  His voice was calm and matter of 
fact.  He didn't wait for an answer.  "Doctors?"  He held the plastic 
covering open for them.

Scully and Carrie looked at each other and left the room.  As they 
followed the soldiers to another wing of the hospital, they didn't 
noticed a man in a similar suit standing at the opposite end of the 
hall.  He watched the two woman turn the corner and disappear.  He 
stared at the note again and wished he could smoke in this damn suit. 
 He couldn't wait to get out of here.  He had to report his findings. 
 He had this situation contained, or so he believed, but it angered 
him for them to pull a stunt like this.  He hoped Mulder was dead on 
the other side of the universe.

*****

Casey used the fake pass card and opened one of the side outer doors. 
 There were cameras in every hallway.  The first thing she did was 
cover this camera.  Then she stuffed paper in the latch opening so 
that Jake and Mulder could enter with ease.  She'd drawn them a map 
of the interior, showing where the computers were and where the labs 
were.  Mulder wanted that antiserum.  He couldn't take the chance 
that Nathan hadn't sent it over.  Then she headed for Nathan's office.


Jake and Mulder waited and watched.  No one came to the door and 
after what seemed like forever, they made the decision to move in.  
Stella was close on their heels, she was going with them, Jake 
wouldn't leave her behind. 

Nathan met Casey at the end of the hall heading for his office.  
She'd been watching and no one was around to stop her.  She knew it 
was a trap, but it was part of their plan also, to make them think 
they were easy pickings.  As she stepped around a corner, she'd 
almost ran right into him.

"Hello, Casey."   Nathan stood with his arms across his chest, 
looking a bit smug.

Casey tried to look scared, truth be known, she was scared.  "Hello, 
Nathan."

"Well, well, well."  He smiled.

"That's an awfully deep subject for someone so shallow."  She 
provoked him.

The smile faded.  He hated to be made a fool.  His face turned beet 
red and she could almost see the steam coming from his ears.  He 
moved so quick, she didn't see it coming.  He slapped her hard, 
knocking her against the wall.  It was something he'd done before.  
She reached up and placed her hand over her face, where he had struck 
her, feeling a trickle of blood coming from her lip.  

"You shouldn't have done this, Casey.  After all we've done for you, 
to betray me like this."  He paced in as much space as the four foot 
wide hallway would allow.

"After all you've done for me?"  She raised her voice.  "You son of a 
bitch!  You stole me, you stole my life and I'm supposed to be 
grateful?"

He reached out and backhanded her again, this time so hard she fell 
to the floor.  Casey felt the knot rising on the side of head, she 
silently wished Jake and Mulder would hurry.  She stayed on the floor,
 antagonizing him was the plan, but there was no need to get beaten 
to a pulp in doing so.  Her mouth had gotten her in trouble more 
times than she cared to admit.

"What are you going to do, Nathan?  Kill me?  I can still be useful, 
Nathan.  You know Saunders and Mulder will be here tonight.  I can 
control them for you, you know I can."  She faked the pleading, the 
begging and she hated it as she hated him.

"Casey, Casey."  He grinned, shaking his head.  "You shouldn't have 
betrayed me.  I could never trust you after this.  I'm sorry to lose 
you, but you have to die."

"Nathan, please, please.  I can help you."  'Where the hell were they?
'  She pulled herself to stand.  She saw movement in the airvent a 
couple of feet behind Nathan, she had to back him up a little.   She 
suddenly attacked him, hitting his chest, pushing as she did.  He 
grabbed her arm and twisted it to her back, shoving her face forward 
into the wall.  As he did, Mulder dropped from the ceiling above, 
knocking Nathan to the ground.

Jake ran to them, Stella on his heels.  Mulder had Nathan turned over 
and cuffed, before he knew what had hit him.  Nathan knew they would 
attempt to escape, but he didn't think they'd be so blatant as to 
come for him immediately.

"Ok, now we're going to do this the way I say, or you're going to die.
  Do you understand?"  Mulder spoke sharply.

"You think I'm going to help you?"  Nathan almost laughed.

"I'll kill you right now, I don't care.  We can find our way out of 
here some other way.  I'd just as soon shoot you here and now."  He 
looked at Jake and nodded toward Casey as he pulled Nathan to his 
feet.  "She ok?" 

Jake nodded.  "I think so, but she might have a concussion.  We'll be 
all right, let's just get out of here."

"Let's go."  Mulder pointed.  "This way."

Jake held onto Casey, she was a little disoriented from the beating, 
her head pounding.  They made their way through the corridors to the 
laboratories.  Casey had been right on the mark with the diagrams.  
It was too quiet when they entered the main office and all three 
jumped when Stella began growling.  The room was like an open 
warehouse,  the upper level open to the lower floor.  They could see 
the catwalks hanging from the ceiling above.  The hair on Mulder's 
neck stood on end at the growl.  Normally, he hated this, but now it 
was a blessing.  Both Jake and Mulder were looking around when 
suddenly a man appeared from behind a door and Stella attacked.  The 
man's gun went off and ricocheted around the room, but missed 
everyone.  Stella had the man on the ground, her teeth cutting into 
his arm, the gun outside of arms reach.  

Jake grabbed the gun.  "Stella!  Heel!"  The dog backed off and gave 
Jake the room to approach the man.  He jerked him to his feet by 
grabbing the collar and the front of his shirt.  Blood dripping from 
his arm where Stella had hold of him.  Jake shoved him against the 
wall, drew back and hit him hard with the butt of the gun.  The man 
fell like a sack of potatoes.

"Damn, Mulder."  Jake was breathing heavily, then he chuckled and 
shook his head.  "Do you have to do this a lot?"

Mulder smiled.  "Only when I have to."  He turned to Nathan.  "Who 
else is here?"  Nathan refused to answer.  Mulder pushed him into a 
nearby chair.  "Where is it?"  He had the gun to Nathan's head.

Nathan smiled.  This is what it came down to.  They wanted the 
antiserum.  They might know how to get out, to get home, but they 
didn't know where the antiserum was.  Nathan's eyes turned dark as he 
stared at Mulder.  His ability to control minds had never been 
anywhere near as strong as Casey's but he did have the ability.  Now 
was the time to use it.  He forced Mulder's mind open.  It was easy, 
Mulder wanted to know things, he wanted to believe.  He was open to 
anything.  

Casey noticed Mulder's arm lowering and knew what was happening.  She 
jumped up and moved between them.  "Mulder, look at me!"  She shouted.


"What the hell is going on?"  Jake started at the sudden movement.

"He's trying to get to him, Jake.  He's not as strong, but he can 
weakened Mulder's mind."  She turned back to Mulder and concentrated, 
forcing her powers to overtake Nathan's.

Mulder was confused, his head hurt, he heard two voices screaming 
inside his mind.  He put his hands on either side of his head.  
"Enough!"  He shouted.  He moved Casey aside and placed the gun 
against Nathan's temple once more.  "It's not going to work, you son 
of a bitch!"

"You can kill me, Mulder, I'm not going to help you."  His voice was 
unnervingly calm.

Stella, once again, growled.  Someone else was coming.  Mulder hated 
the noise, nothing disconcerted him as much as a growl.  It meant 
certain but unknown danger.  They all tensed and ducked down, waiting.
  Mulder heard the snap of a gun barrel, a round being inserted in 
the chamber.  He turned in the direction of the noise and saw the 
barrel peeking out from behind a stack of boxes on the level above 
them.  When the man's head appeared, Mulder shot.  The gun fire was 
returned and the battle was on.  But it didn't last long.  One man 
fell from the catwalk, a second dropped a few feet away.  They hadn't 
seen the second man.  They hadn't fired upon the second man.

Thomas appeared with his hands in the air.  "Stay calm, gentlemen.  
I'm not here to do you harm.  I have something in my pocket, I think 
you're looking for.  May I?"  He asked.

Mulder nodded, his gun aimed straight at the man.  "Slowly, with two 
fingers!"

"This is the antiserum I believe you're looking for."  He held up the 
vial.

Mulder grabbed it and stepped back, gun still aimed, he glanced at 
the vial, then back at the man.  "Who are you?"

"I know who he is."  Casey said from behind Jake.  "What are you 
doing, Thomas?"

"Same thing you are, Casey.  Trying to get out, to make things right.
"  He shifted his stance and turned back to Mulder.  "Take it and go. 
 I'll take care of Nathan."

Nathan's voice was venomous.  "Thomas, I'll kill you."

Thomas ignored him, Nathan's time was over.  It was his turn now.  
He'd been waiting for this day for a long time.

"What about the 'doors'?"  Mulder asked.

Thomas shook his head.  "I can't promise you that, Mulder.  I need 
these doors.  This is our way of life."

"Your way of life is stealing ours!  I can't let you do that anymore.
"  Mulder shouted.

"You don't have a choice.  Now I can promise you that I will restrict 
the use of them to your world.  It's a promise I can guarantee will 
be kept.  We don't desire any more meddling from your government."  
He smiled and moved a little closer to Mulder.  "But, Agent Mulder,  
I know for a fact, your partner needs that antiserum."

Mulder stood stunned.  Then snapped to.  "What the hell does that 
mean!?"

Thomas smiled.  "It means, Mulder, that a lot of people will die 
without it and she could be one of them."

He didn't like it.  He didn't like having anyone hold Scully over his 
head.  His passion for her clouded any and all of his senses.  All 
reasoning went out the door when it came to her safety.  He 
especially didn't like the smirk on this man's face.

Thomas sensed Mulder's anger and backed off, losing the half grin.  
"This is a highly contagious, deadly, disease.  It moves fast and 
kills all.  You have the opportunity to stop it.  Take it, Mulder.  
Take it and go.  You can kill me now, but you won't get back and they 
will die."  

Mulder stared at him.  He had no choice.  The answers were here and 
once again, they were unattainable.  At the moment he didn't care, he 
had to get back to Scully.  "If you're lying to me, so help me, God.
"

"I'm not lying, Mulder."  Thomas looked to Casey.  "Casey knows me, 
she'll tell you I don't play games."

Mulder looked to Casey, as did Jake.  She nodded.  

"What about Samantha?"  Mulder asked of Thomas.  If Scully had been 
brought here, then maybe Samantha was too.  Maybe she's still here, 
living a solid life, not knowing who she really is.  "My sister, did 
you have anything to do with her?"  His voice was low, but they could 
detect the hope.

Thomas searched his eyes.  "No, I don't know anything about your 
sister." 

Was it the truth?  Mulder just didn't know, couldn't really tell.  He 
sighed heavily, suddenly tired of it all.  Finally, he nodded.  "All 
right.  Give me the rest of the antiserum."  He didn't release 
tension on the gun as Thomas reached into his pocket and passed 
Mulder a second small vial.

*****
End of Part 4




>From YRLD43A@prodigy.com Tue Feb 18 00:49:46 1997
I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Note:  A few have asked for a sequel to The Cavendish Door III.  
Thanks for all the kind responses, hope this is what you're looking 
for.  Thanks to Bronwyn for her persistence.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

Spoilers: None
Rating:  Strong R for sexual content.
Classification :  F,C,X,T,S, MSR
Summary:  Mulder can't leave the 'door' alone and crosses to Jake's 
world.  Meanwhile, Scully battles a deadly virus in her own world, 
needing Mulder to bring the antiserum.

Disclaimer:  See Part 1.

********************

The Cavendish Door IV  5/5
By Patty Hayes  
YRLD43A@prodigy.com
February 16, 1997

********************

Scully sighed as she looked through the microscope.  "I've never seen 
anything like it, Carrie."  She looked up, shaking her head.  "It's 
growing too fast.  At this rate they'll be dead in a just a few hours.
"

"I'm not getting any success from this batch either."  Pendrell 
reported.

"I know, Dana.  That's why I called you, I needed someone to help me 
with this.  This is out of our league."  Carrie paced as she spoke.  
"USAMRID is doing what they can, but they're not telling me anything, 
Dana.  Now, you're government.  You think you can get a few answers?
"

Scully grinned at Pendrell behind the level five safety suit and 
lowered her head.  Always running interference.  Then she looked at 
Carrie.  "Yeah. Let me see what I can find out."

Scully stepped into the clean room after going through the chemical 
wash.  No one went anywhere without a safe suit.  They weren't taking 
any chances.  Scully went through the hallways, looking the man in 
charge, they'd pretty much kept to themselves treating Scully and 
Carrie as if they were the carriers.  She found a Major John Russe in 
the bio testing area.

"Major?  I'm Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI.  I'm here 
helping the CDC."

"Yes, I know who you are Agent Scully.  We're doing fine without you. 
 You can go back to Washington."  He replied without even looking up. 
 He didn't much care to discuss the situation with Scully.  Russe 
continued to work on his paperwork.

"Major Russe, I'm not going anywhere until this thing is resolved.  
Now, I want some answers.  Have you found out where this came from 
yet?"  There was no response, but Scully continued.  "I want to talk 
to the first man infected.  He apparently knows what this is, he 
could provide valuable information  ....  "

"No one will be talking to him, Agent Scully.  He didn't make it."

"What?  It's been less that twenty hours, Major."  

"Yes, I know."  He nodded slowly.  

"I want to perform the autopsy, we may be able to find out more about 
this bug."

"That's not possible right now, Agent Scully.  We're doing all we can.
  The driver of the car is still alive, in fact he's progressing 
slowly.  They were affected at the same time, so we feel this is 
progress." Russe stood up and came around the desk.  "Look, I know 
you want to help, but there isn't much we can do beyond what we are 
doing.  I will try to keep you informed.  In the mean time, I know of 
your reputation, Dr. Scully,  and I need your help exactly where 
you've been."

Scully nodded, trying to read between the lines.  She decided he was 
being sincere.  "The autopsy could provide valuable information."

"All right, I'll set up as soon as I can.  I'll let you know."

"Thank you, Major."  She said and left the room.  She stopped by the 
patient room on her way back.  They weren't doing well at all.  The 
driver looked bad, she didn't think he'd last the hour.  The other 
four didn't look as bad, but they were doomed none the less.  Unless 
they could find the cure.  She turned to leave as a man in a safe 
suit passed her.  Scully turned back to look at him but he was not 
visible in the suit.  She didn't think she recognized him and made 
her way back to the research lab. She didn't feel the pin prick that 
punctured her suit.  Another man, still craving a cigarette, leaned 
out the doorway as she passed.  He nodded to the other man coming 
from the patient room, who returned the nod.  As Scully stepped 
through the chemical wash the prick turned into a slit and the 
opening widened, allowing outside air to penetrate her armor.

Pendrell and Scully discussed possible antigens that could react 
favorably.  "The testing reports that AL32 is alleviating some of the 
symptoms, Agent Scully."  He had the bug on a platelet, projecting it 
onto the computer screen facing them.  "This is it, I've never seen 
it before."

"Neither have I, although it looks like a strain of Ebola."  Carrie 
stood close to the screen.  "See these spikes?  That's one of the 
differences."

Pendrell paced as they talked.  "Maybe if we stepped up the dosage."  
He stopped suddenly and his eyes widened with dread.  

Scully turned to look at him when he suddenly stopped talking.  "What?
  What's wrong?"

"Your suit, Dana, there's a tear!"  Pendrell was looking at a small 
rip in the suit.  It was less than a half an inch in width.  But 
still big enough to nullify the safety of the suit.  The fear and 
dread on his face showed clearly through his face mask.  Carrie 
rushed over to them.  She grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her out to 
the wash area and turned on the nozzles.  Scully closed her eyes and 
turned a circle in the small enclosed cubicle.

"Dana, you might be infected.  We need to get you treatment right 
away."  Carrie had tears in her eyes.  She'd brought Dana here and 
she felt responsible.  She'd never be able to live with herself if 
something happened to Dana.

"Take it easy, Carrie.  It might not be anything.  Tape it up, let's 
keep working and see what happens."  Scully was unbelievable calm.

"Dana, she's right.  We need to do something."  Pendrell had gone 
ghostly pale.  He was already preparing the needle.

"Dana!"  Carrie pleaded with her.  "Please."

"Carrie, all right, give me a dose, but I'm going to work.  If I am 
infected, I'm not going out laying in a bed, waiting to die."  Scully 
was scared but she couldn't show it.  This virus killed fast.  She 
didn't know what it was.  She searched her mind, trying to figure out 
how the suit was damaged.  The only thing that got close was the 
soldier who had bumped into her.  Could he have done something?  
Could she recognize him again?  Did she even see him the first time?  
Where was Mulder?  She wanted to see him now.  Scully had a sick 
feeling in the pit of her stomach.  She might never see him again.

*****

Jake had hold of Stella's collar as they stood in the enclosed 
chamber.  He would go through with Stella and Mulder would follow 
with Casey.  Mulder watched with awe as Jake disappeared in a flash 
of light.  He turned to Thomas as Casey entered the chamber.  "I'll 
say it one more time, Anderson, you cross me and I'll find a way back.
"  He was deadly serious.  "This antiserum better work and Scully 
better be all right.  If something happens to her, you're a dead man. 
 I'll do it."  He spoke softly, deeply, and matter of fact.  It 
wasn't a threat, it was a promise.

Thomas nodded as Mulder closed the glass door.  Mulder looked at 
Casey, wondering if this was the last time he'd be looking into a 
fair skinned face framed by the fiery red hair.  He closed his eyes 
briefly, trying to burn Scully's image into his brain, as the light 
overtook them.  The image was already there, many images, in fact.  
He remembered her smiles, the times she'd made him smile.  The times 
he felt he'd have gone over the edge if it hadn't been for Scully.  
God, he needed her.

As the light disappeared, he heard Jake calling to them.  Casey was 
unsure of her footing and grabbed Mulder's arm.  He steadied her and 
they went to find Jake.  "I heard a truck go by in that direction.  
There must be a road."  He told Mulder.

"This has to be where the other came through.  It has to be in this 
area, Jake."  They headed in the direction of the traffic noise.

The four found the road in just a few minutes.  Mulder found out from 
Thomas what city was to be targeted and knew which direction to take. 
 They followed the road for almost an hour when the lights from the 
edge of town appeared.  Then they saw the military and CDC protective 
equipment along the perimeter, keeping a tight quarantine.  "Bingo!"

*****

Nothing seemed to work.  The AL32 slowed the progessiveness of the 
virus but only slightly.  Scully tried to blink away the tiredness 
that was quickly stealing her energy.  She was hot in the suit, sweat 
falling into her eyes.  She reached for a platelet and stumbled, her 
breath coming in short gasps.  

"Dana!"  Carrie cried out and grabbed her arm, steadying her.  

Pendrell came to her side and helped her to sit.  "You need to rest, 
Agent Scully."  He took a deep sigh.  He couldn't lose her to this.  
Not Dana Scully.  He admired her, respected her, felt something for 
her he hadn't ever felt for any other woman.  He'd always been shy 
with women and he was with Dana Scully, but with her, he tried.  He 
wasn't going to stand by and watch her die.

"I'm all right.  I just need to catch my breath."  Scully placed her 
hand to her chest and took a couple of deep breaths.

"Dana, you're exhibiting signs already.  It's dangerous for you to be 
up and around, we have to get you to a bed."  Carrie was up and 
heading for the phone.  Pendrell helped Scully stand and together 
they followed the hallways to a private room.  Carrie unzipped 
Scully's suit and aided her in removing it.  

Scully suddenly felt a strong fear, a vulnerability she hadn't felt 
earlier.  She suddenly felt naked, open to the enemies invading the 
air she breathed.  She remembered the driver and the other patients 
and it caused her to tremble as she climbed into the bed.  Pendrell 
held her hand as Carrie hooked the IV to her arm.  Scully smiled at 
Pendrell.  "Don't look so worried, I'll be out of here in no time.  
Probably nagging you to hurry some sort of test on another piece of 
evidence Mulder drags back with him."  She patted his hand.

"I'll make sure of it."  Pendrell tried to smile, his face went from 
flush red to ghostly pale again.  He'd seen so many things since 
getting involved with Mulder and Scully. They'd opened a whole new 
world of investigation to him.  But he felt a pang of anger at Mulder 
for what he'd put Dana through.  Deep down, he knew it wasn't 
Mulder's fault, but he had to blame someone.  She looked bad and he 
knew how much worse it would get.  Her face had the beginnings of red 
blotches covering her cheeks and nose.  Her eyes were red and swollen 
and her beautiful luscious lips were become dry and cracked.  So 
quickly.  It had happened so quickly.  He had to fight to keep the 
tears hidden as he left them and went back to research.  This is were 
she needed him now, to save her.

*****

"I know what's going on!  I have the antiserum!"  Mulder yelled at 
the soldier.

"I'm sorry sir, I can't let you pass.  I have my orders."  The 
soldier stood his ground.

Mulder looked at Jake as he quickly pulled his gun and had the barrel 
two inches from the soldiers face before he knew what was happening.  
"Get out of my way."  Mulder's tone was deep and menacing.  The 
soldier was clearly shaken but retained his ground.  Within seconds 
four more soldiers appeared with guns all aimed at Mulder.

"Sir, lower your weapon now!"  One called to him.

Mulder didn't move, but he did hear the unit's radio and one soldier 
left the group to take the call.  He came back a moment later.  "Sir, 
I've been ordered to escort you to the holding center."  His voice 
strong and stern, like any good soldier.

Mulder lowered his gun and yelled back to Jake and Casey as he 
followed the soldier.  "Stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can."  
He was in the Jeep and pulling out.  He saw Casey and his thoughts 
turned to Scully, wondering what she was doing, whether she was all 
right or not.

Fifteen minutes later, Mulder was pacing in a room with a table and 
two chairs.  He ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes.  
'Where the hell are they?'  A few minutes later, Carrie walked in.  

"Hi, I'm Carrie Westerly, CDC.  I'm also a friend of Dana's."  She 
didn't have time to smile.  "They said you had a vial with the 
antiserum."

"Yes."  He pulled the two vials out of his pocket.  "This is all 
there is.  Where is she, is she Ok?"  His concern showing strongly.

Carrie looked up at him, the sadness in her eyes told him everything. 
 "She's been infected.  It's in the early stages, but it works fast.  
If this doesn't help ....  "  She shook her head, but didn't finish 
her statement.  

It wasn't necessary.  He knew what would happen.  Carrie turned to 
leave and Mulder reached for her arm.  "I want to see her."

"You can't, not now, it's too dangerous, you'll become infected too." 
 Carrie had to leave.  "Every minute I spend here, it's a minute 
closer to her death.  Please.  I'll let you know as soon as I can."  
Her eyes pleading with him.

He let go of her arm and watched her walk away.  He stood with his 
hands on his hips, eyes closed.  When he looked up, he could see 
Carrie stepping into a changing room.  In there she would suit up 
again, go through the chemical wash and proceed to the other side of 
the building.

*****

Jake and Casey sat under a tree near the barricades.  Stella was 
nearby, running through the field.  Dawn was breaking.  It had been 
two hours since Mulder had left and no word had come.  All they could 
do was wait.

Casey had been extremely quiet since returning.  "What's up, Casey?"  
Jake asked.

She shook her head.  "I can't believe I'm here.  It doesn't feel real,
 like I'm going to wake up any minute now and the nightmare will 
continue."

Jake pulled her to him.  "The nightmare may be just beginning if that 
serum doesn't work."  He felt her head fall against his chest, his 
hand stroking her hair.  Together, they watched the sun rise and both 
wondered what the new day would bring.

*****

"I've got it!"  Pendrell shouted to Carrie.  "It's working."

"Let's get it started now.  I'll take this batch, work up as much as 
you can."  Carrie headed for the door.  "And Pendrell, thanks."

He smiled at her and nodded.  Relieved that finally something was 
going right.  Pendrell closed his eyes and said a silent prayer for 
Dana Scully.

Carrie worked quickly.  The six patients, including Scully, received 
inoculations, then the staff, including herself and Pendrell.  Within 
an hour, their fevers were reduced.  It was a good sign.  She sat 
with Dana, waiting for her to awaken.  Scully had fallen asleep 
almost immediately upon getting into the bed.  She'd been up for more 
than a day.  Carrie smiled when she opened her eyes.

"Hi, you're looking better."  

Scully returned the smile.  "Yeah, I feel better.  What did you find?
"

"Your partner."  Carrie watched Dana's eyes light up.  "He brought 
good tidings with him.  And the antiserum. I don't know where he got 
it, but it seems to be doing the trick.  I thought I'd let him in 
here in just a while.  He's been driving everyone crazy."

Scully laughed.  "Yeah, that's him all right."

"I think it's over, Dana.  Thank God, it's over.  If he hadn't 
brought that serum, it could've spread throughout the States in no 
time."  She let out a deep sigh then smiled again.  "I'll go get your 
partner."  Then she thought again.  "Are you up to seeing him?"

"Yeah, I'd like to have a word or two with him."  She suddenly 
remembered the fact that he'd run off and left her again.  Actually, 
she was needed to see him.

*****

Three months later

Jake poured two glasses of white wine and took them along with the 
bottle out to the terrace.  Casey sat with her feet curled under her 
on the bench swing, with Stella's head in her lap.  The night sky 
covering the city like a blanket dotted with rhinestones.  It was 
cool, breezy and quiet.  She couldn't believe how her life had 
changed over the past three months.  She moved into a small apartment 
and Jake bought a house, both in Baltimore.  They spent most of their 
free time getting to know each other.  Jake had finally found someone 
to take the place of both Alex and Dana.  Casey worked at getting a 
degree in education.  She wanted to teach.  Her life was complete 
with Jake and they hoped to have a real future together.

"Come on, get down."  Jake coaxed Stella off the swing and he sat 
next to Casey.  He eased his arm around her and pulled her close.  
Her head fell back on his shoulder and they sipped the wine, looking 
out into the bay.

"God, it's so beautiful here."  Casey whispered.  She felt Jake nod 
and turned her head to look up at him.  He was staring at her.

Jake smiled at her.  "Yes, it is beautiful."  Then he leaned down and 
kissed her.

*****

Mulder lay on his back, Scully sleeping next to him.  He sometimes 
just watched her sleep.  It was so peaceful, she looked like a child, 
a beautiful, innocent child sleeping.  Other times, he saw the pain 
on her face as she slept.  Unspeakable nightmares invading her peace 
of mind.  She could never escape them and he wanted nothing more than 
to rid her of these things.  He knew his nightmares were enough for 
both of them.  He thought of the pain she had incurred because of him 
and the X-Files.  Mulder would give anything for them not to have 
happened.  But they did and it had brought the two of them together.  


He slid out from under the covers and stood at the window in her 
bedroom.  The virus had no long term effect on Scully, he was 
grateful for that.  He wondered if Thomas had kept his word and kept 
the doors closed.  Mulder had wanted to spend more time there, to 
find out what they'd done to Scully.  If it was possible his sister 
had been there.  To find out where this other world was and how they 
were able to travel through space.  Then he turned to look at Scully 
again.  Suddenly, he knew he had everything he needed.  Everything he 
could ever want.  Just a couple of feet away.  And it was enough.

*****

The young couple bought the Bed and Breakfast just a couple of months 
ago.  He'd actually bought it for his wife, his time was spent in the 
office most days.  He was the newest genius to work for the Defense 
Department.  A program he developed that would revolutionize the 
nuclear arms race was a well kept secret.  He'd heard of the B&B 
through his superior and as his wife had always wanted to have one, 
he bought it with the bonus they'd given him.  He didn't like the man 
who attended the meeting that day.  He was an older man, standing in 
the shadowed corner, smoking cigarette after cigarette. But he was 
pleased that they recognized his work.

He didn't know what had awakened him this night, but for some reason, 
he couldn't go back to sleep.  Maybe some hot milk would help.  He 
walked barefoot to the kitchen, wearing only his pajama bottoms.  His 
wife slept almost too peacefully lately.  He noticed it was getting 
harder to disturb her.  As he stood at the stove, waiting for the 
milk to warm, he took a look around the kitchen.  His brow furrowed 
as he saw a door he hadn't remembered.  

THE END