Midnight's Sorrow, Chapter 7
Disclaimer in Chapter 1
This story is rated  NC-17


St. Joseph's Hospital
Joliet, Illinois
July 11th
2:46 p.m.


 Mulder entered the cool room slowly,   he'd
worn disposable shoe covers to protect his
feet, realizing the autopsy was likely in its
late stages if not finished.  He had made the
mistake of entering without them before at
that stage.  He had opted to toss those pair
of shoes into the garbage. "What have you
found so far, Scully?" 

Scully looked up from her microscope on the
far end of the autopsy bay, her face still
fixed with concentration. "I am still
awaiting the toxicology reports, Mulder, but
my findings so far support the mutilations
Sarah Mckay suffered were post mortem, as
they had been on the other victims."

Mulder made his way to her and stood just to
the right of the autopsy table.

Scully pulled away from the microscope to
join him. "Her heart, Mulder, shows definite
signs of contraction band necrosis.  I do not
have the toxicology reports to support this
yet, but  I am willing to bet that she died
from myocardial infarction due to unnatural
causes."


"She had a heart attack?"  Mulder asked,
glancing down at the covered body that lay
beside him.

"Actually, I believe she was given a heart
attack."  Scully asserted.  She turned back
the bottom of the sheet, reveling the victims
legs. Mulder winced, but looked anyway. 
Scully ran a gloved finger over a small area
of bruising on the left thigh.  "This appears
to be an injection site.  I may not have
noticed it at all, however, she appears
to have been injected more than once."

"So, you're saying that the killer poisoned
her?"

"Essentially, yes.  I believe he wanted  her
dead before he began on the mutilations. 
Mulder, I realize that there are no signs of
any sexual assault on these bodies, but I
still wouldn't rule out necrophilia."

"No, there's more to it than that.  This guy
is complicated.  There
are things he does that suggests he's
reacting to something inside of himself that
we've yet to understand. Like taping the
victims eyes shut."   

"Yes, I saw the tape Mulder, but it's
possible it was used to conceal where he was
taking them.  Or, to help lower there
defenses.  He also could just have been
trying to increase their fear."

Mulder shook his head. "No, I disagree.  I
believe that it was applied post mortem."

"Why?"  Scully challenged, crossing her arms
over her lab coat.

"I think that he doesn't want to be seen."

"Once they are already dead?  Mulder, that
doesn't make sense."

"Not to us, no, but to the killer it's very
important.  Scully, despite these horrific
mutilations, he lay's these women out very
neatly.  He covers there eyes and even drapes
the bodies when he's finished. I'd even say
he's obsessive about it."  

"So, you're implying he has a professional
air ?"

"Either that, or respectful."

Scully's eyebrows rose, their position frozen
high on her forehead as she waited for his
explanation.

"I think he sees them as his mother."  Mulder
spoke slowly as if to test the effect of what
he was saying,  although his expression
reflected unwavering confidence.

Scully sighed, her face instantly  mirroring
her disbelief. "Mulder,that sounds awfully
Freudian."

"Even a stopped clock is right twice a day,
Scully."  He asserted and took a step towards
her when she failed to respond,  making eye
contact before he continued. "I think I'm on
to something here. I feel like I am finally
getting into this guy's head." 

Scully dropped her eyes from his, uncrossed
her arms. "Mulder, I just don't understand.
If he still holds respect for his mother,
then why would he be killing women who remind
him of her?" 

"He's obviously very angry at her about
something."  Mulder took a look at the sheet
covered body.  "Very angry."  He added.

Unsold and still task oriented,  she began to
turn back towards the microscope.

"Scully...", Mulder quickly placed his hand
on her shoulder to stop her.  Scully turned
back towards him, breaking the contact
between them as she did so, her face tired. 

"If that's true, Mulder, then why didn't he
just kill his mother?"  She questioned,
crossing her arms again, the frustration
thick in her voice.

Mulder lowered his tone in response, although
his voice remained insistent. "I don't know
the answer to that.  Maybe he can't, maybe
she's already dead, or maybe he just can't
face her."

"But why, then the acts of respect, and why
try to hide what he's doing from them? 
Especially once they are already dead."
Scully held her arms out to him in a
questioning manner.

"Does one ever stop seeking their mother's
love?  Her approval?" Mulder questioned.  "I
think he's still looking for that.  On some
level, I think he still feels he can find
that.  Despite the conflicting feelings he
holds for her."

Scully frowned to herself, uncertain yet of
Mulder's new theory, but deciding to play
devil's advocate. "So, how would we stop
someone like that Mulder, how do we find him
before he acts again?"  

"That, Scully, is the million dollar
question."

XXXXXXXXX


2:46 p.m.

He stared blankly out the large window,
watching the people in the crowded  streets
below scurry about like small insects. 
Hurrying somewhere, unaware of his watchful
eye, barely aware at all.  They were pitiful,
all of them.  The height at which he watched
them, gave him the illusion that he could
easily just reach out a foot and crush them,
putting an abrupt end to their absent
activities with one swift move. He quickly 
loosened his tie in an attempt to relieve
the tightness that had begun to constrict his
throat.  He spent his life watching and
waiting.  Careful, always careful.  One false
move, one absent minded moment, and he would
be done for.  He had long begun to tire of it
all.  It had taken its toll.  He was paying
for his constant vigilance, for his searching
and never quite finding. He was paying for it
with his mind.  He had waited for his relief,
had cried out for it in his childhood bed,
for what had stretched into years, but to no
avail.  This fight was his own.  It always
had been.

He rubbed his palms into his eyes, pushing
back the heavy emotions that threatened to
spill from them.   Tears were of no help to
him, vulnerability was not something he could
afford.  He needed to find someone, but it
needed to be the right someone.  It was soon,
he knew that, but it was necessary.  

He propped his exhausted head up on one hand,
his elbow resting on the cool edge of his
large mahogany desk.  The dreams had
robbed him of sleep once again, but they had
offered him a small ray of hope, of relief. 
He could see her now, as he closed his heavy
eyes; copper colored hair and cool blue eyes. 
And her voice, concern that rose above the
fear.  She was different then the rest. 
She seemed so familiar, so real.  He would
keep searching and looking, and he would find
her.  He had no other choice.


XXXXXXXX


Moxie's Motel 
Bloomington, Illinois
3:50 p.m.


Scully stepped out of the small, tiled
bathroom, a hand to her head to keep the
hotel towel, that was too small to wrap
tightly around her head, from slipping off. 
She sat down on the edge of her full
sized bed and flopped backwards, stretching
lazily across the well worn,  green and
maroon floral bedspread.  The autopsy had
seemed to stretch on and on.  Her muscles in
her back and her neck had become tight
burning knots, but the ibuprofen and hot
shower had done wonders for that.  She pulled
her legs up onto the bed, tucking them inside
of the warmth of her bathrobe, so just her
feet poked out .  She pushed the damp towel
from her hair aside, the urge to catch a
quick nap winning over redressing.  She had
missed out on lunch, and heaven knew that
supper didn't always come when it was
expected, so in the scheme of things what was
so wrong with a little catnap?  She snuggled
into the soft bed, blissfully accepting the
sleepy sensation that washed over her as she
drifted off.

Thud, thud, thud!

Scully's body immediately stiffened.  She
sighed loudly to herself as she sat up.

Thud, thud, thud!

"Just a minute!"  She called out, tightening
her robe as she stood.

She stared out the peephole, momentarily, at
Mulder's eager face before unlocking and
opening the door.

Mulder entered, swinging a large brown paper
bag in front of her. "I come bearing food!" 
He announced with a smile as he passed
her by.  He sat on the side of the bed and
unpacked the bag, setting white Chinese carry
out boxes on the nightstand.  "I hope you
like Kung Poa  Chicken."   He added, turning
to face her, smiling immediately at Scully's
shocked expression.  "I'm just kidding, I
know your stomach's still a little iffy.  I
was hoping Chop Suey would go over okay." He
laughed.

"You brought supper?"  Scully asked in
disbelief.

Mulder turned to her and patted the spot on
the bed beside him.  "Yeah, I know you missed
lunch. So, I thought  you'd be hungry." 
He loosened his tie and removed his suit
jacket as he spoke.  

"Mulder, that was really nice of you." 
Scully remarked as she joined him, her voice
reflecting her surprise. 

Mulder smiled wryly. "I just like to shake
things up every now and then, keep you
guessing."  He bumped into her gently.  "How
are you feeling?"  


"A little better thank you, although my
stomach's still burning, but maybe this will
help."  Scully helped herself to one of the
boxes that Mulder had set on the table.  She
opened the flaps, savoring the warm and
fragrant steam that escaped.  

"Any word on the tox screen yet?"  Mulder
asked, digging into his supper.

Scully stared into her box.  "Yes, actually,
I got the report right before I showered.  I
tried to call you, but I couldn't get
through."

Mulder nodded understandingly but didn't
offer an explanation.

"Traces of Sodium Pentothal and Epinephrine
were both found."  Scully continued. "Mulder,
I  strongly believe that she was given the
Sodium Pentothal to render her semi-conscious
for the abduction and transport, and that the
Epinephrine was used to kill her.  My report
will state that Sarah McKay's death was a
result of a homicide by poisoning."

"So who would have access to these drugs?"  

"Well, a lot of people could potentially have
access.  Surgeons, veterinarians, just about
anyone in health care could gain access,
although not always lawfully.  We also have
to look at the possibility of theft.  The
internet is another avenue that we need to
consider."


"That doesn't exactly narrow it down for us." 
Mulder added, disappointedly.

"I think it would be a good idea to check
with local hospitals for any thefts they may
have occurred recently.  That would still be
a good place to start."  Scully suggested,
pushing a plastic fork int her Chop Suey. She
spun it around and spooned up a bite.

"Alright, we'll start there."  Mulder watched
her pop the forkful into her mouth, a bit of
the brown gravy dribbled out of the side
and down onto her chin. "Scully, you've
got..."  He started, motioning towards her
mouth.  Scully fought to finish her large
mouthful, setting her dinner down as she
reached over to search the empty bag on the
nightstand for a napkin while fighting to
keep her robe closed.  Mulder sighed loudly
and reached out to turn her face
back towards him.   He gently swiped the
sauce off her chin with his thumb and then
licked it off his hand.  Scully finished
chewing and swallowed, her eyes locked with
his, her hair in damp curls around her face,
her robe just starting to push away,
revealing the creamy skin on her chest. 
Mulder's breathing quickened, his stomach
suddenly tense as a warm sensation grew  in
an area of concern to him.  He bit his lip,
unwilling to turn from her and the soft wet
look of surprise in her eyes, along with
something else there.  Expectation?  Mulder
threw caution to the wind, the fire spreading
throughout him as if fueled by gasoline.  He
bent in closer to her, anticipating the taste
of her lips, the firm yet soft sensation
that they'd bring as they met his.  He
watched her eyes slowly close as he
approached.  Smelled the faint lilac and
honey smell of shampoo and soap.  Mulder met
her lips with a surge of excitement that
charged through his body like a jolt of
electricity.  He pulled her closer as he
tasted her, her body warm and soft against
his as they kissed, feeding the need he had
long denied himself.

Scully laced her arms around Mulder's waist,
her bathrobe growing suddenly very damp in an
area that had dried since her shower as
her initial surprise gave way to pleasure. 
There must have been hundreds of moments she
had half expected something to happen
between them, but nothing had come of them. 
And now as she felt the weight of Mulder's
body, pushing up against hers, she marveled
at the sudden turn of events, reveled in the
hot, needy kiss.  Mulder pushed against her
harder, laying her back, flat against the
bed, smothering her neck and her chest with
warm, wet kisses as he pushed at the loosely
fastened bathrobe.  Scully gasped as she felt
his hand slide up her naked thigh.  "Mulder!" 
She called out as the first hint of alarm
rose within her, rivaling an intense wave of
passion.   

"Scully!"  He breathed back against her neck,
his hand continuing its painfully slow
journey up her inner thigh.

"Mulder, no...stop."  Scully grabbed the
wrist of the offending hand, her voice
trembling with a mix of emotions.

Mulder abruptly pulled away from her, his
eyes wet with concern. "Jesus, Scully, I'm
sorry..."  Mulder stood, at a loss for
further words, he collected his suit jacket
and quickly headed for the door. "I'm sorry." 
He continued, shaking his head, without
looking back.

Scully pulled her robe closed.  "No, Mulder,
wait!"

Mulder paused, his hand on the doorknob as he
turned back to face her.

"Don't be sorry."  Scully asserted.  "I'm
not."

XXXXXXXXXX

Midnight's Sorrow Chapter 7, Part B.
Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
This story is rated NC-17.


Moxie's Motel
Bloomington, Illinois
July 11th
5:00 p.m.


Mulder nodded at her, unconvinced, his
expression solemn as he turned back to the
door.

Tears begun to sting Scully's eyes as a
hollow, lonely feeling formed inside of her
chest, a black hole that threatened to
swallow all of the  happiness that she had
found.  "No!"  Scully called out, her voice
breaking as the first of the tears burned
down her cheeks.

Mulder released the doorknob, startled.
Scully quickly crossed the room to him, her
tear streaked face concentrated.  She reached
up and took Mulder's face in both hands,
smiling broadly at him even as the tears
continued to mark  her face.  "Don't leave." 
Her lip quivered slightly as she spoke and
her hands began an exploration of his face.

Mulder closed his eyes slowly as  a look of
silent agony overtook him, as if her gentle
touch were somehow painful to him.

Scully stroked his forehead, gently caressing
his temples, barely skimming his hairline.
She stopped to trace his lips with one
finger. 

Mulder's eyes reopened as he blinked back
tears.  Scully stroked his hair, her hands
running over his ears and down his jaw line
before pushing back up over his head again.  

Scully  stared deeply into his face, her own
sadness, her own loneliness stared back at
her through hazel eyes.  She smoothed away a
tear with a delicate touch, as it spilled
down his cheek. Scully lowered his face to
hers, standing on tiptoe as she brushed
against his mouth.  She kissed him, slowly at
first, then deeper, seeking the warmth
inside, the feeling of his heart beating
against her own chest as she pressed herself
to him.  Feeling the stirring of what was
most intimately Mulder against her abdomen. 
"Please, don't leave..."  She breathed
against his neck as she parted from his lips. 
"Don't leave."  She repeated, her lips
seeking his again.

Mulder took her face as she met his.  His
thumb brushed the side of her cheek as  he
pulled back from her, searching her face,
attempting to understand her sudden change of
heart.  

"I want this..," Scully started, her voice
strained with emotion. Fresh tears formed in
her eyes as she continued, trailing down her
cheeks and over Mulder's hands as he held
her. "But if things didn't work..," Scully
winced at the thought and exhaled. " I just
don't want to lose you."  

"No."  Mulder replied softly, lifting her
face slightly, so that she stared into his. 
"You could never lose me, Scully."  Scully
smiled back at him through her tears, her lip
quivering.  "Not even if you tried."  He
added, stilling her lips with a soft kiss.

Scully laced her hands behind his neck,
cradling his head with one hand as she drew
him closer still, intensifying their kiss,
craving more of his mouth, of his touch. 
Allowing her heart to guide her through what
her mind had just only begun to accept.  She
stepped back, still facing Mulder, her mind
made up.   She tugged loose the tie on her
bathrobe, allowing it to fall to the sides
before pushing it off of her shoulders,
causing it to fall in heap at her feet, 
revealing all that it had hidden. 

Mulder held for a moment, his eyes tracing
each curve, memorizing her image as she stood
before him.  He stepped forward and pushed
her drying hair back from her face.  "God,
you're beautiful.  I could make love to you
right now."  He whispered, brushing his mouth
across her ear as he tucked the strands
behind.  

Scully closed her eyes against the faint
sensation, her bare flesh tingling at his
slight touch.  

Mulder kissed her swollen lips, his hands
slipping down over her shoulders and across
her naked back, as he dove deep inside of her
mouth, her throaty moan vibrating his tongue
as he did so.  

Scully's hands slid down his chest and across
the flat of his tense abdomen.  Mulder drew
in a deep breath as she found and released
his belt buckle.  He broke from their kiss as
he watched, trembling in excited
anticipation, as she undid the button
carefully pulling the zipper down over the
throbbing bulge that had formed there. 
Mulder groaned loudly as Scully stroked him
through the thin layer of fabric of his
sports briefs before gently tugging his pants
and underwear down in one easy movement. 
Mulder stood before her, exposed, his swollen
member erect.

Scully reached around, her hands firmly
squeezing his ass before kneeling, her hands
trailing around as she went.  She took his
penis in her hand, guiding it into her mouth
without further presentation.  

"Scully!"  Mulder's eyes rolled back in his
head, a long moan escaping him as Scully
began a pattern of sucking and stroking.  

Scully traced her free hand up his inner
thigh until she reached the warm, prickly
destination.  She carefully ran her hand over
his testicles, applying gentle pressure as
she continued with her mouth.

"Oh, god, Scully, that feels so good." 
Mulder moaned and ran a hand over her still
slightly damp hair as she made love to him
with her mouth, watching her as she brought
him exquisite pleasure.  "Hell yeah, Scully,
yeah, just like that!"  Scully sucked harder
and faster, as Mulder's pleasure mounted,
taking him deeper into her mouth.  Mulder
stopped her as the sensation grew in
intensity, gently pushing back on her before
he came and helping her to her feet.

Scully licked her wet lips, as she stood
before him, further aggravating the deep
level of frustration he was feeling.  He
pulled her to him by the waist, softly
kissing her lips before kissing his way
down her chin, past the warm throbbing in her
throat, and onto the smooth skin below her
breastbone. He stopped briefly, smiling up at
her as he ran a hand over the silky, soft
skin of her breast before popping a pert,
pink nipple into his mouth.

Scully sighed softly as he teased her, taking
her nipple between his teeth and flicking his
tongue across it.  She began to unbutton his
dress shirt, tugging at the small white
buttons in her hasty attempt to remove it. 
Mulder stopped to help her, tearing off his
tie and dropping the shirt off his arms,
exposing his chest.

Scully smiled as she ran a hand through the
coarse hair and over his own erect nipples,
the feel of his skin brushing against hers as
they stood there together,  heightening her
arousal.   Scully grabbed his hand in hers,
leading him back to the bed.

Mulder kissed her, sucking her bottom lip up
and gently biting it before letting go. 
Scully wrapped her arms around him in heated
encouragement.  Mulder continued kissing her
lips, brushing himself softly against her as
he did so.

Scully moaned as the head of his penis nudged
the moist, throbbing flesh between her
thighs, and she thrust her hips in an attempt
to meet him.  "Mulder, please...," she
pleaded between ragged breaths, her lips
still touching his.

Mulder guided himself into position and
grabbed her hips.  He penetrated her slowly
at first, prompting her gentle moans as she
accepted him.  He lay still for a moment,
tasting her lips, stroking her cheek and
enjoying the warmth her body offered before
she gyrated, sending him back into action.

Scully's movements quickened as Mulder rocked
her body in what felt like perfect rhythm
from above.  She bucked her hips with his
movements, further intensifying the pleasure,
well aware of her impending peak. 
"Mmmmmulder.." she crooned breathlessly,
"mmm..."

Mulder stroked her face gently in
encouragement.  "I love you, Scully, I love
you..."  Mulder repeated as he watched and
felt her near her climax.  "I love you."  He
swallowed her scream with his mouth, allowing
her to snake her arms around his neck and
ride out the last bits of orgasm.

Scully felt blissfully lost in a world where
all that mattered were closeness, rhythm and
love.  Mulder's movements and hers
coordinated to create one common physical
language.  She waited, hyper-aware of each
movement, each small sensation as Mulder's
words were lost and replaced by something
more primal.  She stroked his cheek as he
cried out against her shoulder, his body
still shuddering from the aftershocks of
their love.

XXXXXXX


Gordie's Fine Dining
Bloomington, Illinois
July 12th
8:42 a.m.


Scully looked up from her cup of coffee as
Mulder hit the end button on his cell phone
and slipped it back into the breast pocket
on his suit jacket.  

"Ten O' Clock at River Oaks Veterinary
Clinic, Scully.  Dr. Dexter was kind enough
to squeeze a spot  in between a neutering and
a declawing."   Mulder pushed his plate to
the side of the table, the large oval dish,
now empty except for a sprig of parsley and
an orange twist that lay in a small puddle of
egg yolk.  

Scully sat back in her booth seat, reaching
into the pocket on her neatly pressed tan
pants.  "I'll flip you for Mercy Memorial." 
She offered, tossing a quarter that she
retrieved to the center of the table, just
past her own plate.

Mulder smiled playfully at her.  "That's
alright, I'll take the veterinary clinic. 
Besides, Scully, you've been in Mercy
Memorial before; you have the benefit of
knowing your way around."  Mulder took a slow
sip of  his coffee, before continuing. "How
are you feeling today?" 

"I'm feeling fine, Mulder.   Great,
actually." Scully answered as she picked up
her coffee cup with two hands to take a
drink.

"It looks like your big bang breakfast went
over well."  Mulder commented, staring at the
empty, syrup scented plate in front of her.

Scully lowered her coffee cup, a slightly
annoyed look on her face. "Mulder, I did not
order the big bang breakfast.  I ordered the
cakes n' eggs, and yes, it went over quite
well."   

Mulder smiled, pleased with himself, as he
toyed with green paper wrapper that had held
the napkin on the silverware.

Scully administered a quick kick to his feet
under the table.

"Ouch!"  Mulder whined, shifting away from
her in his seat.  "You know, Scully, some
people seek a career in law enforcement to
satisfy their sadistic tendencies."  He
added.

Scully rolled her eyes dramatically. "Shut
up, Mulder."  Scully smiled wryly at him as
he met her eyes, a similar smile on his face. 


Mulder grew more serious as he pushed his mug
aside.  "Scully, call me if anything pans out
at the clinic.  If there has been a theft of
the drugs used on Sarah McKay, then I think
we need to move as quickly as possible."

Scully looked to him for further explanation.

"From the changes he has demonstrated,
Scully, I think that this guy is coming
unglued.  Things are not going to be pretty
if he starts losing any more control." 
Mulder slumped in his seat slightly as he
reached into his pants pocket, his expression
grim as he tossed a few dollars onto the
center of the table, just ahead of Scully's
plate.

Scully nodded, understandingly.  "I'll call
you if I come up with anything.  Otherwise,
I'll meet you back at the motel, Mulder."




XXXXXXXXXX

Mercy Memorial Hospital
Bloomington, Illinois
9:20  a.m.


He readied the last of his preparations
nervously, rearranging the chairs in his
small office and neatly restacking books in
their shelves.  He broke periodically from
his busy work to shake the thermal carafe
that sat on its own small table in the corner
of the room.  This morning's turn of events
had been almost dizzying.   He had left
Gordie's Fine Dining, not with the caramel
pecan muffin that he had stopped in for, but
with new direction and hope.  She had been
there, just feet away from the doily lined
bakery case.  He had strained to listen ,
past the buzz of morning chatter and the
clinking of many coffee cups as they hit
their saucers, catching snippets of
her conversation.  The man she was with
leaned in close to her as he spoke to her,
making it more difficult to decipher what was
being said, but he heard him speak her name
several times.  She was more than just a
dream, she was real, and he remembered her
now.  He had held her card in his wallet.  

He had called her just as he arrived, and
soon now, she would join him.   He drew his
hands into tight fists, causing his class
ring to cut into his finger.  He realized his
fortune, and had seized the opportunity, but
this is not how he liked to work.  He was a
planner.  He always planned things out in
advance, sometimes down to immaculate detail.
He realized this morning, as he saw her, that
he would not be able to afford such a luxury. 
His plans had been  conceived as he drove
back from the dinner.  He crossed the room
anxiously, his stomach in a tight knot.  He
shook the carafe once again, lifting its lid
and quickly smelling its contents before
replacing it, satisfied.  If he could just
make this work, then he would have his time
to plan.  Once he had her, the rest would
come easily.

XXXXXXXXX



End of Chapter 7.
Continued in Chapter 8.