The Pleasure of the True Lover
by Bobbi

STORIES ON THIS SITE ARE INTENDED FOR ADULTS ONLY

Summary: Mulder, Scully, and Skinner are called to NY to assist a young agent with a mysterious problem: women are dying on the city streets, with no apparent cause of death. While trying to solve the case, Skinner finds himself falling victim to the killer's erotic powers.

Being stuck indoors for days thanks to the snow appears to have been good for my writing... I finally finished this. I've been lurking here for months, loving all of the stories, but this is my first post here...so please be kind. :) This is rated NC-17 for graphic sexual situations, references to drug use and violence. It is something of a Skinner story, and it is an X-File. Just...an X-File that involves sex. :)

This was inspired by Piers Anthony's "The Firefly." If you've never read it, it's definitely a book worth reading, but make sure you read the afterword, it changed the way I saw the entire book. Thanks to my wonderful editor BasBleu, for fixing up Mulder and Scully so they sounded like Mulder and Scully, and for her invaluable plot advice. (By the way, the thing with the panties really happened to her!)

Disclaimer: Skinner, Mulder, Scully, the X-Files and all related characters Copyright Ten Thirteen Productions, no copyright infringement intended. All other characters and the work as a whole Copyright 1995 Bobbi, all rights reserved. Distribute freely as long as this introduction is attached, and no money is paid. Any scientific errors in the story are due to the fact that this is a work of fiction, not reality. Most of the science is real (I did my research!)...but some liberties were taken.

All kids under 18, read past here and Congress will be very very mad at me. All others, proceed at your own risk.

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The Pleasure of the True Lover (NC-17)
by Bobbi

Limelight Nightclub
New York City

     Julia was tired. She'd been dancing all night. Her hopes of meeting a guy had gone unfulfilled. She retrieved her coat from the coat check, kissed her friends good-bye, and let herself out into the crisp New York night. Instead of immediately hailing a cab, she walked up the Avenue of the Americas, breathing deeply. She loved the smell of New York at night. She giggled, feeling a surge run through her. She really loved this smell. It was so....erotic. Her eyes narrowed as she thought about having sex out in the open, under the few stars she could see. She moaned, and fell to her knees in the middle of the sidewalk, receiving a few choice glances from the passersby. When the man knelt down next to her and kissed her, she was already in the throes of an orgasm. When he broke her neck five minutes later, she was lost in esctacy.

FBI Headquarters
Washington, D.C.

Agent Mulder?" The voice barked into the phone.

Sir?" Mulder addressed his boss with as much respect as he could muster.

I'd like to see you and Agent Scully in my office now." There was a click as Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner broke the connection.

Mulder groaned and pocketed his phone. "Scully?" He called across the office to his partner. "We've been summoned."

Wonderful." Scully sighed and stood up, putting down the case files she'd been reading.

They walked up to Skinner's office in silence, both thinking about the case they were in the middle of right now. What could Skinner want with them? When they arrived, Skinner's secretary waved them in, without any expression on her face.

You wanted to see us Sir?" Scully knocked on the door as they entered.

Yes." Skinner stood up, as did a dark-haired woman sitting in a chair across from his desk. "Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, this is Agent Carelli."

Hello." Carelli smiled.

Hello." They replied in unison, wondering what was going on.

Let's sit over there." Skinner gestured toward the chairs in the back arranged in a square. Everyone sat down, and waited for Skinner to talk. Skinner handed out copies of a file to the three agents, and opened to the first page. "Early this morning, in New York City, a fifteen-year-old girl was found naked on the street, her neck broken."

There's nothing unusual about dead homeless in New York City." Carelli shrugged.

Skinner silenced her with a glare and moved on. "She was the fifth such death in as many days. And she wasn't homeless." He looked at Carelli, waiting for a comment.

Carelli just shrugged again, and looked at Mulder and Scully.

Do you think this is an X-File?" Mulder asked.

Skinner shrugged. "I think it could be. Normally Agent Carelli works intelligence out of the New York Bureau but she has been down here assisting for a while. I'd like her to go up and help you in New York, her knowledge and contacts there could prove invaluable."

Mulder looked at Carelli. "We don't work with other agents, not to mention that we're in the middle of a case," he insisted, remembering the last time Skinner had paired him with another agent.

You work with other agents now, and your aliens aren't going anywhere." Skinner said through clenched teeth. "I don't like the sound of what is going on in New York." He threw three plane tickets at Mulder. "Call me as soon as you know something." He stood up, the conversation clearly over.

Carelli followed Mulder and Scully out of Skinner's office. In the hall, Mulder turned around. "Look, I'm sorry if I sounded harsh in there. Scully and I work a certain way. Not everyone can accept that."

Carelli laughed. "What, do you think I'm here to undermine your personal relationship? Skinner called me in because something is 'going on' in New York. I'm from New York. Neither of you are. I'll do my job, you do yours. Ok?"

Hey, hey." Scully interjected. "Let's try to get along, ok? I'm Dana Scully." She extended her hand to Carelli.

Alex Carelli." Carelli accepted the hand. She turned to Mulder. "And you are?"

I'm Mulder." He grabbed her hand and pumped it. "Our flight leaves in an hour." He turned and walked down the hall, muttering, "'I'm from New York.' What the hell is so special about New York anyway?"

Carelli sighed, watching Mulder storm off. "'Spooky' Mulder sure likes to live up to his name, doesn't he."

Scully looked at Carelli and grinned. "Yeah, he does."

13th Precinct
New York City

We're here to see Detective Brenner?" Carelli told the front desk officer, pointing to Mulder and Scully standing behind her.

Brenner!!" The officer yelled, banging on the wall.

True New Yorkers." Mulder said to Scully quietly.

Alexandra!" A round, red faced detective opened the bullet-proof door and waved them in, trapping Carelli in a bear hug. "Why do I know this isn't a social visit?"

Mike. This is Special Agent Scully and Special Agent Mulder with the FBI. We're here investigating the recent murders of five women They've been found on the sidewalks...."

Yeah, naked, within minutes after death. I know. I'd been wondering if the Feds were going to get involved." Brenner sighed. "Come on, I'll show you."

They sat down in a bleak room at a long metal table. Brenner dropped five boxes in front of them. "The pictures are in there, if you care to see them. Those are the freakiest things about these murders."

Mulder dug them out and stared. "These girls look like they're in ecstasy."

Brenner nodded. "I know."

Can I autopsy the bodies?" Scully asked.

All except for the girl from this morning, have been autopsied already. But if you head over to St. Vincent's now, I bet they'll let you take a crack at her."

Thanks." Scully stood up. "I'll let you know when I find something." She said to Mulder, and walked quickly out of the room.

Mike, can we borrow these files?" Carelli looked at Brenner, begging.

Ok. But you lose them, it's my job, understand? You could just get these through official channels you know..." Brenner smiled. "But, I suppose you have your reasons. Anyway, you take good care of my Alexandra now. She's the most beautiful girl there is, you know." He smiled at Mulder. "Of course, I'm sure you've noticed."

Carelli blushed. "Mike, you talk a storm. Thanks." She kissed him on the cheek, and they left.

What do you want to do?" Mulder asked Carelli as they walked outside.

Nothing in particular right now other than scour these files. But when I'm with Mike too long, he gets aggressive. I've learned that he's better in small doses."

Mulder laughed as they got into their rental car. "So, where are we going?"

I guess my apartment. We can read these there. Go over the Brooklyn Bridge and I'll give you directions from there."

St. Vincent's Hospital
New York City

Scully spoke quietly into her Dictaphone as she worked, checking over every inch of the girl's body. She drew some blood and left some tests running, all the while growing more and more puzzled by what she was seeing. Finished with the external exam, she started the internal, and drew in her breath. "What the...."

Agent Alex Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, NY

Mulder grabbed his phone on the first ring. "Mulder."

How's this for strange?" Scully sounded breathless. "Mulder, this girl died having sex."

On a sidewalk?" Mulder frowned. "How?"

I don't know. But there is no doubt, I found fresh ejaculate. I even did x-rays on the fractures in her neck and back, and the angles are right. It's as if whoever she was having sex with just broke her in two, and she enjoyed it. There is NO sign of a struggle, yet she was probably conscious until she died. Have you found anything?"

These are all teenage girls, out for a night on the town. They're all leaving a nightclub or bar, and they're always alone. No traces of drug use, not even alcohol, in any of the girls. Other than that, I don't know. Carelli is calling her 'friends' on her phone now." Mulder replied.

Where are you?"

Carelli's house. Let me get her to give you directions." He walked over to Carelli and tapped her on the shoulder.

Who is this guy?" Carelli was saying loudly into the phone. "Tell me something!" She shook her head at Mulder, pointing at the phone. "Come on, don't fuck me over, Tony, you know you owe me one. One of the girls was seen leaving your club, maybe you're involved? An address, that's all I ask for." She stared at the floor and bit her nails in silence. "Avenue A and 25th? Is that the warehouse....OK. Thanks. Yes, we're even now." She hung up the phone. "Yes!" She grinned. "What?"

Can you give Scully directions?" Mulder handed her the phone.

Oh, sure." As Carelli took the phone from him, a vigorous knocking echoed through the apartment.

Could you get that?" Carelli asked, before turning her attention to Scully.

Avenue A and 25th Streets New York City

Scully stared at Skinner and Carelli's backs and shrugged. " I don't understand why Skinner insisted on coming, but, what can we do?"

Mulder shook his head. "Something is very fishy. I don't know what it is, but it's something."

All my friend could tell me was that he's heard about the murders, and, word is, the man who's been committing them lives here." Carelli shook her head. "There's something very strange about that, not too many people are able to remain anonymous for long, and five days is a long time. As big as New York is, it's rather small."

Skinner made a face. "I hate this city." He turned to Mulder and Scully." They nodded. "OK. Everyone knows where to go? If we don't find him, we can't see anything on the street from any of the adjacent buildings. We're going to have to stay in here. Understand?"

They filed into the decrepit warehouse, spreading out across the building. As soon as it had been established that their suspect was not home, they all settled in for the stakeout. They didn't have a warrant, so they couldn't really search anything. But since it was public property, they could wait.

Alex Carelli sat down in a corner of the room she'd been given to secure and stretched her legs contemplating "Spooky" Mulder, and his partner, Scully. Scully seemed to be really sweet underneath the tough exterior but Mulder had something up his ass somewhere. Carelli grinned, and her stomach twitched. "Getting horny now, am I?" She whispered to herself, shaking her head. Sometimes she could be so weird...

Mulder paced around the room, trying to keep his mind off Agent Carelli and, more specifically, off Agent Carelli's legs. And breasts. And lips. He ran his hands through his hair. This was silly...

Skinner was leaning his head against the wall, trying to catch his breath, trying to ignore the feelings surging through his legs, up towards his head. What the hell was going on?

Scully sniffed the suddenly sweet air, and moaned as the air seemed to fill her body with warmth. She closed her eyes slightly, arching her back. It had been so long...

Carelli felt herself explode into a mindboggling orgasm, the universe shattering around her. Shaking, she stared at the ground, wondering what had just taken hold of her. Feeling completely worthless, she tried to collect herself as Skinner, Scully and Mulder ran into the room.

Are you ok?" Mulder asked Carelli, watching her eyes narrow when she thought about how she really was. More sexually content than she had been in years.

Fine." Carelli frowned. "But I think I hallucinated, or something..."

I have to ask this, ok?" Mulder looked at everyone in apology. "But do any of you remember having blatantly sexual thoughts?"

Yes." Skinner nodded solemnly.

Did any of you have an orgasm?"

Carelli nodded. "I did."

Me too." Scully added.

I did," Mulder said pensively, "and you Sir?"

Yes." Skinner said softly, looking away from the group.

Oh my." Scully stared at the ground. She shook her head, and straightened her back. "We'd better get back to the hospital, I want blood samples from all of you. I have to find out what happened."

Carelli nodded again, not wanting to elaborate.

We should probably call it a night." Skinner looked around the group. "I'll meet you two at Agent Carelli's at 08:00." He looked at Scully, "I'll go by the hospital on my way to the hotel." He walked off, like the others, trying desperately to maintain some dignity in light of what had just happened.

You are welcome to crash at my apartment." Alex looked at Mulder and Scully. "I have one spare bedroom and a couch, if one of you can handle a couch..."

I rarely sleep in a bed." Mulder admitted, smiling weakly.

You should try it sometime, though it's better when you're not alone." Carelli said breathlessly, before she could stop herself. She covered her mouth with her hands, staring at Mulder in horrified astonishment. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say...that just popped out..."

Mulder grinned. "That's ok. You're probably right."

Something is definitely effecting us here. We'd better go get those samples."

Agent Alex Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, New York

You're early." Carelli opened the door to find Skinner filling the frame.

Are Agent Mulder and Agent Scully here yet?" Skinner pushed past her and into the room.

Yes. They're getting dressed." Carelli frowned at Skinner. "Coffee?"

Yes. Black." He removed his coat, and looked at Carelli, holding it up.

Closet's right there." She pointed to the door and went into the kitchen. And people said New Yorkers were cold? This man could freeze the sun! She poured the coffee and went back into the living room to find Mulder and Scully sitting and conferring with Skinner.

OK." Skinner accepted the coffee from Carelli with a nod, pointing to a chair. "Let's get started. Scully?"

I spent the night in the labs over at St. Vincent's. Alex had a friend who got me clearance. What I think happened was that we each received a large dose of pheromones. Of course, I don't know how this happened, but they were present in considerable amounts in our blood." Scully shook her head. "It's very strange."

Pheromones?" Skinner asked.

Pheromones closely resemble hormones. They are released from one animal to effect another one, generally in a sexual manner. Insects, ants, and mammals have been shown to use these to attract the opposite sex. Pheromones are the reason you have to get your dogs spayed or neutered, otherwise they'll attract half the neighborhood. But they are used for other purposes. There are some species of tropical orchids that release the sexual pheromones of wasps. Male wasps trying to mate with these flowers end up carrying the orchid pollen from one flower to another."

They're used to manipulate?" Mulder asked.

If you call it manipulation, yes." Scully frowned. "But it is a biochemical reaction. Primates are effected by pheromones also, proven by the fact that human sweat only takes on an odor at puberty."

Wow. So it wasn't my fault I was a horny teen?" Carelli joked.

Skinner glared at Carelli.

Sorry, Sir." Carelli straightened her back.

Something, somehow, got a massive amount of pheromones into our blood stream." Scully finished. "It was probably air-borne. If so - I don't know a mask in the world that could filter this out, Sir."

We'll stake out the place again, now that we're more aware of what we're up against." Skinner announced. "Carelli, can you get us instruments to measure the air in there?"

Carelli nodded. "It'll take a few hours."

As soon as possible. And then we wait. We have to know what this thing is before we can stop it."

Avenue A and 25th Street New York City

They all settled into the same spots as before, setting up the equipment, testing it, making sure everything was functioning. The most important thing was for them to stay alert and separate from each other.

Skinner sat on the floor and sighed. He really didn't need this assignment being thrown at him. Why was the Assistant Director of the FBI doing field work? That damn Cancer Man had better know what he was doing, pulling his agents off a case, forcing Carelli on him, making him come up here and do this himself. The last thing he'd needed lately were sexual feelings being shoved on him like this...in this horrid city....he felt his legs begin to tingle. It was here...

Carelli sat up with a start when she heard the machine in the corner omit a series of beeps. She looked at the numbers scrolling across the dials, and whistled. She moaned as her heart suddenly fell through her stomach. Could she fight this? How could she, it felt so good....

Scully forced her eyes open and listened to her own gasps. "Be quiet, Dana." She thought to herself. If she was going to come, she didn't need to let Skinner and Mulder know. She could only stare as a man walked into the room and removed the disk from her computer; she was coming too hard to move.

Mulder sat back, and let himself be overcome by the pheromones. He figured he couldn't fight it, and they were harmless. He screamed as a shock wave surged through his body, not noticing the man who walked over to the printer Mulder had set up, and ripped off the paper.

Fifteen minutes later, the glassy-eyed group met on the sidewalk outside the building.

"So?" Mulder looked at everyone.

Carelli and Skinner just nodded.

"If this stuff could be packaged..." Mulder cracked.

"It would be incredibly dangerous." Carelli cut off Mulder, looking worried. "We are Federal Agents, trained to remain alert. Something took the tape out of a machine sitting three feet away from me. Something got that close to me..." She shuddered.

"I saw him." Scully said quietly.

"Really?" Carelli stared at Scully.

"He was in my room too; he got my printouts." Mulder said.

"Something got my information too." Skinner frowned. "Is he a man?"

"Yes." Scully nodded. "A plain, old, normal man. I don't know how he could be doing this."

"Alex, work your contacts, find out more about this guy. Scully, is there anything more you can do at the hospital?" Skinner was in "Command Sergeant" mode. "Not really, not without more data, Sir."

Skinner nodded. "Then go with Alex. Mulder, you hit your contacts."

"Skinner, why would my contacts..." Mulder started.

"Just try." Skinner snapped. "We'll meet back here at 20:00."

"And what are you going to do...Sir?" Carelli asked quietly. She'd had enough of this chrome-dome...

"Agent Carelli?" Skinner turned to face her.

"Sir, we are ignoring one path we should be following, the connection between the girls. They were all leaving clubs...all the same age to the month...don't you think that is worth consideration, Sir?" She looked at Skinner innocently.

"I don't know how things are run in New York, but in Washington, we don't tolerate insubordination. Is that understood?" Skinner's lip was twitching.

"Yes, Sir." Carelli felt her face starting to turn red.

"See you in three hours." He stormed off.

"Jesus Christ." Carelli stared at Skinner's back. "Is he always like this?"

"No." Mulder smiled. "But then again, he's not always working with a new, beautiful agent while trying to avoid having orgasms all day."

Carelli whirled around to face Mulder. "Don't you dare try and implicate that I'm the reason he's acting like a prick. I'm trying to do the exact same thing, and I'm not treating him like crap."

"Actually, you are." Scully said softly.

"Pardon?" Carelli stared at Scully.

"You're attracted to Skinner. He's attracted to you. This is a very bad time for that to happen." Scully shrugged. "You're both reacting in a purely hormonal manner."

"Or you could say pheromonal manner..." Mulder cracked. Carelli glared at Scully and Mulder, trying to figure out exactly how to deny what they were saying. "I...Skinner..."

Mulder grinned. "Don't worry. I personally don't happen to share the attraction, but hey, whatever flips your whistle."

Carelli snorted and stormed off.

"Mulder, you didn't have to be that hard on her." Scully turned to Mulder.

"Oh come on, that was fun."

"It can't be easy, she's clearly attracted to him, I can only imagine if I..." Scully let the sentence trail off, realizing what she was saying sounded horrible. "I mean...oh, forget it. I should go catch Alex..." Scully ran off after Carelli.

Mulder looked at Scully's retreating figure, wondering what she had stopped herself from saying. She could only imagine if she was attracted to someone here? Meaning...she was not attracted to him. Not that it was a surprise, but it wasn't the greatest thing to hear when he was as horny as he was.

Agent Alex Carelli's Residence Brooklyn Heights, New York

"Scully, do you have any clothes that don't scream 'I'M A FED!'" Carelli sat on the edge of her bed and looked at Scully's open suitcase.

"I don't know." Scully bent down and started rifling through clothes. "A t-shirt and sweatpants..."

She held them up.

Carelli shook her head, laughing. "The t-shirt and sweats both say "Property of the F.B.I" on them. Real subtle. Come here." She walked over to her closet and pushed aside hangers, searching. "I think I have something...." She pulled out a colorful chiffon skirt and t-shirt. "Try these."

"Alex, you know I'm shorter than you..." Scully frowned as she slipped on the oversized clothes. "It doesn't matter, the bigger the better." Carelli smiled as she pulled on a tattered pair of jeans and a tight tank top.

"You're wearing that?" Scully stared at Carelli.

Carelli nodded. "It helps. You'll see." Pulling out a pair of battered combat boots, she handed them to Scully. "Wear these."

Scully looked at the masculine boots in disgust. "Combat boots?"

"Well, you can't exactly wear those." Carelli pointed to Scully's suede heels on the floor.

Scully grudgingly agreed, and slipped the oversized boots on. "So, where are we going?"

"We're going to take the subway into Manhattan, to the Village."

"Why don't we drive?" Scully asked.

"I don't have a car and Mulder has the rental. But it's fine, because as far as my contacts are concerned, I don't even have a house. I'm a junkie to them. And now, so are you. Ok?" Carelli looked at Scully. "You can't look like a fed to them."

"Um..where do I put my gun?" Scully was having a hard time attaching the holster to the back of the flimsy skirt.

"Here." Carelli handed her a small belt. "Put it between your legs."

"You have got to be kidding." Scully stared at Carelli.

"They'll see it otherwise. If you push it up high enough, it's still easy to get to."

"I don't like this..."

Washington Square Park
New York City

"Come on." Carelli pulled Scully into the park.

" New York City subways are disgusting." Scully remarked.

Carelli nodded.

"I can't believe how unsanitary they are. That man was sick on the bench, there were rats everywhere...."

Carelli, looking more like a new recruit for the homeless shelter than a federal agent, laughed. "Scully, I know how horrible they are. You don't have to point it out. Most New Yorkers just ignore it."

"Hiya sexy..." A man walking by whispered to Scully.

"Wha...." She turned around, looking at him.

"I said hi." He smiled at her, grabbing her hand. "I'll give you $30 for your panties."

Scully stared at the man, trying to come up with an appropriate response. "Come on." Carelli grabbed Scully's hand and pulled her away. "Ignore them, ok?"

Scully nodded and followed Carelli through the park. Was this a regular occurrence in New York??

Carelli suddenly veered to the right, plopping down on a bench next to a tall Jamaican. "Hi." She grinned.

"Hello." He turned to face her, leaning towards her. "And what can I get you today?" He asked in his deeply accented voice.

"A dime. Please." Carelli looked at the man, smiling coyly. As the man walked away to fulfill Carelli's request, she whispered to Scully, "Do you have a ten?"

"Yes, I think so." Scully replied, "Why?"

"When he comes back, give it to him. He'll trust you too, and he'll talk." Carelli said quickly, as the man reclaimed his seat.

Scully handed over the ten, and was given a small plastic bag in return. When she saw what it was, she pocketed it quickly, trying to ignore the pounding in her heart. She'd just bought marijuana!

"I have a question for you." Carelli whispered to the man, still smiling.

"I might have an answer." He smiled back, putting his hand on Carelli's knee.

Carelli looked down at the hand, and back at the man, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I've heard rumors that some man has been killing women like me on the street, and I need to watch out. What's going on?"

The man shook his head. "That's over my head. All I know, it's not a man. The girls call him The Lover."

"The Lover?" Scully repeated, prompting Carelli to elbow her lightly.

"What are you, a cop?" The man stared at Scully.

"No. I'm just interested in any man 'the girls' call a Lover." Scully answered.

"The girls say the Lover's good for business. But he's dangerous too, they love him and they hate him. They don't tell me anything else. I don't know if they've ever even seen him. Be careful, man." The man got up and walked away.

Carelli grabbed Scully's hand and pulled her into the nearest cab. "Avenue A and 25th" She told the driver.

"Well, that did us no good at all." Carelli frowned.

"Alex, you just had me buy pot." Scully tried to keep her voice calm.

Carelli shrugged. "So?"

"So, that's illegal. That could cost us our badges."

Carelli laughed. "Hardly. The money comes back to us from petty cash, and the pot goes to my boss, who gives it to a government lab that's testing the quality of pot on the street. It's part of undercover work Scully, it took me a year to get that man to talk to me, let alone sell to me."

Scully sighed. "I just don't see how buying drugs can be advancing justice."

"It's not. Not directly anyway. But if it helps us catch this Lover, it will help." Carelli looked at her watch. "I hope this guy speeds up, at this rate it's going to take forever, and if we're late, Mr. Clean is going to have a fit."

Avenue A and 25th
New York City

The four assembled in front of the building, an unusual looking group. A bum, a hippie, and two suits.

"Scully, your momma wears combat boots." Mulder joked when he saw her walk up with Carelli. "And look at you..." He grinned.

Carelli just scowled and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked at Skinner to find him staring at her, mouth slightly open. She suddenly felt very naked and hugged herself tightly, trying to regain control.

"What did you find out?" Skinner addressed all three simultaneously, pulling his eyes away from the sight before him.

"Not much." Carelli sighed. "My source says that he's 'not a man,' and that 'the girls' call him The Lover."

"'The girls?'" Mulder asked.

"His hookers." Carelli said dryly.

"Oh." Scully nodded in sudden understanding.

"I didn't get much more," Mulder rubbed his forehead. "It's very strange. All I got was a warning that 'when faced with pleasure beyond comprehension, not many are strong enough to say no. And no man, not a one, can resist the pleasure of the True Lover.' I didn't understand it at the time."

Carelli froze as she heard Mulder quote the poem she'd heard so often as a child.

"Who did this come from?" Skinner barked.

"Sorry Sir. All I can tell you is that as cryptic as he is, he's never been wrong." Mulder shook his head.

"We still know nothing." Skinner glared around at the agents. "I'd hoped for more. We have to go in again."

"Sir, why don't we investigate the girls first? There is no reason for us to go in there when we have other leads we haven't pursued. If we can't find anything else, then we go in. But we can't ignore the victims in this.." Carelli was trying to sound respectful, but she couldn't understand Skinner's close-mindedness on the subject of the girls. And that poem, her father's poem, what could that have to do with all of this? She couldn't go back in there until she knew how her father was involved in this....

"We will not investigate those girls. We are going in. Understand?" Skinner wished he could tell the younger agent how badly his hands were tied, that he wanted to look at the girls as much as she did, that he would rather do anything than go back in there. But if he did that, Cancer Man would surely not only have him fired, but kill him. "Now lets' go." He barked.

Carelli nodded, furious with the Assistant Director, and terrified by what lay ahead.

In pairs this time. And watch the damn equipment." Skinner snapped, before storming into the building, Mulder following close behind.

"In we go..." Carelli smiled weakly at Scully, glad nobody noticed her terror. She grabbed her computer and headed in.

"Alex?" Scully asked as they picked their way through the filth to 'their room.'

"Yup?" Carelli stopped and turned around.

"In case things get too, um, too uncomfortable, I'll leave. Ok?" Scully said quickly.

"Oh." Carelli looked at Scully. She hadn't thought about that. Leave it to Scully to think of everything. "Ok." She sat down and set up her computer.

The time passed slowly....

"Poker?" Mulder pulled out a deck of cards.

"Poker?" Skinner lifted an eyebrow at Mulder.

"Card game."

"I know what Poker is. We are on duty, Agent Mulder." Skinner frowned. "We have a job to do, and no matter what else happens, we have to do that. Understand?"

"You're trying to convince yourself, Sir." Mulder said quietly.

"Alex?" Scully was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling.

"Dana?" Carelli, redoing her hair for the thirtieth time, looked up, glad for a new distraction. She was beginning to get really excited, and her head was starting to hurt from pulling her hair so much.

"What about Skinner do you find attractive?"

Carelli giggled, the insane lust making her feel slightly drunk. "He's just very sexy. Very powerful."

Scully wriggled her hips slightly, smiling. "I don't know, I just can't see it."

"Imagine those hips between your legs." Carelli said breathlessly, spreading out next to Scully. "Those strong arms surrounding your body, that chest covering your own. So heavy, so male.."

Scully shivered and looked at Carelli. "He's here. He's been here for a while now, hasn't he?"

Carelli nodded, trying to catch her breath. She bit her bottom lip, unable to control her gasps.

Scully watched Carelli and moaned before she could stop herself. Her eyes widened as she realized what had just happened. She quickly stood up, putting a hand on the wall to steady herself against the sudden head rush. "I'd better go."

Carelli, lying on her side, looked up and nodded.

Scully stumbled to the door and turned around. "Be careful, Alex."

"You should go." Carelli whispered, frightened by the thought of what would happen if Scully stayed. Scully nodded, and picked her way out of the room.

Holding onto the walls, Scully made her way from room to room, trying to stand up and remain conscious until she found a place she felt safe. Stumbling over yet another empty bottle, she looked up and saw Mulder, lying on the floor in front of her, his tie loose, gasping. She stared, and felt her knees buckle. "Where's Skinner?"

"He left." Mulder panted, trying to get to his knees. "You should go."

Scully nodded, trying to move, but falling to the floor instead with a moan. "Mulder, I can't walk."

"Just stay over there." Mulder ordered gruffly, with obvious pain in his voice. He'd never in a million years wanted this. But there she was, beautiful, strong, Scully, moaning, crying out as pleasure shook her body. He could release all of that pleasure.

Scully fought with every last bit of her will against the surges threatening her body. Not with Mulder here. If only she could get to the door. She leaned her head against the wall, burying her face in her hands. She just couldn't look at Mulder. Mulder was staring at her. Oh god, Mulder wanted her. And she wanted Mulder. "Don't." She whispered, her eyes narrow slits, as the first of many waves crashed over her body.

Mulder knew she was right. He had a quick thought of Skinner and Carelli. Had they found each other? Could they fight this? Would they want to? He rolled away from Scully, closed his eyes, and let the seizures of pleasure overtake him, obliterating all conscious thought from his mind.

Carelli rolled onto her back and closed her eyes, hating the fact that she couldn't control herself. But god, this was incredible. She gasped, rotating her hips slightly. And all the work of a 'hormone.' Amazing. Her eyes flew open again. She couldn't let the man come while she was here. She had to watch. As a new surge of pleasure hit her body she moaned, looking around the room. Stopping on the lurking figure in the door.

"Ski...." She gasped, without the breath to say the full name.

He was staring at her through glassy eyes, breathing heavily. "Alex." He said gruffly, crossing the room and kneeling beside her.

Carelli sat up with a sudden surge of strength and grabbed Skinner's face in her hands, kissing him deeply, arching her back with pleasure as his tongue thrust into her mouth. She pawed his clothes, pulling at his shirt and pants, ripping the buttons.

He ran his fingers over her breasts, watching with obvious pleasure as she moaned and cried, pulling her flimsy shirt over her head. He moaned when she grabbed him and pressed up against him, the feeling of skin on skin was almost too good to bear. Skinner lowered his head to her breast and licked it lightly, reveling in the shocks her pleasure was sending through his body. Never, in his entire life, had he connected with another person like this.

Carelli grabbed Skinner's head in her hands, hips thrusting. She tried to speak, but all that came out was "Oh..." as she suddenly jerked, and an incredible orgasm shook her body. Skinner smiled, amazed that he was creating this kind of reaction in Carelli. As her movements stilled, he worked his way down her body, pulling off her jeans, finally stopping when he was fully lying between her legs, head next to her gun. He quickly undid the buckle and threw the belt and gun away from them. Spreading her legs even wider, he slipped his hand between them, fingering her gently. Her only response was a soft moan as she readjusted her hips. He slowly replaced his fingers with his tongue, listening to Carelli's cries increase as her body jerked in the same rhythms as his. He wanted to continue like this forever, this incredible thing he was experiencing, although he knew full well it would never happen again. But it felt so good, and it smelled, and tasted, and sounded so good he needed to continue it. He felt his hips start to push against the floor in his excitement, and he could hear Carelli's moans, feel her hands circling his head. But he was feeling such intense pleasure from kissing and licking her, he didn't stop, ignoring her cries. When he felt her arch with the force of her orgasm, he lost total control, growling and shaking as an orgasm overtook him.

"Oh my." Carelli sighed, looking down at Skinner collapsed on her stomach.

"Oh my." He smiled, moving up her body and kissing her deeply. She captured his hips between her legs, pushing herself up against him.

"I have never wanted a man so much in my life." She gasped, her eyes pupils wide with lust.

Skinner found himself surprisingly ready, and bursting to enter Carelli. He had never wanted a woman so much in his life, either. With a husky groan, he positioned himself between her legs. Arching her back, Carelli pushed herself up against him as he slid into her. She raked her nails down Skinner's back as she felt her body start to melt, completely covered by this solid man.

Skinner was forgetting who was who. All that existed was a blur of skin, bodies, and pleasure. The most incredible pleasure ever imaginable. And someone was with him. Pleasure, and he wasn't alone. He cried out as he sunk even deeper into her, actually becoming the pleasure.

Carelli lost herself in the pleasure. She forgot about breathing, about who Skinner was, about who she was. This incredible ecstasy was previously inconceivable to her. This was too much. She thought about the approaching orgasm and panicked slightly. Then Skinner kissed her deeply, and her mind exploded.

They came in unison, Skinner letting out a roar as Carelli arched with a series of gasps and whimpers. Carelli cried out as everything she knew turned the brightest white she had ever known, and just as quickly, turned pitch black. She fell back, unconscious, lying on her back, Skinner deep inside of her.

He lay on her chest, catching his breath, trying to remember what was going on. Looking up in sudden recognition, he pulled out of Carelli with a slight moan of regret, and panicked as he realized she was unconscious. He shook her. "Agent Carelli?" His voice cracked slightly as he tried to remain calm.

Carelli moaned, opening her eyes. When she saw Skinner, she sat up, trying to cover herself with her clothes. "Sir?"

"Get dressed." He didn't know what else to say, relieved that she was alive, feeling ridiculous for thinking the worst.

Carelli nodded, unable to speak, remembering what had just happened. She pulled on her underwear, her shirt, and looked around for her gun. "Oh my god." She stared at Skinner, feeling her heart sink.

"What?" He was trying, unsuccessfully, to find enough buttons remaining on his shirt to keep it together. It hung open, revealing his large, beautiful chest.

Carelli stared at Skinner, trying to comprehend the horror and pleasure of what had happened all at once. "My gun."

Skinner stared at Carelli, frozen. He grabbed his gun, which, thank god, was still in his holster, and pulled it out. Scanning the room, sure enough, Carelli's gun wasn't there. "Put your pants on." He said quietly, looking out the door.

Carelli followed his orders, visibly shaking.

Skinner walked over to her, holstering his gun, unable to think of anything to say, feeling an intense need to hold her.

"Are you two ok?" Mulder asked as he ran up to the door with Scully, stopping Skinner in his tracks.

"Fine." Skinner nodded, trying to pull himself together for his agents' sake.

"My god, Alex, you're shaking." Scully ran over to Carelli and put an arm around her.

Carelli hugged her chest, trying to collect her thoughts. But too many were running through her head. The sex, my god, the earth-shattering sex, and Skinner, he was amazing, how did he know just what to do, but he was her boss and someone got her gun, she had let someone get her gun, and then there was the Lover...how had Mulder known that poem...her head pounded from all the conflicting emotions as she leaned against Scully. "My gun."

"What about your gun?" Mulder stared at Carelli.

"Someone took Carelli's gun." Skinner said through tightly clenched teeth.

"Alex, you keep your gun between your legs." Scully said softly.

Alex nodded, starting to feel her composure breaking.

Mulder and Scully stared at Carelli and Skinner in sudden understanding. "Oh my god." Scully hugged Carelli tightly, trying to still her shaking.

"Carelli passed out earlier." Skinner said as unemotionally as possible. "I'd like you to take a look at her, Scully."

"Yes, Sir." Scully said, pulling Carelli towards the door. "I'm taking her home."

Outside the decrepit warehouse, Scully hailed a cab and pushed Carelli inside. Neither saw the man sitting on the steps across the street, playing with a gun, smelling it, grinning widely, carefully watching them. He was having a better time than he'd had in years.

"Sir?" Mulder said cautiously as the two women left the room.

"Agent Mulder, I'd appreciate it if we didn't discuss what just happened in this room." Skinner said tersely.

"Sir, with all due respect, a Federal Agent's gun was just stolen. If this gun is used in the commission of a crime..." Mulder didn't need to say more. Skinner had been thinking the exact same thing.

"I am rather aware of the precariousness of our current situation." Skinner snapped. He was also fully aware that it was basically his fault that they were in this situation. Why couldn't he stop himself from touching her? Why had he gone in there at all? He could still feel her in his arms, her soft body surrounding him, crying and moaning into his mouth. He remembered the panic when he saw her lying there, not moving, the fear that gripped his heart.

"What do we do now." Mulder asked quietly.

Skinner stared at Mulder. DO? He had just had the most incredible pleasurable experience ever known to man with one of his AGENTS, lost her gun in the process, and Mulder wanted to know what to do. His eyes narrowed when he remembered that Mulder had shown up with Scully. "Did you and Agent Scully..." He let his sentence trail off, feeling horrible for almost hoping the answer would be yes, that he wouldn't be the only one who had lost all self-control.

"No." Mulder shook his head. "It was very difficult though, Sir, and I wasn't previously interested in Agent Scully. No other man in your situation would have done any different."

Skinner frowned. 'No other man?' Most other men weren't Assistant Directors of the FBI. He should have done different.

'No man, not a one, can resist the pleasure of the True Lover'" Mulder quoted.

Skinner scowled, and turned to the door. "Tomorrow, 8:00." He stormed out the door, trying to control his anger and frustration.

Mulder couldn't help a small grin as Skinner stomped out of the room. He never would have expected anything so human from the man.

Agent Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, New York

Scully led Carelli into her apartment and laid her down on the bed. "Just rest." She soothed, worried by how shook up Carelli was, and how rattled Skinner had been acting. What had happened between the two of them was clear, but why were they both this disturbed by it?

Carelli opened her eyes to look up at Scully. "Dana?" She said quietly.

"Alex?" Scully looked down, her heart filling with sympathy at the pain in Carelli's eyes.

"My gun..." Carelli fought to keep tears from pouring down her face. She knew, if she let them fall, she would fall apart.

"We'll find your gun tomorrow. Now you just should sleep." She patted Carelli's hand lightly, unable to say anything more reassuring. It was horrible that this Lover had Carelli's gun, and she really didn't know what they could do now. Carelli was right, Skinner was keeping them from doing a full investigation.

"Skinner...he..." Carelli needed to talk. She sat up slightly, rubbing her eyes. "Dana, I didn't think it was imaginable. What happened."

Scully stared at Carelli, realizing exactly what had made Skinner so uncomfortable.

"I couldn't control myself. As soon as I saw him, I wanted him, needed him so badly that I couldn't stop myself. There wasn't a single rational thought in my head from the moment I touched him. I forgot to breathe. My god Scully, I passed out. I have never, in my life, done that before." Carelli said quietly, needing to get the experience out of her head. "It's like I can still feel every single thing that happened, what he did to me....how can I ever look at him the same way again?" She looked up at Scully, begging for an answer.

Scully shook her head. "You can't. But you can move on."

Carelli just stared at the floor, her head in her hands, a lone tear rolling down her face. Finally, she looked at Scully and sighed. "Thank you for bringing me home."

Scully smiled. "Don't worry about it."

Scully shut Carelli's bedroom door and walked into the kitchen to make coffee. The doorbell rang, and she went to open it, revealing a grinning Mulder.

"Did you see Skinner?" He whispered, scanning the room for signs of Carelli.

"She's asleep." Scully said quietly. "And yes, of course I saw Skinner."

"He is completely shaken by this thing." Mulder smiled at Scully.

"Mulder, what happened between Carelli and Skinner, to hear her talk about it, the power this thing had over them..." Scully shuddered. "And now The Lover has Carelli's gun."

"I'm going to meet with my friend tonight." Mulder nodded. "He has to tell me more. We can't stake the place out anymore, not after this."

Scully agreed. She didn't think she could resist Mulder a second time.

Times Square
New York City

Mulder walked the six blocks down to Times Square from where his cab dropped him off, staring in amazement as the neighborhood changed before his eyes. Topless bars and XXX video stores popped up more and more as he walked down Broadway. He grinned, it was almost a shame he was here on a job. Here, he could have some fun.

Reaching his destination, he walked inside the Playland, scanning the crowded game room for his source.

"You needed to see me?" A voice whispered in his ear. Whirling around, he looked up at the cocky face of Mr. X. "Badly enough that you dare call me up here?"

"I need to know about The Lover." Mulder looked up at the mysterious man. "I need your help."

"Yes, I heard you got yourselves in an interesting situation today. Something about Agent Carelli's gun? And Assistant Director Skinner?" The man frowned. "Just leave this alone Mulder, you don't know who this man is."

"So tell me." Mulder pleaded with Mr. X.

"Look at the girls who have been killed. The Lover is completely human, there isn't anything supernatural about him. He's getting revenge, and you've distracted him. Or, I should say, Agent Carelli appears to have distracted him."

"Revenge for what? And what about the girls? Why can't we investigate them? Why is Skinner stopping us?"

Mr. X. shook his head. "You should get back to your partner and Agent Carelli. It's late."

"Revenge for what?" Mulder repeated, grabbing Mr. X's arm.

Mr. X. roughly pulled his arm away, glaring at Mulder. "You don't want to find out. There's a high enough price on your head to begin with. Don't drag your fellow agents down with you." He pushed Mulder away and walked out of the arcade.

Skinner arrived at the building on 46th Street and let himself into the dark, smoky room upstairs. He burst into the meeting room, pointed at the Smoking Man, walked into the hall, and waited.

"How dare you come in here like this." The man ground out his cigarette on the floor, closing the meeting room door behind him.

"What the hell is going on here? Who is this Lover character?"

Cancer Man just smiled. "I heard things got a little too close for you. You haven't figured out how to neutralize him yet, I see."

"What is this game that I am a pawn in?" Skinner continued his questioning, ignoring Cancer Man.

"Oh, you're not a pawn. You are definitely a player. You made that perfectly clear earlier today." The man lit another cigarette and blew smoke in Skinner's face. "Stop him. And get that damn gun back before he does something with it."

"Who is he? Why is my investigation so limited?" Skinner barked, reaching the limits of his patience.

"He's a scientist who made himself an experiment. On our money. Now he thinks he can play with us." Cancer Man looked at Skinner and sneered. "I suppose he has been playing with you, anyway. Stop him. All limits are off." With a final look at Skinner, he let himself back into the meeting room, slamming the door behind him.

Skinner wandered the city, trying to think clearly. But his thoughts were going in circles, always ending on the same thought. Was Carelli all right? He'd seen her face, she looked horrified. He had to know. Finally, he hailed a cab, and headed to Brooklyn.

Agent Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, New York

Mulder was sitting at the kitchen table across from Scully, cracking sunflower seeds between his teeth. "The files don't say anything about the girl's families."

Scully nodded. "There should at least be something about who their parents are, they're all minors."

"Hi." Carelli, wrapped in a plush terrycloth robe, walked into the kitchen and poured herself some coffee. She sat down at the table, wrapping her hands around the warmth of the mug. "I'm sorry if I sort of, well, lost it earlier."

"Don't worry about it." Scully shook her head. "Everyone lost their control for a while there."

Carelli sighed and took a sip of the hot coffee, burning her tongue. She winced. "How's Skinner?" She asked, unable to stop thinking about him. Her sleep had been tormented by pictures and sounds of him. His cries, the look in his eyes as he entered her, the way his body jerked as he came. It was as if the pheromones had never left her body, as memories of the experience kept her wanting him more and more.

Fine," Mulder lied, figuring it wouldn't help Carelli at all to know what a wreck Skinner was. "He left right after you two did."

Of course Skinner would be fine. Carelli berated herself for thinking otherwise. He was completely professional, and what happened between them was a mistake. Unavoidable, but a mistake. Now if she could just forget the tingles she still felt running through her skin...

The buzzer sounded and Mulder got up to answer the door.

"Are you alright?" Scully asked Carelli quietly, so Mulder wouldn't hear.

Carelli shrugged. "I suppose."

Skinner walked into the room, his eyes searching out Carelli's. They stared at each other in silence, until Mulder spoke.

"Did you find out anything?" He asked.

Skinner grabbed a chair and sat down, not looking at Carelli again, ignoring the surges of pleasure the sight of her wrought in his body. "He's a scientist who did some experimenting on himself with some secret government money. Now he's out playing vigilante, for some reason."

"He's getting revenge." Mulder added. "Something about who those girls are.."

Carelli just sat listening in silence, unable to believe what she was hearing. Could this be what her father had been doing so long ago?

"What do you mean?" Skinner's eyes narrowed as he looked at Mulder.

"There is nothing in any of those files about those girls families. The information should be there." Scully answered.

"So get the information." Skinner replied.

"Yes Sir." Scully, surprised, stood up, looking at Mulder. Were they to go get the information now, at 11:00 at night, and leave Skinner and Carelli alone? Was that a good idea? Mulder nodded. The sexual tension flying between Skinner and Carelli was incredibly strong, even he was becoming aroused by it. And who knew what had changed Skinner's mind on investigating the girls. They had to do the research before he changed his mind again. He stood up, and left the room, Scully following.

"Mulder?" Scully walked down the street with Mulder, scanning for a taxi.

"Did you feel the tension between the two of them?" Mulder grinned, looking at Scully.

Scully nodded. "I was thinking maybe the Lover was there..."

"No.." Mulder shook his head. "That's impossible. I think they were just shooting off sparks or something."

Scully stared at her partner in disbelief, laughing softly. "Mulder, I never would have guessed that under all that, you're a romantic."

Mulder smiled coyly. "There are a lot of things you wouldn't guess about me."

"Where are we going to find a cab here this late?" Scully stared at the empty street.

"I don't think we are." Mulder pointed to the subway station. "Shall we?"

Scully shook her head. "I don't know...we don't really know how to use the subways..."

"Oh, how hard could it be?"

Armed with garbled train directions from the token booth, the pair descended to the hot, sticky platform. They had the station to themselves, save for one drunk using the corner for a urinal, and another asleep on the bench.

"Personally I prefer the Metro." Scully said to Mulder as they walked to the middle of the platform.

After about twenty minutes, and a number of off-key show tunes from the man who had been relieving himself earlier, their train arrived. They jumped on, glad to be away from the dirty station. Finding two seats together, they sat down.

"How long are we on here for?" Scully whispered to Mulder.

"Until West 4th Street." Mulder replied.

Scully scowled at Mulder. "And that is supposed to mean something to me? How many stops?"

"I don't know." Mulder whispered back.

"It's about 8." A man sitting across from the two of them offered.

"Thank you." Mulder looked up.

Scully nodded her thanks.

"You know, your friend here has beautiful eyes." The man told Mulder. Mulder turned toward Scully, ignoring him.

"Some people would pay a lot of money to get near a woman like her." The man continued, getting up and moving towards the two agents.

"Mulder..." Scully said cautiously, watching Mulder's face contort with anger.

"Really, man, her eyes, she has beautiful eyes...and hair..." The man insisted Mulder listen.

"She also has a gun, a beautiful gun." Scully, stood up, pulled her weapon out and leveled it at the man. "Agent Scully."

Mulder grinned widely. "Agent Mulder." He pulled out his I.D. and showed it to the man.

"Oh. Sorry man..." The man, eyes hanging out of his head, quickly ran to another car, no doubt, off to try again.

Scully laughed and sat back down next to Mulder.

13th Precinct
New York City

"We're here to see Detective Brenner, please." Scully politely informed the officer at the front desk.

"BRENNER!!!" He shouted, looking at Scully coyly, leaning forward in his chair. "You're a new one. What you want with him?"

Scully looked back at the man, and pulled out her badge. "Agent Scully, FBI Official business."

"Oh." The man sat back uncomfortably.

"Ah, Scully and Mulder, right?" Detective Brenner greeted the two with warm smiles. "I see you two also like to burn the midnight oil, huh?" He led the two to a crowded office. "It's not spacious, but its mine."

Mulder smiled. "You should see ours, it's worse."

Brenner shoved piles of paper off two chairs and pointed to them, taking a seat at his desk. "Now, why do I think this isn't a social call?" He grinned at Scully.

She cleared her throat. "We noticed that there is nothing in any of the victim's files about their families."

Brenner looked at Scully curiously. "Are you sure?"

Scully nodded. "Yes, there was nothing at all."

Brenner walked over to one large pile and shuffled around. "These are my copies of the reports. The information, including drivers license pictures, are in here." He handed them to Scully.

Scully looked at the papers, and shook her head. "The information is here. Can we copy these?"

"Sure." Brenner nodded, and showed them to the copy machine.

Agent Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, New York

"Agent Carelli." Skinner looked at Carelli.

"Please, Skinner, it's Alex." Carelli looked up at him, shaking her head. "We are slightly past that, I think."

Skinner nodded his understanding. What could he say to her when all he wanted to do was hold her and comfort her? Tell her everything would be all right. Kiss her and run his hands down her soft, tight body. Hear her moan again.

Carelli drew in a sharp breath as she saw Skinner's eyes narrow. She was feeling the same urges he was. "We, um, I..." She needed to say something, she just didn't know what.

"Carelli, that was the most amazing experience of my life." Skinner said quickly, needing to tell her what she did to him.

"Mine too." Carelli agreed, increasingly conscious of how little clothing she was wearing. A robe, her silk nightshirt, and her Mickey Mouse slippers. Very little clothing.

Skinner was becoming increasingly aware of that fact also, sweeping his eyes over her body. He reached for her hand. "I don't know if all this is because of the pheromones."

Carelli jumped at his touch, staring at him, trying to sort out the love, lust and fear she was feeling. "I don't think all of it is." She voiced her fear, hoping she could resolve it. The words finally out in the open, Skinner sighed with relief. She was feeling it too.

Outside Carelli's kitchen window, The Lover sat on the fire escape, watching the scene inside the kitchen play itself out, giggling as he stroked the gun he'd acquired earlier today. It had been a long time since he'd played with people like this, he'd actually let it distract him from his current project. He had been having so much trouble with those last two anyway. He was having fun now, convincing the beautiful agent and stern director that they were in love, knowing that it was his presence that was making them fall. That they were FBI made the manipulation only that much sweeter. But of course, they had to die soon. Otherwise, when he left, they would realize how false their feelings were. If he could see them do that, it would be one thing. But since he couldn't watch, he figured there was no purpose in making them go through the pain. A little more fun, and he would kill them. They'd die happy though. His victims always did.

Walter held Alex's palm between his hands, rubbing it gently, staring deep into her eyes. "Alex, I..."

Alex stared at the beautiful man in front of her with tears in his eyes. She inhaled sharply as a wave of pleasure surged through her body. If she didn't know better, she'd think The Lover was there. But that would be impossible... She slowly stood up, walking over to where Walter sat, still rubbing her palm. He looked up at her and smiled sensually, shifting his hips slightly at the sheer eroticism of her presence. He let go of her hand to grasp her waist and pull her into his lap. Straddling his hips, she sat down, settling in his lap. Surrounding her with his arms, he pulled her in close and kissed her deeply, one hand on the back of her neck, the other running through her hair. She arched her back with a soft cry, electric lighting bolts shooting through her body.

Alex pulled open the buttons on his shirt, eager to get at his skin. "I thought I got rid of these last time." She smiled, kissing his chest as the shirt finally fell open.

"I had to change..." Walter replied through clenched teeth, trying to remain in some control as his head started to spin and a deep, hot throbbing began between his legs.

Alex growled deep in her throat as she pushed the shirt over his powerful shoulders and fell on his nipples, licking and sucking them deeply. Walter's head fell back with a husky cry as her hands started unzipping his pants.

"Wait." He stopped her hands, pulling them behind her back.

"What?" She smiled coyly, kissing him deeply, rotating her hips on his lap.

"Let's take things a little slower this time." He stood up, gathered Alex in his arms, and carried her into her bedroom. Lying her down on the bed, he lay carefully down on top of her, pushing his growing bulge into her heat.

Alex moaned, grabbing his head and pulling him down to kiss her. Glad to oblige, he kissed her deeply, feeling like he could never get enough of her.

The Lover wasn't too thrilled with the change in venue Carelli and Skinner had chosen. There wasn't a fire escape outside Carelli's bedroom. A ledge, but that was it. He hated climbing ledges, but it wasn't any fun for him to be affecting the two when he couldn't see what he was doing to them. Shaking his head, he carefully made his way over to the ledge and peeked in the window to see Skinner sliding Carelli's nightshirt over her head and letting it fall to the side of the bed. He grinned. Now this was what he liked to see.

Her chest finally free of the covering, Walter fastened a mouth on one breast and a hand on the other, listening with pure pleasure as Alex moaned and gasped in response.

"Walter..." Alex moaned.

He looked up, not stopping his relentless licks and suckles.

"Make love to me." She gasped, pulling his shoulders up to her.

Walter's heart fell through his chest. What man could resist when a woman said those words like that, so full of lust and desire. He straightened out, and flipped onto his back.

Alex grinned, scrambling to straddle Walter's large hips, bending over his body to kiss him. "Ready?" She smiled in amazement as she held him in her hand, not realizing before exactly how big he was.

Walter nodded as she slid down over him, enveloping him from tip to base. She leaned down to kiss him, rotating her hips slightly.

He moaned into her mouth, luxuriating in the feel of her, how hot and soft she was surrounding him, what a perfect fit she was.

Grabbing Alex's hips, Walter pushed himself up deeper and deeper, watching her with increasing pleasure as they found a rhythm they both liked. They moved together slowly, trying to prolong this immeasurable pleasure for as long as possible.

Alex started to bounce up and down a little more, wanting more and more of Walter. She leaned over his chest trying to catch her breath, resting for a second. Walter took the moment as an opportunity and flipped Alex over, still inside of her. He slid her legs over his shoulders and kissed her deeply, pushing further and further inside of her.

With a cry Alex grabbed Walter's buttocks, pulling him in, feeling like nothing in the world could make her complete except this man. "Walter..." She opened her eyes, wanting to see him come.

"I love you Alex..." Walter stared deep into Alex's eyes, fully believing that he was telling the truth.

"I love you too." She gasped, as he slid his hands around her hips and lifted them, so he could push even deeper inside of her. Her back fully off the bed, she cried out as he started slamming into her, harder and harder.

They quickened their movements as their moans became louder, animalistic in their search for pure pleasure. With two simultaneous screams they came, the ecstasy washing over them.

The Lover smiled as he came along with them, fondling the gun. It took so much for him these days. He missed when the pheromones affected him the way it did these two. But they hadn't made him excited in over twenty years. Being saturated with the damn stuff would do that to a man. So he went a little mad, so he couldn't get off on the stuff. But he found ways to keep himself occupied now. The few things he remembered of the man he was before were enough. He got up, still grinning, waved a quick good-bye to Skinner and Carelli still entangled on the bed inside, and made his way down to the street. He had two girls to kill.

Skinner and Carelli lay on the bed cuddling, both glowing in the light of their lovemaking. Alex planted a kiss on Walter's chest, smiling. "I still can't believe how beautiful you are." She ran a hand around his waist, enjoying his gasp as she ran her fingers up and down his chest.

"And you..." He said gruffly, grabbing her hand and stopping its movements. "Are evil." He kissed her deeply, listening for her moans to begin, confident that they would. When they did, he pulled away, smiling. He never knew he could have this much sexual power over a woman. It was incredible. And fair, since she had exactly the same amount of power over him. They melted in each other's arms. Together.

"Do you think its safe to come back?" Mulder stopped before pressing the buzzer at Carelli's door.

"It's been five hours Mulder, and we have to see that picture. The stakes in this seem to constantly be rising." Scully nodded. "Even if it isn't 'safe,' both Carelli and Skinner know what we have to do."

Mulder pressed the buzzer.

"Oh shit." Carelli jumped out of bed, grabbing her nightshirt. She slipped it on, and pulled her robe on, while Skinner watched with obvious delight. "What??" She stopped to stare at him.

"You are so cute." He giggled.

Carelli watched in amazement. Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner of the FBI just giggled. Lying naked in her bed, he looked, and was acting like, a teenager. It was a beautiful sight, but they both had a job to do. "That has to be Mulder and Scully at the door."

Skinner stopped giggling as he realized his responsibility to do his job. He jumped out of bed, and started pulling on clothes as Carelli ran to open the door.

"Hi." Carelli smiled at Mulder and Scully, waving them into the apartment.

"I hope we didn't interrupt anything..." Mulder grinned as Skinner walked out of Carelli's bedroom, buttoning his shirt.

Skinner looked at Mulder, not appreciating the comment. "Did you find anything out?" He asked brusquely.

"I'll know in a minute." Mulder walked over to where he'd left his bag and pulled out a picture his mother had given him of his father standing with a group of men. He held it up to Scully. "Is he in here?"

Scully stared at the picture and gasped. "That's him." She pointed to a rather plain looking man in the back left hand corner of the picture.

Mulder grabbed the file the two had brought and pulled out five pictures. "These are the fathers of the dead girls." He held them up to the picture, throwing them down when one by one, he located them in his picture. He whirled around to face Skinner. "What the hell is going on? Why were we called in? This is another one of your Smoking friend's escapades, isn't it! Why are you doing this?"

"I don't know what is going on." Skinner stared at the picture, trying to figure out just that. "I think I have been sent here under false pretenses. I don't know why."

"My father was part of Operation Paper Clip. The other picture I have that was taken at this location is full of men who were in Paper Clip. What would this man have to do with it?"

"Wait," Carelli interjected. "What is Paper Clip?"

"After World War II, the American government brought Nazi war criminals to the United States to do research for the government. These men were all part of the project." Mulder handed Carelli the picture. "Our Lover is in that picture, along with the fathers of all of the dead girls."

"So, this man is killing the daughters of all of these men. For revenge? Like your source said?" Carelli asked trying to keep her voice steady.

"All the daughters? Or all the children?" Scully looked at Mulder.

"Nobody has tried to kill me in a long time." Mulder grinned coyly at Scully. "My father is in this picture." He explained to Carelli and Skinner.

"Who are the other men in that picture?" Skinner asked.

"I don't know." Mulder replied, shaking his head.

"It's late. We'll figure this out in the morning." Skinner sighed, grabbed his coat from the closet, and with a quick glance at Carelli, left.

Carelli sat down on the couch, staring at the picture Mulder had handed her, shaking. "I know this man."

"Who?"

"Christopher Meadows. He was with the FBI for years, but now he's just a recluse. Lives on the Upper West Side. He worked with the Nazi's on something during the war." Her voice cracked as she tried to remain calm.

Scully sat down next to Carelli and took the picture from her, placing it on the table. "Work tomorrow. Now, how do you feel tonight?"

Mulder sat down in a chair across from the two women, wanting to sit in on the "girl talk."

Carelli stretched, her robe sliding open. She pushed it off, suddenly feeling warm in the night air. "I feel pretty good," she lied. What was Christopher Meadows doing in that picture?

"Your nightshirt is on inside out." Scully pointed out, stifling a giggle.

Carelli smiled. "Well, I didn't have a lot of time to put it on."

"See, we did interrupt." Mulder smirked at Scully.

She rolled her eyes. "So we did. I'm sorry Alex."

"Oh no, that's ok." Carelli shook her head. "As great as all that," she waved her hand toward the bedroom, "is, I can't get over how strange everything that's been going on is. My gun was stolen, we have to find this man to get the gun back, but we can't go near him without losing complete control. Is this what an X-File is?"

Scully laughed lightly. "They're not all this weird, and they don't all include Skinner as center spotlight, but yes, this is an X-File."

Carelli looked at Mulder. "No insult intended to you, but I miss my computer hackers and Mafia dons."

Mulder smiled. "No insult taken."

Getting up, Carelli grabbed her robe. "I'm going to sleep, it's been a long day." She went into her bedroom, and shut her door.

"She seems to be doing fine." Mulder remarked.

"She seems to be very shook up, Mulder." Scully stared at Mulder. "You're the psychologist, you can't tell that she's hiding something? Something has affected Alex more than she wants to admit. And I don't know if that something is Skinner or not."

Mulder knew Scully was right. And the thought of what Alex could be hiding scared him. It scared him a lot.

Alex lay in her bed she'd shared with Skinner only hours before and hugged her pillow. What did Christopher Meadows have to do with this? What COULD he have to do with this? She remembered the first day she ever heard that name. Her daddy was so happy when the tall, powerful man offered him a job. He was working to find the "Pleasure of the True Lover." That's all they had told him. He never knew exactly what he was doing until it was too late, until "The Merchandise" had been shipped and received. When he started asking too many questions, they threatened him. They kidnapped her. When that didn't stop his fight for the truth, they killed him. She cried out softly, the memory of her father's death as sharp as if it was yesterday. When Christopher Meadows killed her father, he killed her only real family. Her mother never cared then, and didn't care now. He'd killed a part of her she never expected to rekindle. Until she met Walter Skinner. In just one day she was starting to love again, something she hadn't done in over fifteen years. And that thought terrified her even more than facing her father's killer. Love was dangerous. She didn't want it in her life, not now. All it could do was complicate things. But he made her so happy. It felt like they talked for hours, about everything. Just lying together in bed, kissing, and talking. Rolling over, Alex forced her eyes shut. She had to sleep. Things would have to wait until the morning.

"Early again." Carelli smiled, opening the door for Skinner at 7:45. Skinner smiled, and kissed Carelli on the cheek, walking into the room. "How did you sleep?" He asked her.

"Fine." She replied, shutting the door.

"Alex, I heard you crying." Mulder said softly from behind her.

"I had a bad dream, that's all. I have them all the time." Alex looked at Mulder, her eyes pleading with him to back off. Her continual nightmares were not something that needed evaluation now. She'd learned to live with them long ago.

Mulder shrugged. She was going to have to tell them what was going on soon enough. "We're going to go see Christopher Meadows today." Mulder told Skinner.

"Who?" Skinner asked.

"Carelli knows Meadows, so she should probably come with me." Mulder ignored Skinner, wanting to get the whole story out.

"Meadows?" Skinner interrupted.

"No." Carelli glared at Mulder. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Why not?" Mulder asked.

Carelli shook her head, not wanting to say anything.

"Dammit Alex," Mulder stared at her. "We can't do a thing until you tell us what has had you so scared about this since the beginning."

Skinner just stared at Alex, wondering what had happened since he'd left.

Carelli sat down hard on the sofa and took a deep breath. "I can't see Meadows because I want to kill him...for what he did..." She looked at the floor, her voice getting softer as the words became harder to speak. "My father worked for Meadows. After the War. I don't know what he was doing, but I'd heard my father talking about 'The Pleasure of the True Lover,' when I was a kid." "And you didn't tell us?" Mulder stared at Carelli. "We need to talk to your father." Carelli tried to remain calm. "He's been dead for over twenty years. Meadows killed him, or had him killed."

Mulder quietly seethed at Carelli, but understood her reluctance to drag her father into this.

"What did your father do?"

"I don't know." Carelli fought back tears. She hadn't told a single soul about Meadows and her father, ever. Skinner sat down next to her, putting a safe arm around her. "My father was trained as a microbiologist. But when the War came, all 'unessential' research was halted, and he lost his job. Until Christopher Meadows came along. He offered my dad a job, working on some project to find the 'Pleasure of the True Lover.' Dad really didn't know what it was, I'd hear him talking to my mother about it. Somehow, he found out that something called 'The Merchandise' was involved. I don't know what that was, but he got really upset and started asking questions. I'd hear mom yelling at him, that he had to stop, that he was going to get himself killed. They kidnapped me...." She bit back a sob. Skinner instinctively pulled her in tighter, protecting her. "I was returned, three months later to the day, unharmed. I think they were reluctant to really hurt anyone. But Dad kept asking questions. And they killed him." A tear ran down her face, quietly.

"You were abducted?" Mulder said softly.

Carelli stared at Mulder. "Hardly. I was kidnapped. On Earth."

"How do you know?" Mulder asked.

"Mulder, what is the relevance of this?" Scully interrupted, knowing exactly where Mulder was going. She knew Carelli didn't need Mulder's 'aliens took you' theory right now.

Mulder shook his head. "Sorry. I'm going to see Meadows."

"I'm going with you." Skinner stood up. "I want a look at this man." He looked at Scully and Carelli. "You two stay here, we'll be right back." With a look a Mulder, he was out the door. Carelli sat, curled up on the couch, hugging herself tightly. "I'm sorry if you think I withheld important information. It's just not something I really like to think about..."

Scully shook her head. "As frustrating as your silence may have been, I can't say it was unwarranted. Don't worry about it."

300 Columbus Avenue
New York City

Skinner rapped on the door to apartment 15A impatiently. He wanted to see the man who killed Carelli's father. Know how one man could willingly cause that much pain in a beautiful woman. He was surprised at the frail old man who opened the door. "Christopher Meadows?" He asked, trying to sound as 'official' as possible.

The man nodded and opened the door, waving them inside. "I was wondering how long it would take you to find me."

Skinner and Mulder stepped through the doorway and were shown to plush chairs. The apartment was beautiful, wood paneled and spacious.

Alexandra told you about me?" He looked at Skinner questioningly.

Skinner nodded. "You killed her father."

Meadows settled into a chair across from them with a groan, and nodded. "Regrettably, but yes. He found out too much, I'm afraid. We warned him, but he just wouldn't stop. He is quite similar to you, Agent Mulder."

Mulder smirked. "Are you going to kill me too?"

"I can't deny that it won't ever happen if you continue your crusade as vehemently as you have. You're making yourself some powerful enemies. However, if you can help us here...."

"What is going on here?" Skinner interrupted, angry. "What is this?"

"I 'm afraid you were misled earlier, Assistant Director Skinner. This man is after revenge. He's killed five girls born from the Pleasure, and he is going to kill the last remaining two. We really don't want that to happen...."

"Girls born from the Pleasure?" Skinner asked.

"Yes. After the death of Agent Carelli's father, a scientist who worked with him, our 'Lover', started following in his tracks. But he was more devious than his predecessor. He turned our own weapon against us. Tricked seven of us into having sex with various women. They all became pregnant, had girls and the men kept them. 'The girls born from the Pleasure.' He destroyed lives, marriages. He had to be punished."

"What did you do to him?" Mulder asked.

"Injected him with a massive amount of the Pleasure. It had an effect quite unlike what we expected. You see, the Pleasure is viral DNA. Normally it has a temporary effect. But in this circumstance, the large intravenous dosage appears to have permanently changed his DNA to make him produce an unnatural amount of pheromones. They drove him quite mad. We gave him up for dead years ago, figured he'd killed himself. But it appears he's survived, with enough of his mind intact that he knows who to kill."

"How could you do this?" Skinner asked, horrified.

"It was punishment. Warranted. Punishments always should be." Meadows replied.

Skinner shook his head. "Who are the last two girls?"

Susan Richter and Tori Mueller." He looked at the ground. "Their fathers love them. Please take care of them?"

Skinner stood up. "You created a monster."

Meadows shook his head slowly. "We didn't know."

Mulder looked closely at Meadows. "None of the children were yours."

Meadows shook his head, looking drained and tired. "No, he hated me too much to allow me a woman."

Skinner looked at Meadows curiously.

"He seduced me into having sex with another man." Meadows appeared to shrink as he said the words. "Kill him. We should have killed him long ago."

Agent Alex Carelli's Residence
Brooklyn Heights, New York

"He said viral DNA?" Scully asked for clarification.

"Yes Scully." Skinner replied, getting irritated. "What does that mean?"

"Well, viral DNA is what geneticists hope to use someday to change genetic defects in utero. Viruses inject host cells with some of its own DNA, forcing the host cell to reproduce the virus, and in some circumstances, to incorporate the DNA into its own. It is within the realm of possibility that this Pleasure could have been DNA coded to enhance pheromone production, but Mulder, they didn't have the capabilities to do this kind of microbiology in the 1970's. We don't know today what exact DNA combination encodes pheromones. We still can't effectively change human DNA. It can be done, barely, but the ability to do something like Meadows described isn't there now, and wasn't twenty years ago."

Mulder looked at Scully. "You've given me this speech once before."

"I know, and I wish you would believe me. It is impossible, Mulder."

"Nothing's impossible." Mulder winked at Scully.

"Agent Mulder and Agent Scully?" Skinner frowned at the two of them.

"Sorry." Scully apologized. "Anyway, Sir, what I was telling Mulder was, essentially, Meadows lied."

Skinner nodded slowly. "If he lied, how do you explain this man's ability to saturate us with pheromones?"

"Sir, he could be releasing it into the air in a gaseous form." Scully replied.

"How would you explain the deaths of our girls then? Those happened outside, someone would see him trying to blow gas into the air." Carelli said softly.

Scully glared at Carelli for a second, and then turned to Mulder. "Right now, I'd have to say," she paused. With regret, she said quietly, "I don't know."

Skinner stood up. "Thank you, Agent Scully, for that educational, albeit useless, lecture on DNA. Now. Agent Mulder, where did you write down the names of those two girls?"

"Here Sir." Mulder handed Skinner his notepad as Scully opened her laptop and plugged Carelli's phone into the back.

Skinner handed the pad to Scully, looking over her shoulder at the computer.

"Susan Richter and Tori Mueller don't exist, Mulder." Scully looked up from her typing, shaking her head. "Are you sure you heard him right?"

Mulder nodded. "Here, give me that." Mulder opened Netscape(, typed in an URL, and waited to see the 'Conspiracy' page appear, with its standard warning. "Do not attempt to access this page if you suspect your system has been breached in any way. If this page detects any potential security leak it will release the virus' "form" and "monkey" into your computer's hard drive. It will destroy your system."

"What's this?" Carelli looked at the screen, whistling at the warning.

"A friend, he has links to all sorts of databases that store known aliases." Clicking on the hyperlink, he quickly accessed the right database. He selected 'search' and typed in Susan Richter. The screen blinked, and returned, 'Billie Johnson.'

"Billie Johnson?" Carelli looked at Scully. "They could pick all the names in the world..."

Scully stifled a smile and tapped Mulder's shoulder. "Type in Tori..."

Mulder did as asked, and after a minute, the screen replied. 'Jennifer Davis.'

Skinner was already hunting through a phone book. "It looks like we're in luck. Billie Johnson has her own phone. She lives on Bleecker Street. 160."

"Bar row." Carelli shook her head.

Skinner ignored Carelli's comment, and flipped through to 'D.' "Jennifer Davis. 33 Washington Square West."

"NYU?" Carelli looked up. "How is she living in a dorm at 15?"

"She's smart." Skinner snapped. "Carelli and I will take Johnson, you two take Davis."

Carelli nodded. "Let's go."

160 Bleecker Street
New York City

Alex looked up at the Atrium building and sighed. "So, Skinner, how do we pull this one off? Go in, say 'I know you don't know me, but this guy you used to work with has been making me have wild sex with my boss, and he's going to kill your daughter.' I'm sure that would work..."

Skinner frowned. "I don't like the idea of trying to stake out the place. How are we going to know who she is?"

"Yeah, there are quite a lot of 15-year-olds around." Alex looked around. It looked like the Village was full of 15-year-olds.

"Come on." Skinner marched up to the front of the building and stepped into the building.

"Can I help you?" The security guard at the desk in the foyer stood up, menacingly.

"Yes." Skinner squared his shoulders, standing tall, and pulled out his badge. "My name is Assistant Director Walter Skinner of the FBI. We have reason to believe that a young lady who lives in this building is in danger. I would like to relieve you of your post for a few hours."

The guard looked at Skinner suspiciously. "Who's she?" He pointed to Alex.

"Agent Alex Carelli." She flashed her badge.

"OK, I guess." The guard looked at the two of them, and shrugged. He could use a night off anyway. Grabbing his cigarettes and books, he left.

"Now what?" Alex asked Skinner. "Both of us can't play security guard."

"No. But you can get into hippie gear and hang out with me here." Skinner grinned.

"You're just looking for an excuse to get me out of my suit." Alex kidded.

"You bet." Skinner replied, grinning. He handed Alex a twenty dollar bill. "Here, take a cab, it'll be faster."

Alex stared at Skinner in disbelief. "And this is supposed to get me where, exactly?"

"Home, and back."

Alex laughed. "Uh, Skinner, this will get me there, and maybe to the Brooklyn Bridge. Beyond that, well, I'll swim....."

Skinner threw another bill at Alex. "Take it and get out of here."

Alex smiled. "I'll be back..."

Hayden Hall
New York University
33 Washington Square West
New York City

Scully and Mulder walked into the lobby of the dormitory and looked around. "Mulder, what do you suggest we do here?"

Mulder pointed to the desk at his left. "Talk to the manager."

"Mulder." Scully pulled his arm. "These are kids. If they know the FBI's here, god only knows how they're going to react. And they'll all find out, fast."

Mulder nodded. "That's what I hope. It'll get her friends to look out for her."

"What makes you think she even knows anything about the Pleasure?"

"She's smart enough to be here at 15. She had to have asked her father what he's doing with a 15 year old daughter."

Scully shrugged and waved to the desk. "Ok."

Mulder stepped over to the desk and held up his badge. "I'm Agent Mulder of the FBI and this is Agent Scully. We'd like to talk to whoever is in charge here."

The two girls behind the desk gaped at Mulder. Finally they both got up, stammering, "Over there..." They pointed to a door behind them.

Mulder smiled and walked over to the door with Scully following. They knocked, and entered as the sounds of loud giggles erupted behind them.

"Can I help you?" The dorm director stood up, flashing a glance at the girls behind the desk through the open door.

"I'm Agent Mulder of the FBI and this is Agent Scully. We have reason to believe that one of your residents here is in danger."

The director stared and shook his head. "Oh my. I'm Mitchell Brown." He waved at two chairs in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

Mulder sat on the edge of his chair. "We don't have a lot of time. We need to know what room one of the residents is in."

"Of course. Who?" Mitchell asked.

"Jennifer Davis." Scully said softly.

Mitchell looked at Scully and Mulder. "I should have known."

"Pardon?" Scully looked at Mitchell, cocking an eyebrow.

"Miss Davis has been rumored to have Mafia connections. She certainly acts like it. She's in room 425, that I don't need to look up."

"Mafia?" Mulder grinned slightly. "No, her connections are nowhere near that simple."

"Can you tell me just what this is?" Mitchell asked.

"No, I'm sorry, we can't." Mulder shook his head, standing up. "Thank you."

Scully and Mulder walked out of the office, and got in the elevator. "Mulder, what are you doing?" Scully asked. "I thought we didn't want her to know we were here?"

"I was thinking about that. There's no reason she can't know we're here, it's not like Billie, who lives with her parents. Her father won't find out we're here until after we've saved his daughter's life."

"True." Scully stepped out of the elevator and looked down the hall. "You can handle this one, you seem to have a way with these girls."

Mulder knocked on the door of 425, wincing at the loud music coming through the other side of the door.

The door was opened by a brunette with bloodshot eyes wearing tiny cutoff shorts and an even tinier halter top. "Yeah?"

"I'm Agent Mulder and this is Agent Scully. We're with the FBI. We need to talk to Jennifer Davis." Mulder tried to act, and sound, as official and commanding as possible.

"Yeah. I'm her." The girl opened the door to her room wider, waving the two agents in. Inside the smoky room, incense was burning, and a heavy smell of marijuana permeated the room. Scully looked at the two girls lying on the floor staring wide-eyed at Mulder, and didn't need to guess what the three had been doing.

"Jennifer, is there somewhere we can talk in private?" Mulder touched Jennifer's shoulder lightly.

Jennifer snorted. "This is a dorm room, Agent Mulder. This is all there is."

"Do you mind if I open a window then?" Mulder asked. He couldn't stay in this smoke for as long as they were probably going to need to.

"And turn down the music?" Scully added.

Jennifer shrugged, turning down the music slightly. "Go 'head."

"Thanks." After opening the windows as far as they would go, Mulder and Scully sat on the edge of one of the three beds in the room, looking at Jennifer, who had plopped down on the floor, a joint between her fingers.

"Smoke?" She offered it to the two agents.

"Jennifer, we are federal agents. Do you know what that means?" Mulder said quietly.

"Sure. Feds. So?" Jennifer inhaled deeply and blew smoke out at Mulder.

"It means that we can arrest you for smoking marijuana." Scully said harshly. This girl was getting on her nerves.

"But you're here to protect me. Aren't you?" Jennifer looked at Scully.

Scully turned her eyes away, not sure exactly what to say. She didn't think the dorm grapevine could run this fast...

"Yes. But we could protect you just as well, probably better, in jail instead of here. Got it?" Mulder looked at Jennifer.

Jennifer whistled and threw the joint out the window, ignoring the screams of her two friends.

"Fine. So will you tell me what's going on?"

"Why don't you tell us what you know first?" Mulder asked.

"Not a lot. Just that some guy is going to kill me because of my father." She shrugged.

"That's true." Mulder nodded.

"My dad died a few years ago, but he was a don, you know. One of the biggest. I think it's a Mafia war or something." Jennifer's eyes told Mulder she was telling the truth, as far as she knew it.

Mulder felt a sudden surge of sympathy for the girl. So this is what they'd told her about her father. Her father being a Mafia don would explain his behavior, without a doubt. "Something like that." Mulder smiled lightly. "We just want to stay with you and make sure nobody hurts you, ok?"

Jennifer looked at Mulder through narrow eyelids. "You can stay with me, definitely." She shot a look at Scully and gestured to her two friends. "Melissa and Cynthia can have some fun with your partner too. Hell, we can all have some fun."

Mulder cleared his throat loudly, shooting a look at Scully, who trying to resist a strong impulse to strangle the girl. "Jennifer, that isn't what we mean, and you know it. We are here to save your life."

Jennifer sighed. "Ok. Whatever. But you have to let me smoke, ok?"

Scully looked at Jennifer in disbelief. What did this girl think, that the two of them wanted to protect her that badly? If this girl only knew what she was coming up against...

"Fine." Mulder replied.

Scully elbowed Mulder in the ribs. "Outside. Now." She hissed, stomping out of the room. Mulder shot a glance at Jennifer, and followed Scully out of the room. "What?"

"What are you doing?" Scully tried to keep her voice down.

"Think about it Scully." Mulder looked like he'd come to some brilliant conclusion. "This guy should have gotten these two by now, shouldn't he? It's been two days since his last kill. There's a reason he can't get them. Maybe the reason is because they're all drugged, and the pheromones can only work on a sober body."

Scully stared at Mulder. "There weren't any drugs found in any of the girls."

"So maybe, since Jennifer's stoned, she won't be effected."

"It's a very flimsy hypothesis." Scully shook her head.

"Yeah, but I'd like to test it out." Mulder replied. "Come on Scully, you haven't agreed with a thing I've tried today. Give me a chance, ok? Back off."

Frowning, Scully walked back into the once again smoke-filled room.

160 Bleecker Street
New York City

Carelli crossed the street, looking into the lobby of the Atrium. She smiled, seeing Skinner reading a paper at the desk, trying to look like nothing other than a regular security guard. Of course, he was failing, anyone could see from a mile away that this man had more training, presence and power than any mere security guard would, but he was trying. She, on the other hand, hopefully looked like a typical 'village kid,' decked out in a flowing chiffon dress, long underwear bottoms, Doc Martens, and a floppy velvet hat. "Hiya stranger." She grinned, waltzing into the building and sitting down on the desk.

Skinner looked up and whistled. "Nice outfit."

"Thank you." Carelli smiled. "I thought you might approve." She bent closer. "I stopped by the bureau office on my way back, picked up something." She grabbed Skinner's hand and put it between her legs. He felt a gun strapped to the inside of her thigh.

"Did you tell them why you needed a new one?"

"No. They didn't ask." Carelli shook her head, letting go of Skinner's hand. "One nice thing about running out of New York, less agents, fewer eyes on what I do."

Skinner fought the urge to leave his hand on Carelli's thigh. "I can imagine." He pulled his hand away with a sigh of regret, and pointed to the board of buzzers behind him. "This is Billie, 5CE. She's there, I ran a 'routine test' of the buzzers, and she answered."

"So all we can do is wait to get horny, huh." Carelli crossed her arms on her chest. "There has to be something more we can do."

Skinner's phone rang. He pulled it out of his coat and flipped it open. "Skinner."

"Sir? It's Mulder. I have an idea on how we might be able to subvert the effects of this thing."

"And it is?"

"Some sort of drug in our system. Alcohol, something like that, could keep the pheromones from taking effect." Mulder sounded skeptical, but hopeful about his theory.

"Agent Mulder, are you suggesting we get drunk to avoid this thing's powers?"

Mulder knew how crazy he sounded. "I was thinking that maybe two of us should. Either me or Scully, and either you or Carelli."

"Seeing as Carelli already looks like a drunk, she could probably do it with no problem." Skinner smirked.

"What?" Carelli punched Skinner lightly, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

"It seems to be worth a shot, Sir." Mulder said insistently.

Skinner pursed his lips, considering Mulder's suggestion. If he was wrong, they would have two wasted agents for no reason. But if he was right, they would have two wasted agents, and two orgasming agents, and in that situation, the drunk agents would probably function better. "Cancer Man said there was a way to neutralize him, maybe this is it. Fine." He closed up his phone, and returned it to his pocket.

"What, now I'm a drunk?" Carelli looked at Skinner.

"Yes. What do you drink?" Skinner asked.

Carelli stared at Skinner. "Scotch."

"Here." He handed Carelli another twenty. "Go get some. You're getting drunk."

Laughing, Carelli took the money. "May I ask why?"

"Mulder has a theory that any type of drug in your system may subvert the effects of the pheromones."

"So I won't be dying to get laid when this guy is here."

"Yes. You'll just be drunk." Skinner looked at the ground. "I don't like this, but it's the only idea we've had. Are you an ok drunk?"

"Horrible." Carelli looked doubtful. "Silly, giggly, a horrible flirt..."

"It's the only chance we have. Go." Skinner ordered.

Carelli stood up, frowning, and left, heading up Bleecker to find a liquor store.

Hayden Hall
New York University
33 Washington Square West
New York City

"Scully?" Mulder walked into the smoky room and sat down next to his partner.

"You called Skinner?"

Mulder nodded. "He said we should go for it."

Scully sighed. "I guess you can't, you obviously don't react very well to casual drug use."

Mulder nodded again, remembering his nightmare with LSD. "It has to be you. And you can't leave to get alcohol."

"Fine." She looked around the room, "Jennifer? Can I have one of those joints?"

160 Bleecker Street
New York City

"Are you sure about this, Skinner?" Carelli took another gulp from the bottle. "This is going to help?"

Skinner nodded. "It's all we have."

She sighed and lay down across the desk, giggling. "The room is spinning."

"Agent Carelli, you are here on a stakeout." Skinner reminded her.

Carelli sat up on the desk, holding her head. She handed Skinner the bottle. "I don't need any more of this."

"Fine." He took the bottle and placed it behind the desk. Behind him, a buzzer sounded. "Security?" He answered it.

"Yes, this is Mr. Johnson in 5CE. I just wanted to confirm your presence here."

"Security is present and alert, Sir." Skinner replied.

"Thank you." Mr. Johnson released the buzzer on his end, leaving Skinner listening to static.

"Now, why would he do that?" Carelli looked at Skinner.

"He knows that something's coming." Skinner replied. "That has to be it."

Hayden Hall
New York University
33 Washington Square West
New York, New York

Scully couldn't stop laughing. Jennifer and her friends were teasing Mulder, and it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen in her life. Tears were pouring down her face, god, she hadn't laughed this hard in years.

"Scully, it isn't that funny." Mulder stared at Scully. She was so beautiful. Eyes all glassy, fiery hair mussed, it was taking all of his strength not to grab her and throw her down and....."He's here." He stood up, looking around the room.

Scully stopped laughing and tried to think straight. "He's here?"

Mulder nodded. "Jennifer? Go into the bathroom. Lock the door, and don't open it until either Scully or I ask you. OK?"

Jennifer quietly stood up, grabbed her cigarettes, and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

"Melissa and Cynthia, you two need to go home." Mulder held open the door for the two. They left, quietly, sensing the urgency of the situation. He shut the door behind him and leaned on it, gasping. "He's definitely here."

"Really?" Scully was walking around the room, gun in her hands. "It seems like your idea worked."

"Good." Mulder fell down on his knees, staring at Scully. "At least one of us can function."

"Oh, sure." Scully was trying to act as sober as possible, but it wasn't easy, she was very stoned. "I just hope this goes smoothly..."

There was a gunshot from the bathroom. Scully ran over to the locked door, and tried to open it to no avail. She shouted. "Jennifer!! Open the door!"

Nothing from inside.

"Shit." Scully backed up, took a deep breath, and tried to kick the door down. "Shit." She repeated. She leaned on the door for a second. "Ok Scully. Think clearly," She thought to herself. "I can do this." Running her hands through her hair, she backed up again, glaring at the door. She ran, and kicked the door down, pointing her gun into the bathroom. "Oh my god." All energy disappeared as she saw Jennifer with a bullet hole in her chest. She'd bet a fortune that the bullet in Jennifer had come from Carelli's gun. Kneeling next to the girl, she felt for a pulse. "Mulder, she's dead." She looked around, saw the open window and felt her heart sink. Looking out the open window, all she could see was a small ledge. "Mulder, there was an open window in there. How stupid could we have been..." No answer from Mulder. "Mulder?" She walked back out into the room, shaking.

"Give me a few minutes..." Mulder groaned, lying on the floor, caught in yet another orgasm.

Scully nodded, and went out into the hall. She pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Skinner."

"Sir? It's Scully."

"What's happened?"

"He got Jennifer Davis. She's dead, Sir. We had her locked in the bathroom, he must have come in through the window."

Skinner cursed quietly under his breath. "Fine. Notify the police." "Yes Sir." Scully had never felt so incompetent in her life. How could they have ignored a damn window? "You two are only a few blocks away. Come here. The local police can clean up the scene."

"Yes Sir." Scully hung up the phone just as Mulder stumbled out of the room, holding the wall for support. "Enjoy yourself?"

"Scully, it might look like fun, but it really is sheer torture." Mulder insisted. "It hurts after a while, you know. There's a reason why men are not supposed to have multiple orgasms."

Scully frowned. "I'd rather not know. Come on, we have to meet Skinner."

160 Bleecker Street
New York City

"Hey!" Carelli, smiling from ear to ear, jumped off the desk to hug Mulder and Scully. "How are you two doing tonight?" She sniffed them, staring. "You two have been smoking??"

"They've been doing what?" Skinner stood up, looking at the two glassy-eyed agents.

"Scully has been smoking, Sir. To counteract the pheromones." Mulder said as he looked Carelli up and down, looking at her boots. "Your momma wears...." He stopped, and made a face. "Actually, with you, it's probably true."

"Did it work? Smoking, I mean?" Carelli ignored Mulder, sitting back down on the desk.

"Yes." Mulder replied. "Only I succumbed to the effects of the pheromones."

"So...here!" Carelli grabbed her bottle and pushed it at Mulder. "Drink!"

"No." Mulder pushed the bottle away. "I'd rather consciously fight this thing through anything than face it drugged."

Skinner nodded. "It's also not a good idea to get all of us inebriated. The two of you are enough."

"We've made enough stupid mistakes for one night." Scully bit her lip.

"Scully, its not your fault." Mulder said softly.

"Please, Mulder, yes it is. I'm too stoned to think straight. What kind of an agent am I? A window!" Scully looked at the ground, trying to control her soaring emotions.

"Scully?" Carelli put an arm around her. "Come on. Relax, you're just drugged. You can worry about the window when you're sober. Later. In the meantime, look at that guy outside." She giggled, pointing to a guy walking down the street with purple and green hair.

Scully looked at Carelli laughing. "Oh, that's an interesting look."

"Well, all we can do is wait now." Mulder sat down in a chair next to Skinner.

"I suppose he knows we're watching him now, so there really isn't any purpose in trying to be discrete." Skinner added.

With that said, the four settled in to wait. Scully and Carelli whispered and giggled like teenagers, Mulder and Skinner read the paper, passing the sections back and forth, each scowling as they read.

Skinner and Mulder both felt the initial twinges of the man's presence. "He's here." "Who?" Scully turned to ask Mulder and fell off the desk onto his lap. Mulder stared at Scully, unable to move. "Pardon me, ma'am?" A man peeked his head in the door and looked at Carelli. "Could you give me directions?"

Carelli grinned at the sweet looking old man. "Sure!" She walked outside with the man, and looked at him closely. "Where to?"

"Carelli, where are you going..." As tingles shot their way up his body, all Skinner could manage was a whisper that Carelli couldn't hear. His heart sank as he saw her leave, he wanted to protect her, and he couldn't. "Agent Scully?"

"Yup." She wiggled around on Mulder's lap, smiling at the tortured expression growing on his face.

"Where did Agent Carelli go?" Skinner forced the words out as his legs began to tremble.

"Outside, the man smiled at Carelli. "The Limelight."

Carelli pointed down the street. "Just go down here to 6th, make a right, and the Limelight's about fifteen blocks up..." She let out a small squeal as the man grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. "Let go!"

"No." The man held her tight, looking into the building to make sure nobody had seen. So far, it looked like he was safe, the other three agents looked far beyond rational thought. He pulled up Carelli's dress, shoved his hand down her pants and grabbed her gun. "Another one. Thank you."

"You?" Carelli stared. "You're the man who did all of this?"

He nodded as he stuck Carelli's gun into her back. "Now, we're going into that building. Just stay calm." He pushed her into the building.

Skinner jumped up when he saw her, drawing his gun.

"Oh my god..." Scully fell once again, this time off of Mulder's lap and onto the floor.

Mulder groaned in regret as her weight left his legs, trying to focus on the scene taking place before him.

"If you try anything, any of you, I'll kill her." The Lover shouted.

Skinner fell over as new surges ran through his legs and images of Carelli naked flashed across his mind. He put out his hands to break his fall, and dropped his gun.

The Lover grabbed the gun happily. "Thank you." He smiled. "Agent Mulder?"

Mulder shook his head. He didn't think he could stop shaking enough to pull his gun out. "No way." He was trying to stand up, but the energy wasn't there.

Scully pulled her gun out of her holster, unsure of what to do. She could try and shoot the Lover, but if she missed, she'd shoot Carelli. She didn't know if she could make a shot at all right now, but she had to try. She pointed at the Lover, praying she knew what she was doing. "Alex, move!"

Carelli shoved the Lover with all of her might as she heard two gun shots. The Lover screamed and fell down on the ground, clutching at his chest.

"I wasn't done." He stared at Scully, waving Carelli's gun in the air. "I only had one more to go." He fell back, shaking his head. "I wasn't going to kill you..." His eyes closed.

"Carelli?" Scully crawled over to where Carelli had fallen on the ground, touching her body. She gasped as blood came off on her fingers. "Oh my god, Skinner, she's been shot."

Skinner and Mulder felt new energy enter their bodies as the Lover died, as if his soul leaving his body took the pheromones with it. "Oh my god." Mulder opened his phone and called for an ambulance.

"Alex!" Skinner felt his heart break in two. He knelt next to Carelli's body, pulling her into his arms. "Scully, how bad is it?"

Scully shook her head. Even in her hazy state, she knew a fatal gunshot wound when she saw one. "Not good."

Skinner grabbed Carelli tighter, hugging her to his body. "She'll be fine. WHERE IS THAT DAMN AMBULANCE?"

St. Vincent's Emergency Room
New York City

Skinner spent the night next to Alex's bed, unwilling to leave her for a second. He had a feeling the 'love' he'd felt for her had died with the Lover, but he still cared about her a great deal. They had formed a bond that was not easily broken. He knew if Alex was going to get through this, he had to be there for her.

"Walter?" He heard a whisper from the bed.

"Alex." He grabbed her hand, and looked at her open eyes. "You're awake."

"Always one to state the obvious, aren't you Skinner." She smiled weakly. "Did we get him?"

"Scully killed him." Skinner replied.

"Good." Carelli smiled. "Do me a favor?"

"For you, anything."

"Someday, kill Meadows for me." She was dead serious. "Not now, but when the moment is right, and you have the chance, shoot him. In the back, just like this. I want him to know why he's going to die."

"You're not going to die." Skinner pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly. "You're going to be fine."

"Just say you will?" Carelli was insistent.

"Fine." Skinner agreed.

"Good." Carelli closed her eyes.

Skinner wasn't surprised when fifteen minutes later her EKG flatlined. Twenty minutes later, the doctor called Carelli's death. Thirty minutes later Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner of the FBI did something he hadn't done in thirty years. Sitting next to his Agent's and lover's dead body, he took a deep breath, buried his head in his hands, and cried.

FBI Headquarters
Washington, DC

"I'd like to thank both of you for your help in New York."

Mulder and Scully both nodded their acceptance to Skinner. They both knew exactly how much the events up there had effected their boss, as reluctant as he was to show it.

They had been effected rather strongly themselves. Scully wouldn't stop beating herself up over Jennifer and Alex's deaths, fully believing that they were her fault. And Mulder, well, Mulder had some pretty wild fantasies up there about Scully, and he was having a hard time forgetting them.

"Sir, have you heard anything about what really happened up there? How Mr. Johnson knew we were there?" Mulder asked gently.

"No." Skinner looked down and adjusted his glasses. "Agent Carelli's death went down as a homicide by a John Doe. She was buried last weekend."

Scully looked at Skinner, feeling like she had to say something, she had to acknowledge that they knew what their boss had been through. "Sir, if you need to talk."

"I think we're through here, Agent Scully. Agent Mulder."

"Yes Sir." Closing the door behind them, they left Skinner staring out his window. He tried not to think about what could have been. Would he still be in love with Alex at this moment, if she had lived? He truly didn't know. He did know that, drug induced or not, the New Yorker who tried to act so tough had shattered his heart. Within days, he'd fallen head over heels for a woman he barely knew. It defied all logic to him. So he didn't think about it. He was thinking of the day when he would see Christopher Meadows again. When he would fulfill his promise he made to a dying Agent. To his lover. To his True Lover.

THE END

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