Mulder and Scully are property of Chris (phone my sister!) Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and FOX Broadcasting. No copyright infringement is intended. Yeah, sure... Just try to take me to court... You'll never find me... Hola, me llamo Jorge... como estas senor? Dr. Joanne Thornton and her brother Steve are property of me, myself and I. Phew! Another one done! I just have... seven more to do... and three more in the thought process... oh god... someone shoot me. This is another story with the character of Jo/Jag. The other one being El Tigre. You don't *have* to read that one first, but her history is kind of confusing (it is summarized in here) so it would make more sense to you if you read El Tigre first. But I repeat: You don't have to. Rated R for violence and language, which, in all actuality isn't that bad... just a word here and there. No MSR, no UST. (I know Fiona, I know, no point. Sorry. Next one, promise. :-)) Summary: Mulder and Scully ask Thornton for her help on a case involving a feral human... Comments, suggestions and flames are always welcome. Though, I should add, the flames will be used for various things. Warm my house, roast weenies, toast marshmallows (even if I don't like them that much) and well . . . amuse me because I love fire. :-) And on with the show... Feral Instincts Nicole van Dam Colorado, 5:30am Edward Reilly plodded through the forest, trying to be as quiet as he possibly could. He scratched absently underneath the camoflaged vest; looking to his left, making sure his partner was with him. Reilly was what one may think the stereotypical hick would look like. Kind of scruffy; like a permanent five o'clock shadow. He wasn't all that tall; just about five seven. His friend, George Barry looked a lot like him. Except he had blonde hair, not brown like Reilly's. They had been out there since about five, looking for the buck they had seen the previous day. They had bagged their kill for that day, so they had to let the deer go without any grief from them. But Reilly swore... He was going to get it. He swore it would be hanging over his fireplace by dusk. The trees beside him rustled. Reilly's head turned to his left so fast, it almost hurt. Barry was about fifty feet away from him, but he had heard it too. The rustle happened again... This time much closer. Reilly motioned to Barry to come closer. His friend nodded, and began to walk toward him slowly. Suddenly, something shot out of the bushes like a bullet from a gun. And it looked almost... human. Barry's cry dragged Reilly out of shock and he ran to his buddy who was now lying on the ground. He lifted Barry's hand to expose the gash that stretched from one side of his friend's abdomen, to the other. It was quickly saturating his clothing with blood. Reilly's eyes widened at the sight of the wound and his head snapped up in the direction that the... thing ran... Washington DC, 7:00pm One Week Later The building was almost empty. Most of the agents finished work at six; all of them practically running out the doors. Agent Dana Scully sighed, her hand coming to her forehead, then dragging down her face. She had been waiting for an hour and a half. Her partner, Mulder, had told her specifically to stay put until he got back to the office. He said he had a surprise for her. "Right," she said to the empty office. "What you have, is a ticket away from my warm bed and bathtub." She knew it was another case. That was all it ever was. Unless he suddenly came across a wad of money and was taking her out to dinner. Even if that was the case, he would probably buy an X-File from someone. Or another cell phone to lose. The door flew open and Mulder breezed in. Scully looked up at him without moving anything but her eyes. Her feet were propped up on her desk in a feigned effort to make herself comfortable. Her partner smiled and waved a manila folder at her. "Hello there Scully," he said. "Have told you yet how lovely you look today?" "Cut the pleasantries Mulder," she sneered. "I'm this close to having you castrated." Mulder visibly winced. "Do you have any idea how long I've had to wait in this dungeon?" "I know Scully," he said with sympathy. "And I'm sorry. Skinner was being a tight-ass about the whole thing." "Mulder," Scully sighed. "Skinner's a tight-ass over the wrong kind of jell-o in the cafeteria." Mulder smiled and Scully closed her eyes. "So what's going on?" she asked. Mulder pulled up a chair and dropped the file in front of her. "Picture this:" he started. "Two hunters out in the woods tracking a deer. They both hear a rustling in the bushes." "This isn't a joke is it?" Mulder looked hurt. "Come on, Scully," he said. "All right, All right," she replied, waving a hand at him. "Go ahead." "One motiones the other over..." He fell silent. Scully looked up at him. "And?" "Look at the file." She flipped to the first photo. It showed a man, late thirties, with his abdomen practically sliced open. A quick look at the report the ME gave told her that the laceration was about two and a half inches deep on the left side; indicating that the suspect started on the cut on the right. It also stated that the wound was not inflicted by any kind of knife or metal as the cut was jagged; not clean like it would be if it was done by a knife. "What happened?" she asked. "According to the other hunter, some kind of animal came out of the bushes and attacked them. He said it looked human. And since then, there have been three other hunters and two tourists who have encountered it." Scully stared at him. "Human?" she asked. Mulder nodded. "So what do they want us to do? Ask it to stop?" "Not quite," Mulder replied with a smirk. "They want us to catch it." "Catch it?" Scully said incredulously. "With what? A steak and a Playboy?" "Scully, you're not being fair." His partner sighed. "I know," she said. Silence. "So how are we going to do it? I don't know anything about trapping animals. And neither do you." Mulder grinned. "No," he said. "But we know someone who does..." ******** New York, New York, 7:30pm Same Day Ring. Ring. Ring. Click. "All right. Someone better be dying." Mulder smiled. "Hey Jo. How's it going?" His friend smiled. "I don't know Mulder," the Brazilian replied. She leaned her head back against the cool porcelain of her bathtub. "I was trying to get up close and personal with Mr. Bubble, but then you called and well... The moment is gone." "See?" came Scully's voice, picking up the extension on her desk. "Even she gets a bath." "Hey Dana," Jo chuckled. She frowned suddenly and looked at the wall clock above her feet. "What is with you two?" she asked. "Don't you ever go home?" "Well, some of us try to," Scully told her, glaring at Mulder. "Listen Jo," Mulder said, ignoring his partner. "We got a case that could use a little of your... animal instincts." Scully rolled her eyes. Jo shook her head, her hand over her eyes. "Nice pun Tarzan," she told him. "That oughtta drag me right into the case." Silence. "So what's this about?" Mulder was silent for a moment and looked at Scully. How was he going to put this? "Ah, well... We were asked to capture a feral human." Jo felt her muscles tense in the hot water; defying the purpose of the liquid. This was a subject she tended to veer away from. At nine or ten, she was taken from her sanctuary in the Amazon Jungle and returned to civilization. She was what Mulder called a 'feral human'. "Okay," she said slowly. "What has this--" She swallowed. "Human done?" Mulder's heart slowed slightly. At least she was considering it. "Attacked five people. Killed three." Jo nodded; her eyes closed. "We just need you to help us track it," Scully said softly. "That's it." Mulder nodded in agreement. "If you want to leave at any time, you can... We're just not very experienced when it comes to animals." Silence. "You can bring Steve along as well." Jo took in a deep breath. she said to herself. "Okay," she said finally. "I'll go. But if anything happens that I don't agree with, I'm out of there." Mulder let out his held breath. "Deal." Denver, Colorado Airport, 5:25am MST Mulder stood in the quiet airport alongside Steve, Jo's brother. His eyes were about to close, waiting for Scully and Jo to return from getting them some coffee. "I swear," Mulder grumbled. "That is the *last* time I *ever* take the red-eye." Steve, on the other hand, was enjoying the experience. "This is wonderful," he said, his Portugese accent sneaking into his speech. Mulder regarded him with both envy and annoyance. "How can you be so happy?" he asked. "Half the world is still asleep." "Ah," Steve answered, raising his finger. "But think of what we would miss if we wasted time sleeping." Mulder thought. The story itself behind the Thornton siblings was quite remarkable. Brother and sister abandoned in the Amazon Jungle only to be cared for by the Jaguar Spirit. Then said siblings are separated by Brazilian authorities. The girl, later named Joanne, was taken in by a Winnipeg couple and raised in Canada. She then attended school in British Columbia, obtaining a Doctorate in biology and moved to New York to join the FBI. All the while, possesing the ability to 'morph' into a half-human-half-jaguar, by holding an amulet and chanting. The brother meanwhile was still being cared for by the Jaguar and was later transported to a zoo in New York in the form of a melanistic jaguar. The Spirit stayed with him as another cat in the zoo. Joanne ended up coming to Mulder and Scully requesting their help in a case. Endangered animals, primarily cats, were being kidnapped by a band of poachers to be sold on the Black Market. Once the poachers were defeated, the Jaguar Spirit appeared to let Joanne know her brother was still alive in the form of Atilla, the jaguar. The Spirit then changed Atilla into a human, gracing him with the power to 'morph' as well, and he dubbed himself 'Steven', after his trainer. So, the siblings were together again, Jo and Steve, both keeping their city in the dark about their ability. That was one thing that Mulder never forgot. It was amazing to see Jo in the form of the mutant jaguar, telling him and Scully to call her Jag. Mulder chuckled, remembering her introducing herself... <<"I'm sorry, and you are?" Mulder asked their visitor. She smiled warmly and stood, extending her arm. "The name's Joanne Thornton. Friends call me Jo and really good friends call me Jag. I'm from the New York City Bureau.">> Now he understood the part about the really good friends. ******** "Hey," Jo said, nudging Scully with her elbow. He pointed her chin toward the two men who were waiting for them. Both their backs were to the women. "Check this out." Scully smiled and watched Jo take in a deep breath and hollar out the best Tarzan impression she'd ever heard. Mulder spun around on his heel with a wide eyed look. Jo and Dana laughed. "My God Jo," he said. "Is it only five thirty in the morning to me?" "Ah-ah-ah," Jo told him waving her finger. "It's actually two thirty Mulder," Scully told him. "You forgetting we're in another time zone?" Mulder made a face at her. "Yeah well... So what took you guys so long? You just went to get some coffee." Jo smiled at Scully. "Well, we *were* ready to go, but Dana wanted to finish her danish before we came back and you mooched it off her... But here." She handed him a paper bag. "It's a cinnamon bun. I figure you need a sugar rush... Oh yeah, I got you your coffee." Mulder took the giant cup from her. "Man," he said, remarking on the size. "What size is this thing? Mammoth?" Jo shook her head with a smile. "It's what I call the Five-Thirty Special... So what's going on?" Fox took a sip of the hot liquid. "We need to rent a car, then find a hotel." "Of which *I'm* choosing," Scully interrupted. "Fine," Mulder told her. "I'm too tired to argue." "Hey," Jo said, nudging Scully. "This could be to our advantage." Dana chuckled at the look Mulder gave to two women. "How're you doing bro?" Jo asked. "Fabulous Jo," Steve replied. "This is amazing." Mulder frowned. "It's only an airport." "Knock it off Mulder," Jo told him. "He's never been anywhere before. Cut him some slack." She turned to Scully. "Man, the guy can sure be a jerk when he's tired." "You should see him when he's sick." Spirit Inn, Five minutes outside of Calbern, CO, 7:00am MST Jo set her bags down onto the twin bed in the room that she and Scully were sharing. There was some kind of convention going on with a bunch of hunters, so the vacancy was limited. The four of them had decided to share rooms. Jo and Dana taking one while Steve and Mulder took the other. They were, amazingly enough, joined with a door. It seemed to be kind of lucky; they would've thought they would be the first occupied. Jo sat on the side of the bed and looked in her back pack. She pulled out a few things including a notebook, a walkman and a black baseball cap. She stared at them, not really thinking of anything in particular, and sighed. "What's wrong?" Scully asked, walking in the door. Jo chuckled and looked up at her. "Feral humans and hunters... Think I can go three-for-three?" Scully set her luggage down at the foot of her bed and sat across from her friend, resting her elbows on her knees. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" she asked. "I mean... It can't be easy... For you or Steve." "I'm okay Dana," Jo told her with a smile. "And I don't think Steve really understands the full implications." "I just don't want you doing anything that you don't want to." Thornton smiled. "Hey," she said. "I'm here for you and Mulder. I want to help you guys." She stood and gathered a few things into her pack, leaving the cap and the walkman out. She slipped on her black leather jacket. "Where are you going?" Scully asked her. Jo slipped the pack across her shoulders. "Not far... Just doing a little prowling." Dana raised an eyebrow. "Prowling?" Jo shrugged. "Old habits die hard. But don't worry." She pulled out the amethyst and leather necklace out of her shirt. "I'll be fine." ******** "Where'd she go?" Mulder asked Scully, poking his head through the adjoining door. "I don't know," his partner replied. "Said she was going prowling." Mulder stepped into the room. "I hope she doesn't do what I think she's going to do." Dana turned to him. "You know she won't," she said. "She's knows it's too dangerous in the daylight. Besides, she's a federal agent... She knows what she's doing." "I'm a federal agent," Mulder replied. "You don't think that I know what I'm doing." Scully smiled and stood. "Come on." She grabbed her jacket from the dresser. "Let's get Steve and go to the morgue. I want to get a look at those bodies." ******** Jo walked into Rosie's Truck Stop and paused in the doorway. She figured there'd be a lot of people at this time in the morning that she could talk to. The gossiping type. She slipped the sunglasses off her nose and put one of the arms in the breast pocket of her jacket. She pulled her earphones off and rested them around her neck; finding herself a table. A few people looked at her; the stranger. The large woman at the bar watched her cautiously as she sat down. The woman wiped her hands on the apron around her waist. "What can I get you darlin'?" she asked. Jo looked up at her. "Coffee, please," she answered. "Regular." "Commin' up." Jo spun on the stool and panned the cafe. Most of the patrons were men, but there was a substantial amount of women. Most dressed in plaid flannel jackets with the trade mark 'trucker' cap. They all looked very worn. Jo assumed this was either due to the fact they were just getting up, or they hadn't gone to sleep yet. She herself kinda felt that way. She looked at her watch and concluded that she'd been up for almost twenty-four hours. Not that that was unusual. She did that most of the time and she supposed that was why she was put on undercover or serveillance duties most of the time. She was brought out of her reverie by the woman behind the bar placing her coffee on the counter. Jo smiled and took the mug, taking a generous sip. The woman watched her and when Jo set the mug down again, she looked up at her. "You're new around here." It was a statement, not a question. The woman seemed to know. Thornton nodded. "Yeah," she said. "Name's Jo Thornton." She extended her hand and the woman took it; grateful that she was friendly. "Gail Hudson," the woman said. "Did you move here?" "No, I'm..." Jo's voice trailed. She needed to be careful. Federal agents aren't usually up there on small town's lists for the most liked. "I'm here because I heard about the killings. You know anything about them?" Gail was suddenly suspicious again. "You a cop?" she asked. Jo shook her head. "I'm just--" "A hunter?" Jo cringed at that last comment. "No," she replied quietly but firmly. "I'm just interested." Gail nodded and wiped her hands on the apron again. "In that case," she started. "There's a meeting with the town's hunters tonight at six in the town hall. People say they're going out to kill this cave man and bring 'im in." Jo snorted inwardly. "Thanks," She told Gail, standing from the counter. She dropped a few dollars on the surface and walked out the door. ******** "Well, it definitely not done by a knife," Scully said, taking off the latex gloves. She sighed. "The cut's rough, uneven. It's as if it was done by a stick, or--" "A claw?" Mulder cut in. Scully looked at him with her patented skeptic look. "I couldn't pull off any prints from the body." Mulder gave her a faint smile. "That doesn't answer my question." "Yes it does." Dana rested her hands on her hips. "Chances are that a man isn't just going to stand there and let something gauge him." "Pardon me," Steve interrupted. Mulder and Scully turned, surprised to hear his voice. He was usually so quiet. "But an animal does not necessarily need the prey to be still in order to wound it as badly as this man. An animal will anticipate the movement and use it against its prey." He looked at Scully and reached out a hand to her. "Dana, if I may?" Scully glanced at Mulder, seeing him smile, then stepped out toward Steve. He put his left hand on her right shoulder. "Now, if you were my prey and I wanted to wound you to the point that you couldn't move, or to kill you, I would want to catch you either across the face, chest, or stomach." He looked up at Mulder to see if he was paying attention. "If you were to realize that that is what I wanted to do, you would move, no?" Dana nodded. "So say you move to your left." He shifted her gently. "I would most likely anticipate that movement, and make an attack." Steve brought his right hand out and as he turned Scully, he moved his hand across her stomach swiftly. "And there I have my kill... The essence of the hunt is timing and timing only. If you do not attack at the right time, your meal disappears... And that may be for days." Scully watched him. "That's probably what our friend has done out in the woods." "So it's all instinct," Mulder said quietly. "He just wants food." 8:00am Jo wandered the streets, looking for potential interviewees. On the way by a small plaza, she spotted Mulder and Scully, both of whom were dressed in their business outfits, walk into a cafe with her brother. Thornton chuckled and followed them inside. She saw them sitting at a table in the corner; neither of them had seen her yet. The two agents were studying papers in front of them until she slipped in beside Mulder. "So, anything good?" she asked. Scully looked up at Jo and smiled. "How'd your search go?" Jo shrugged. "Not bad," she replied. "What did you get?" This from Mulder. "A lot of stares and three marriage proposals." She smiled. "However, I also found out that the town hunters are going out to rid themselves of what they're calling the 'Calbern Cave Man'." Mulder looked at Scully. "When?" "Six. There's a meeting at the town hall first. I'm going if you want to join me." Fox and Dana nodded. "So where's Steve?" "Bathroom," Mulder told her. "So how'd you find us?" Jo grinned and fingered his jacket. "Let's just say you two don't exactly 'blend in' if you know what I mean... I suggest you get into something a little more comfortable for later... These town folk don't take to Feds very well." Mulder chuckled. "You don't need to tell us that." Jo looked out the window and squinted at the beams of sunlight that shone through the glass. It was a nice morning. Too bad she wasn't there to enjoy the small town life. No. She had to be here investigating a series of brutal murders. The opening of a door behind them caught her attention. Steve walked out toward the trio sitting at the table. When he caught sight of his sister, he smiled. "What's new sister?" he asked. He extended his hand to Jo as he sat beside Scully and she squeezed it. It was important to both of them to keep a close relationship. They didn't want to be separated again. "We're going on a hunt," she told him with a smile. His eyes brightened. "A hunt?" Mulder was suddenly unsure. "Woah, woah, hold on. What do you mean 'hunt'?" Jo turned to him. "I don't know," she told him. "What does hunt mean to you?" He cast a glance at Scully. "What does this hunt entail?" she asked. Thornton smiled. "It's okay guys," she assured them. "We're not going to kill anything to eat. We're just going to go keep an eye on these hunters." The uneasy stares she received from the two agents told her they still didn't understand. "You don't really want to kill this thing, do you?" she asked, now unsure of them. "No, no," Mulder said. "Of course not." "We're just not sure as to how you want to go about doing this... hunt," Dana told her. "Don't worry about it," Jo assured them. She patted Steve's arm. "We know what we're doing." 6:00pm The town hall was packed with about thirty people from the ages of fifteen to fifty. All dressed in jackets and jeans, some had reflective vests and all had some kind of weaponry. It all ranged from sticks and stones, to bows and arrows, to 12-gauge pump shotguns. They were all crowded around a small podium, waiting for someone to direct them. Only four figures remained at the back, seemingly unarmed. They seemed to stand out by wearing dark colours. Mulder, Scully and the Thornton siblings stood side by side, watching the spectacle. Fox and Dana had taken Jo's advice and dressed in jeans and boots. Jo and Steve still wore what they had been for the entire day, but Jo had shedded her hat, pack and walkman back at the motel room. The quartet was silent, staring straight ahead. There was a sudden uproar, and a man walked to the stand, dressed indentically to the others in the room. "Edward Reilly," Mulder said quietly to no one in particular. Scully looked up at him, then returned her gaze to the front. "I suppose all you are here to rid this town of the Calbern Cave Man?" Reilly called out. He was answered with a roar from the crowd. "He killed George Barry! We all knew him from the gun shop on Main." Another roar. "You'd think we were out in the woods already," Jo said quietly. Neither of her friends looked at her, they simply nodded. Reilly continued. "All I can say is good hunting! Let's get that Cave Man!" They watched the hunters spill out the door beside them. When the hall was empty, Jo spoke again. "So what are the chances they'll get the right cave man?" ******** Jo and Steve lead the way through the forest, fairly far behind the town hunters. Mulder and Scully trailed not too far behind. They had been walking for almost an hour. "They should stop to get their bearings soon," Thornton said over her shoulder. "Good," Mulder replied. "My feet are killing me." Scully smirked. "Mulder, we've been walking for an hour." "So?" Their conversation was halted by Steve, who held his hand out to the side, hushing them. "They found its den," he whispered. He and Jo walked a little further and stopped behind a dense bush and hunkered down behind it. Fox and Dana followed suit. "What are they doing?" Scully asked. Jo looked at her watch. "It's seven thirty," she announced. "I think they're going to wait it out." "For what?" "It hunts at night Scully," Mulder whispered. She nodded her comprehension. "It's got to come out sometime." ******** "I see it!!" The group of hunters stumbled to their feet, grabbing their guns. Jo's heart started beating hard in her chest. She looked at her companions and fingered the necklace that dangled low on her chest. She chewed on her bottom lip. she told herself. The four of them watched the group intently. There was a sudden yelp from one of the hunters and a flash of red. Jo caught sight of a quick movement out of the corner of her eye. "That was it," Mulder whispered. "That was the cave man." "Where?" Scully asked. As they busied themselves by looking for it, Jo grasped the necklace in her right hand. She bowed her head. The ancient words coming from Jo broke up the conversation between Mulder and Scully and they looked at her. Their eyes widened at the sight of the blue-green dust that swirled around her. Steve watched with not amazement, but with concern. "Jo, what are you doing?" Scully said. Jo turned to her, now in the form of a jaguar mutant. "Jag," she corrected. She looked out at the hunters who were now spread out looking for the 'Cave Man'. She gazed up into a tree overhead and felt a hand on her arm. It was Steve. "Stay with them brother," she said. "Follow me when you need to." With those last words, Jag leapt into the tree overhead and continued, tree to tree, until she was out of sight. "We've got to follow her," Mulder told them. Steve nodded. "Yes. But after the area clears." ******** Jag leapt from branch to branch, watching the hunters and listening for the 'Cave Man'. She stopped momentarily and sniffed the air, then looked to her left. A second later, she was off again. ******** Steve stopped in his tracks. He didn't like not knowing where his sister was. "What are you doing?" Scully asked him. He looked down at her. "Keep going," he told her and Mulder. "I'll follow you in the trees." With those words, Steve disappeared into the bushes. Mulder watched his shadow fade away, then looked at the group of hunters. Most had dispersed, going after the 'Cave Man'; even the wounded one. He drew his gun and motioned for Scully to do the same. She nodded, and followed his lead. Scully looked back into the shadows, thinking she still might be able to see Steve, but he'd disappeared. Mulder put a hand on her arm. "Come on Scully," he said. "We've got to find those hunters." She nodded again without words and let him lead her. ******** Jag stopped in a tree off to the side of the group of hunters who had stopped for a rest. She dropped down to the ground and crept around the tree. Edward Reilly cocked his head. "What is it Ed?" asked a red haired man. "Nothin'," he replied. "I just thought I heard something." Then he heard it again. Jag prowled behind him; waiting for them to leave. She sat behind a bush; her eyes glowing a deep yellow. Reilly grabbed his rifle and turned toward the black forest. He cocked the gun. "Come on out now!" he yelled. The other hunters watched him confused. Jag's heart sped up a bit. Had he seen her? "Come on!" Then out of the corner of her eye, Jag spotted two figures coming into the light of a flashlight a man provided. Her breath caught. Mulder and Scully. She watched them carefully; tensing the muscles in her thighs. If they did anything to her friends, she'd be on them in a second. "Who are you?" Reilly asked. "Federal Agents Mulder and Scully," Fox told them. He hoped this would stop them from shooting them. The middle-aged hunter opened his mouth to reply when there was a scream. "I see it!!" The spotter was pointing to a spot in the bushes not too far from Mulder and Scully. There was a quiet rustle in the foliage and the hunters aimed their weapons. "Wait!" Mulder yelled, holding his hand up. But no one listened to him. About three shots went off and there was a shadowed figure that leapt into the tree. Scully recognized it immediately. "Jag!" A deep growl could be heard, but another cry for help drowned it out. Mulder and Scully turned to see another hunter down in the middle of the clearing, his side gushing with blood. He was dead already. Jag leapt for another tree as another shot rang out, but immediately after the smoke cleared from the barrel, a flash of black sped by the two partners, causing them to step back a foot. The shooter was on his back, straddled by... Jag. Wait a second... How'd she get here, if she was... Mulder looked at Scully who was equally puzzled. Jag let the hunter up and he scampered away. "Jag?" Scully asked tentatively. The figure turned. "Atilla," he corrected. Steve. Of course. "Sorry I'm late," he said. "That's fine," Scully said. "But where's... Jag?" ******** It hurt. Oh, God did it hurt. Jag opened her eyes and tried to move. She let out a whimper and fell back against the tree trunk. she told herself. Keeping her eyes closed, she felt around her with her right hand. After touching a particuarly saturated area, she lifted her hand to her face and opened her eyes. Blood. And plenty of it. She felt around her back and felt for an exit wound. Nothing. Her head fell back. Great. she thought. Grimacing at the pain that was about to assault her, Jag lifted herself from the support of the tree and stood. She received an immediate head rush, and braced her left arm against the trunk, pressing the other into her side. One step... Good... Another... Even better. She shifted her weight and used that to propel herself forward. ******** "Jag?" Mulder called, looking around the trees on one side of the clearing. Scully and Atilla were checking out various other places around the area. A slight movement out of the corner of his eye, caught his attention. "Jag?" he called again. A dark figure emerged, a hand at its side. ******** she thought. The short diversion of her attention caused her to teeter. She couldn't keep her balance and she dropped to her knees, blood dripping off her fingers. Vision blurring, she just made out his figure running toward her before she fell face forward. ******** "Scully!" Mulder yelled, running for the fallen mutant. "Scully! Get over here!" Dana looked up in surprise and her heart sank at the sight. "Atilla," she said to the figure beside her, running by him. He turned and followed her. She dropped to her knees beside Jag. "I need to turn her over," she told Mulder. He helped her push Jag onto her back. "Is she okay?" Atilla asked. Scully looked up at him. "I hope so." She turned her attention to Jag and brought a hand to her cheek. "Jag?" she said softly. "Jag? Come on, wake up." Nothing. Dana patted her friend's cheek. "Jo!" she said a little more forcefully. "Get up Jo. Come on." Jag's eyelids fluttered and looked up at the figures around her. She instantly coiled in pain and a soft roar escaped her. "God..." she whimpered. Scully tried to slow her beating heart to focus on the matter at hand. "I know it hurts Jo," she said. "You've got to help us out though." She searched the two faces beside and in front of her. "She needs to change back. No hospital is going to take her like this." "She can't," Mulder told her. "It takes too much energy. Energy that she can't spare." "Then does anyone have any ideas?" "You could do it," Atilla's soft voice offered. "What?" Scully asked. "You can do it. Change her back." Dana looked over at Mulder. He nodded. "I can't," she said. "I--I don't have the marks." Atilla crept closer to her. "You don't need them," he told her. "You're not the one we're changing." He pointed at his sister. "*She* is." "But I don't know what to say, what to do." "I will help you," he said. He reached down and took the amulet from Jag. He placed it in Scully's hands. "Put your hand on her chest," he instructed. Scully did as she was told and Atilla placed his over top. It was warm and furry. "I'll help channel the power." Scully swallowed and cast another unsure glance at her partner. He nodded. "You can do it Scully," he said. She smiled faintly and turned back to the task at hand. "Now, the amulet is in your left hand?" he asked. Scully nodded. "Good. Now the words won't be the same because they're not in the ancient language. I'll put them in English." "Thank you," she said softly. He smiled. "Repeat after me: 'Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, lend your power." Scully nodded and repeated the words. Atilla continued. "I ask for the wisdom, strength and power of the Jaguar Spirit." Again, Scully mimicked him. "Let it flow through my body, my veins, my blood." Dana repeated the words quickly, the urgency getting to her. "Let the blackness of night breathe life into beliefs that which are otherwise dead." Once Scully finished the last word, the cloud of coloured dust enveloped the trio on the dusty ground. She fliched, feeling the power surge through her. She almost fell backwards, but Atilla grabbed her hand in his and held it to Jag's chest. Dana watched as her friend began to change; from cat to woman. It was quite a transition. When the change was completed, Scully ended up falling backwards into the dust; the power being too much for her. Atilla immediately scooped his sister into his arms. "I'll meet you at the hospital," he said and disappeared into the forest. Mulder walked over to his partner and helped her to her feet. She was still a little dizzy and fell into his arms. He held her steady. "You okay Scully?" he asked. She nodded. "Yeah," she replied. "Just... A little winded." He put an arm around her shoulders. "Come on," he said. "We need to get to the hospital." Denver General Hospital, 2:00pm The Next Day Steve waited for news on his sister in the waiting room. The sound of footsteps brought him out of his daydream and he sat up, looking down the hall. Scully smiled at him and he smiled back. "She's okay?" he asked. Dana nodded. "She's fine," she replied. "Just resting up now. You can see her if you wish." He stood and started off. When he was about two strides away, he turned to Scully. "Thank you Dana," he said. "You did very well." Scully closed the gap between them. "Maybe you can tell me exactly *what* I did Steve," she said. "I still don't understand it... Or don't believe it." Steve smiled at her. "You had the power of the Jaguar Spirit *inside* you. You put them into Jo and saved her." He turned away from her and walked to his sister's room, leaving Scully nowhere, but where she started out. 5:00pm Dana knocked on the door and poked her head around it. "Hey there," she said. Jo looked up from the book she was holding, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She smiled. "Hi," she replied. "What's up?" Scully shrugged. "Just a routine check up," she replied. Jo shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Hey now," Dana protested. "I'm being concerned here." Jo waved a hand at her. "Yeah, yeah." She returned to reading. Scully stood there and rocked back on her heels for a minute. "What are you reading?" she asked. "The, uh," She looked at the front. "Papers of Samuel Marchbanks." Dana frowned. "Never heard of it," she said. "Who's it by?" "Robertson Davies," Jo replied. "He's a Canadian author." Scully nodded and looked around the bed; seemingly inspecting the equipment. Jo watched her with a frown on her face. Having enough of the silence, she closed the book and looked at her friend. "What is it Dana? What's going on?" Scully's eyes flicked back ot Jo. "Nothing," she said. Thornton's eyebrow raised. "Okay," Dana gave up. She pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down. "Last night, when you were shot, I had to... 'change' you." The Brazilian nodded as it all clicked and put the book aside. "Yeah, Steve told me about that. Thank you." "But I... I don't understand how I did it," she said, leaning back into the chair. "What do you mean?" "Well... Why couldn't Steve do it? Why me?" Jo sighed. "Because you're a woman," she said simply. Scully frowned. "What?" Thornton smiled. "It may seem that the necklaces that belong to Steve and I are the same, but they're not. There are two kinds. One kind for males, one for females." "So I could change you in and out of your... alternate form by just doing what I did?" "Well, I don't know. It helped incredibly that Steve was there with you. He cushioned the blow for you quite a bit." Dana's eyebrows raised. "Cushioned?" Jo chuckled. "Yeah. If you'd tried that by yourself, you'd probably be in the bed beside me." There was a silence between the two. "But anyway, I'm starving... When's dinner?" Scully stood. "I can get you some now," she said. "I'll just call down the nurse and--" "Oh no," Jo said, shaking her head. "I mean people food. The stuff that actually tastes like what it's supposed to." Scully raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. "I am your doctor Joanne," she said. Jo flinched at the sound of her full name. "You will eat what's good for you." Scully reached for the call button just as the door swung open and Mulder strode in. "Hey, how's the sickie?" he asked. He caught sight of the discarded book. "Hey, Robertson Davies. Cool." He placed a few paper bags at her feet on the bed. "Brought dinner. New York Steak sandwich and fries, just for you." He handed them to her. "Oh, there *is* a God," she said, unwrapping the sandwich. "Hey hold on there," Scully said. "What are you doing Mulder?" Mulder turned to his partner. "Oh, come on. You don't really expect her to eat hospital food do you? I've been in enough of these places to know that the food just keeps you here longer so you have to pay more money." He looked at Jo. "And I swear some of that stuff is made of plastic." Jo looked at Scully; her mouth full of steak. "Come on Dana," she said, voice muffled by the meat. She swallowed. "You only live once." Ther redhead looked at the two of them, Jo munching on her sandwich, and Mulder about to start on his. She sighed. "Okay," she told them. "If there's one in there for me, I won't tell the nurse." ******** Jo and Mulder sat in contented silence after they had finished eating. Scully had excused herself to go check various tests about five minutes ago. Mulder finally stood, and made his way to the door. "I'll see you later," he told her. As he opened the door, Jo spoke. "Mulder?" she asked quietly. He turned around. "Yeah?" Thornton swallowed. "Did they get it?" Mulder shook his head. "No," he replied. "Scully, Steve and I are going back tonight." "I want to go," she said. "I don't know," he said. "You're recovering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen." "I'm a fast healer." Mulder shook his head. "You sound just like me," he told her. "Ask Scully what she thinks." "I don't want to ask Scully," she replied. "You and I both know exactly what she'd say." They watched each other in a short silence. "I don't want to see it hunted down like an animal Mulder." "It won't," Mulder assured her. "We won't let it." ******** "Jo, are you nuts?" Scully asked. "You haven't been out of surgery for twenty-four hours." Jo looked up from her bag on the hospital bed. "I don't care," she replied. "I need you to sign me out. Dana, this means too much to me." Scully walked over to her friend. "You know the offer still stands," she said. "Leave if you want to." She smiled. "Mulder and I can handle it." Thornton smiled faintly and took Dana's hand in her own. "Thank you, but no." Her grip tightened slightly. "Dana, I used to be that 'cave man'. I was raised in the wild until I was ten and I remember it vividly. Everything. Even when I was being dragged away from my brother... Don't drag me away from this now. Not when we're so close." Oh man. Those were the big guns. Scully understood her pleading better than she thought she did. How many times had she and Mulder been dragged away from something when they got so close? Way, *way* too many. "Give me that," Scully said. Jo frowned. "What?" "The necklace," she told her. "Give it to me. If you're going to come along with us, I want to make sure you don't exert any more energy than you have to." Jo smiled and relinquished the piece of jewellery. "You've got to stop doing that doctor thing. It's really beginning to annoy me." "Yeah well," Scully said, pocketing the amulet. "If you ever have some time with Mulder, you two can gripe about me together." "Hey, now there's an idea." 8:00pm "Man, I'm cold." It had rained earlier that evening and the trees and ground were still saturated. The quartet sat under one of the trees just outside of the 'cave man's' den. A drop of water landed between Jo's eyes and she wiped it away; trying her best to ignore the pains in her side. "There any coffee left?" Mulder asked. Steve looked in the thermos and shook his head. "You took the last of it." "Sure, make me feel guilty." Scully glanced over at Jo; trying to gauge her feelings. she thought. She was just as good as Mulder when he wanted to shield his feelings. Jo shifted against the trunk of the tree and winced slightly, bringing a hand to the bandage. Dana caught the movement and the reaction. "How're you doing Jo?" she asked. She knew this must be killing her. She'd only been out of surgery for twenty-two hours. Jo's dark eyes flicked to Scully. "I'm fine," she said. Scully thought. There was an anagram for that: Fucked Inside, Nice Exterior. And even that wasn't that convincing. "You sure?" "Dana..." Jo warned. "I know, I know," Scully said, holding her hands up. "The Doctor Thing. Sorry." "Shhhh!" Mulder silenced them. He looked back and pointed ahead of him. "There it is." Jo stood and instantly regretted it. She grunted and held her side. "Jo, okay, that's it," Scully said. She walked over to Thornton. "I'm taking you--" Jo lashed out with her right hand and pushed Scully away. "You're not taking me anywhere," she growled. Mulder glanced at Scully who nodded to say she was all right. "Look." She pointed her chin in the direction of the den. Two small animals... no, humans walked out of the cave. They were brown and dirty like their mother or father. "It's protecting its offspring," Mulder said softly and it all clicked in his head. The cocking of a gun brought them all to attention. Four heads turned to see a hunter aim his gun. "No!!" Jo cried. The shot went off and the 'cave man' fell to the leafy ground. She turned to Scully. "Dana, give me the amulet." Scully shook her head. "No, I can't. You probably--" "Give it to me!" Jo held out her hand. "Dana, those children are going to die if I can't save them... Steve'll come with me." Scully glanced at Jo's brother and he nodded his head. Heart pounding, she reached into her pocket and tossed Jo the necklace. Almost immediately, the siblings went down on one knee, a small difficulty for Jo, and began chanting. Scully's attention was torn away from the pair, when Mulder grabbed her arm. "It's Reilly," he said, dragging her away. ******** Jag roared as she stretched. The wound was hidden, but it was still there. Though she felt fine. The energy flowing through her made her feel like she was never shot. She glanced into Atilla's green eyes. "We need to get the children somewhere safe," she said. Atilla nodded. Jag took the high road, which was safer, and Atilla bounded along below her. ******** "Federal agents! Drop your weapon!" Mulder and Scully circled around behind the hunter; their guns drawn. Reilly looked at them with wide eyes. "You don't understand!" he said. "This thing's killed four people! "We know sir!" Dana yelled down the sights of her gun. "But you can't just go around killing things you don't understand!" "Put down the gun Ed!" Mulder told the hunter. Reilly lowered the rifle slightly and watched the tall agent. "Scully," he said. She glanced at him and he motioned for her to retrieve the weapon. Scully nodded and walked toward the hunter. Her gun was still in her hand, but pointed to the leafy ground. Reilly stared at her; unmoving. She extended her arm toward him. Reilly remained still. "Give her the gun," Mulder told him, advancing slowly. The hunter looked at Mulder, then back to Scully. "Give her the gun Ed." Scully stepped a little closer. She didn't want him to feel threatened. Reilly took the gun in both of his hands and lifted it a few inches. He looked straight into Scully's eyes. "There's no way I'm letting those things live," he said quietly. Dana frowned at his words and was completely unprepared to receive the blow coming from the hunter. Reilly swung the rifle upwards and caught the smaller agent under her nose. His eyes flicked to Mulder as he dashed off further into the woods. Scully fell to the damp ground and rolled over; her gun landing a few feet away. Stars filled her closed eyes and she brought her hands to her face; feeling the blood and the gash between her nose and lip. Her partner rushed to her side. "Scully?" Mulder said softly. "You okay?" He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her toward him; using the other to pull her hands away from her face. Blood covered the area between her nose and her chin and a few droplets ran down her neck. She licked her lips; tasting her own blood and knowing it wasn't good. Stitches were going to be needed. She winced as he tilted her head toward what light he had; tears runnings down her cheeks. He wiped a tear from her face. "Are you all right?" he asked again. "Yeah," she answered quietly; it hurt to move her lips. She groaned softly and put a hand on his arm. "You've got to warn Jag," she told him. Mulder nodded as he helped her to her feet. He picked up his gun and pointed toward the sky. He pulled the trigger and a sharp crack echoed through the trees. "Jag!!" he yelled. "He's coming for the kids!!" He didn't really know where the Thornton siblings were, but he was sure they could hear him. ******** "Jag!! He's coming for the kids!!" Atilla's head snapped up; a little boy in his arms. He looked over to his sister with the other child. "Jag!" he called. She turned to him. "That hunter's coming for the kids." She was silent for a minute while she thought. She finally leapt over to him and handed him the child in her arms. "Here," she said. "Take them to a safe place a few miles from here. I'm going to stop this guy." "But--" "No," she told him, looking at him over her shoulder. "I can't carry both of them in my condition. I'll help Mulder and Dana." Atilla nodded as he watched her leap into the tree overhead. **Be careful,** he told her. ******** "Freeze!!" Mulder yelled, coming to a halt a few feet from Reilly. Scully stopped at his side. "Drop the gun Ed. It's over." Reilly spun on his heel and turned to the two agents; his chest heaving. "I can't," he told them. "Come on Ed," Mulder told him. "Nothig's going to happen. Just put the gun down." Ed spun and started off into the woods again. Mulder closed his eyes and sighed. He began to run after the hunter; his bright jacket still in sight, but jerked to a stop when he saw Reilly fall onto his back. A black figure straddled him; yellow eyes shining. "Jag!" The mutant turned her head and looked at the tall agent. The slight moment of distraction allowed Reilly to deliver a left to her abdomen. Right where the gunshot wound was. A loud piercing roar echoed through the treetops and Jag rolled off him; her arms wrapped around herself. Reilly tried to retreive his gun, but came face to face with Scully. She stared down at him; most of the blood dried, but still a small drop fell every few seconds. He froze when he noticed she held his rifle. "How does it feel to be hunted?" she asked softly. Mulder arrived at her side and cuffed the hunter. "Scully, Jag needs some help. I'll meet you back at the car." Dana looked at him, then turned to their friend lying on the ground. She handed Mulder the gun and rushed to Jag's side; seeing Mulder and Reilly turn to leave. She put a hand on the mutant's shoulder, and turned her onto her back. "Jag?" she asked softly. The dark fingure groaned. "Jag, I need you to turn back." "I... can't..." came the weak answer. "You've got to," Scully told her. "Steve's not here. I can't do it by myself and you need to get back to the hospital." Her friend stared at her with pained yellow eyes. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and nodded. "All right," she said. "I'll give it a shot." Scully helped her to the kneeling position and Jag grasped the amulet in her hand. The foriegn words spilled out of her mouth and the swirl of coloured dust descended over her. Scully moved back a few steps and watched. When the majority of the transferral was done, the painful roar of the Jaguar, became the cry of a human. Jo fell, to the ground, panting; her hand still clutched the necklace. Scully knelt beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Shhh," Dana whispered. "It's all right." "Oh god Dana," Jo groaned. She tried to stand and made it to a point that she needed support. "Dana," she said. "You can do the doctor thing now." Scully smiled and braced her friend the best she could; waiting for Steve to arrive. She looked down at Jo's stomach and realized the wound had started bleeding again and was saturating her shirt. "Oh god," she said. She needed to get something to stop the bleeding before it got out of hand. She started looking around them for potential bandages. The rustle of leaves caught her attention and she turned. Steve ran out of the bushes and stopped in front of them. "What happened?" he asked, motioning to Scully. Scully licked her lip, tasting the blood and shook her head. "I'm fine," she told him. "What we need is something for her." She looked up at him. "Your jacket. Give it to me." Steve complied and handed her his coat. She took the arms and tied them around Jo's waist as tight as she could. "Ah!" Jo protested. "Watch it." Scully looked at her. "The doctor thing," she said simply. "Now, we need to get you to the hospital. Mulder's waiting with the car." "You planning on carrying me?" Jo asked. "'Cause there's no way I can walk there." "I got it covered sis," Steve said. He picked her up into his arms and they started toward the car. Denver General Hospital, 10:00am Jo opened her eyes slowly; trying to pick out where she was and why she had a searing pain in her side. She shifted and grunted when she felt it increase. she thought to herself. She turned her head to see Mulder and Steve sitting at the table in the room. "Hey," she said softly. They looked over at her and almost smiled simultaneously. "Good morning," Mulder replied. "How're you feeling?" Jo grunted again. "Like shit," she told him. "Where are the kids?" She wasted no time in asking. "Safe," Steve replied, nodding. "I put them in another cave a few miles deep into the forest. They should be fine there." "And what am I doing in here again?" Mulder walked over to her bed. "Reilly gave you a shot to the gut and opened the wound again. We had to bring you back to get it sewn up." He smiled. "Not to mention to get Scully sewn up too." Jo's eyebrows raised. "She got the butt of a rifle in the face. Nasty trick. Caught her under the nose." "Ouch." "No kidding," came Scully's voice from the door. Apart from a bruise and the visible stitches, she looked relatively normal. "Still hurts too." She stopped beside Mulder. "Your side needed twenty-five stitches." Jo opened her mouth, but Scully answered her unasked question. "Ten." "Ha!" Jo said. "Beat ya'." "No way," Mulder interrupted. He pointed to his thigh. "Thirty." "You don't count," Jo told him. "You'd need stitches after shaving." "*Anyway*," Scully continued. "The doctors, not me, want to keep you in here for another day. Personally, I thing you need the rest." "Thanks," she said. "To the three of you. Thanks a lot. I'd probably be dead if you hadn't been there." "Nah," Mulder told her, waving a hand. "You're a cat. You've got nine lives." Scully smiled. "Or in Mulder's case, fifty." THE END October 13, 1996 ooooooo spooky huh? "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." --Witches --Macbeth: Act 1, Scene 1 "If I did everything I was supposed to, there wouldn't be any time for creativity." --The Warfarine Dealer Death to Ratboy!! >:-) Scullsters rock!!