Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, and Walter Skinner belong to Chris (who wouldn't meet my sister so she went for a coffee with the guy who played DPO (true story)) Carter, 1013 Prod. and FOX Broadcasting. No infringement is intended... I don't want any money, I'm crematophobic... just kidding... Joanne Thornton and Jade belong to me... Struggled with this one, I did (that damn school thing again...) But it's over... Many thanks go to my editor Rachael 'The Exterminator' McMillan (burn 'em!) who has outright admitted that she loves the comma :-) A little reference to another one of my stories, El Tigre, it is explained in this, but... you gotta plug your own stories...:-) Rating: R Rough language in parts... and violence... No MSR or UST... I'm working on one though... Summary: Thornton's being stalked by an old acquaintance... 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. :-) enjoy Stalking The Stalker Nicole van Dam "... Target sighted..." "... Keep an eye on her... Do not move in unless otherwise directed..." "... Yes sir..." ******** The airport was buzzing with flyers rushing back and forth. It was the Christmas season and the departures seemed to be busier than the arrivals. Everyone wanted to get of New York for some reason. It wasn't like the Big Apple wasn't a festive city. Just more relatives lived somewhere else in the country or the world than in New York. "Say hi for me?" a woman in the departures asked. She stood about 5'5 and looked like she could hold her own; her shoulders fairly broad. The three long faded, but still apparent scars on her right cheek, combined with the black leather jacket, blue jeans, and black steel-toed Doc Martens made her appear to be someone from the army, or who was just toughened from a hard life... but then appearences are deceiving... A man with equally long scars and dark skin embraced her. "Of course I will," he replied. He pulled away and stared at her. Her dark hair, not unlike his own, was hidden by the black cap on her head. He looked over her shoulder at the gate behind her. "I've got to go," he said. "I'll see you in a few weeks." She nodded. Her brother had been asked to stay in Winnipeg for Christmas. The last time they went, she only had a few days off so they didn't get to spend a whole lot of time together and unfortunately, she couldn't get the time off this time so she told him to go without her. "The layover's in Toronto," she told him. "Hopefully you won't have to wait too long." He smiled and picked up the bags at his feet. "Have a good Christmas, Jo," he said. "You too, Steve," she replied, watching him walk into the boarding area. Joanne Thornton stuffed her hands into her pockets and shivered. As she turned toward the parking lot, she noticed a tall man wearing sunglasses and what looked like military combats. He turned away as soon as she looked at him and began checking out the newsstand. Jo frowned and decided she would ask this guy what he wanted. On the way there, a small hoard of teens sped by her, causing her to lose sight of her 'admirer'. Stopping in the spot she first saw him, Jo looked over the departure level, scanning for anything that resembled the famous army green... but saw nothing. Deciding to let it go, Jo started back out to her car. she thought to herself. On the way to her rented car in the parking lot, the cellular phone in her pocket began to ring. She pulled it out and brought it to her ear. "Hello," she answered, still a little puzzled by her sighting. "Hey, Merry Christmas," a friendly voice wished her. She smiled, the recent problem forgotten. "Mulder," she said. "Thanks for the phone, now I can be just like you... Except I'll keep a firm grip on mine... What's up?" Mulder swivelled around in his desk chair, landing his feet on his desk. "Oh, nothing. Scully's at a meeting and I'm just sitting here, so I decided to waste some of the taxpayer's money." "You realize of course, that's us." Mulder slapped his forehead. "So *that's* what those papers were for? And here I thought they just wanted my autograph... So where are you?" "Uhhh..." She checked her surroundings. "Section C6 of the New York Airport parking lot." "You leaving on us?" he asked. "No," she replied, finally catching sight of the Cherokee she borrowed. "Steve went to Winnipeg for Christmas with my parents and I was just seeing him off." "He knows your parents?" "Yeah. We visited a while ago... I had some things to tie up with the RCMP... So what are you guys up to for the holidays?" Mulder glanced at the desk that belonged to Scully. "Don't know what Scully's doing, but I'm free... Why? You asking me out?" Jo smiled and decided to play along. "You bet I am, Sexy," she said with a chuckle. "What do you say?" "Sure... When and where... and is Scully invited?" "Hey," she said, stopping on the driver's side of the Jeep. "The more, the merrier." Mulder laughed. "You're almost as bad as I am," he told her. "So what do you want to do?" There was no answer. Mulder frowned. "Jo?" he asked. Still no answer. "Jo?" He was getting kind of anxious. "What's wrong?" Thornton swallowed hard. "The car door's open," she told him. "There's an envelope on the front seat..." Mulder's feet fell from the desk top and he sat straight. "Is it yours?" he asked. Jo opened the door. "It's got my name on it," she told him. She rested the phone on her shoulder and reached for it. She untied the string and pulled out its contents. "What's in it?" He heard a soft sigh. "Jo?" "Pictures..." she said finally. Mulder ran his hand over his face. This territory was all too familiar. "Of what?" Jo stepped into the jeep and closed the door. "Me..." She started shuffling through them. "They're pictures of me... At work... At home..." Fox took a minute to think. His eyes shifted to the door when he heard Scully come in. She was immediately attentive when she saw the look on his face. "I'm putting you on the speaker all right?" He clicked a button and replaced the receiver. "Fine," she said dismissively, even though it'd already been done. "Scully's here," he told her. "You don't mind?" Thornton sighed. "No... Hey, Dana." "What's going on?" she asked, sitting across from Mulder. "Seems I've got a secret admirer," Jo said in a bitter tone. Dana turned to Mulder, still not clear. "Someone's planted serveillance photos in her car," he told his partner. "What?" she asked, surprised. "Yeah, that was about my reaction," Jo told them. "So... Any ideas as to what I can do?" "Has this happened before?" Mulder asked. Jo looked out the windshield of the jeep. "Ah... Yeah, a couple times," she replied. "I've caught three men staring at me at different times, but when I try to talk to them, they disappear... I've also gotten some weird calls, just put it off to pranksters, but I guess it's something serious." "What kind of calls?" "I answer, no one's there." The trio was silent for a moment. Mulder leaned back in his chair and put a hand over his mouth; his eyes conversing with Scully's. "Can you get a ticket down here?" Scully spoke up. "What for?" Jo asked. "These people obviously know where you live," she replied. "It's not going to be safe if you sit at home." "And you don't think they know where you live?" Thornton said with a touch of hostility. "I think it's a good idea," Mulder told her. "We can put you up somewhere down here." Jo sighed and threw the photos down in the seat next to her. "All right," she surrendered. "But I'm riding down. I'll be there tonight... I'll meet you in your office." There was a click on the speaker that signalled her disconnection. Scully looked up at Mulder. "Any ideas?" she asked. He returned his partner's gaze and shook his head. "I knew this would happen." FBI Headquarters Washington DC, 10:00pm Joanne Thornton kicked the stand out for her bike and slipped the black helmet off her head. Looking around the street, she put her keys into her pocket and adjusted the pack on her back. Not knowing just how long she was going to be away, Jo only packed the necessities: a few 'outfits' and comfort items; walkman, laptop... two Colt .45s. They were both nestled in hip holsters, snug under her jacket. She stuffed a hand into one pocket and jogged across the street to the large building in front of her; her helmet under her arm. She threw open the glass door and walked briskly to the elevator. The night watchman eyed with a little suspiscion, but she had disappeared before he could stop her. The Brazilian stepped into the elevator car and sighed. She hated visiting friends on terms like these and she was not looking forward to telling them what happened before she had left. When she had just walked out of her house, she spotted a man similar to whom she saw in the airport, standing across the street at a bus stop. Again, once she made eye contact, he looked away and started walking down the street. Jo ran across the road, trying to catch him. She stopped short a few metres from the bus stop, breathing heavily. She scanned her surroundings, her breath showing in the crisp air. Swearing to herself, she returned to her driveway and picked up her back pack, slinging it across her back. Taking one last look for the stranger, Jo straddled her Harley and slipped the helmet on her head. She knew that they were going to be following her. It was a given with these people. They tormented you by following, watching, but not acting. They had to remain inside the law. Whatever that was anymore. The elevator bell rang and the doors slid open. Jo stepped out and walked to the basement office. She knocked on the door softly, checking down the hall both ways. she thought. Fox Mulder opened the door with a concerned look on his face. "Hi," he said quietly. He stepped aside to invite her in. Jo responded with a tight-lipped smile and spotted Scully sitting at her desk, watching her with the same look. Jo looked at Scully, then back to Mulder. "I'm okay guys," she told them, with half a smile. "You can breathe." She turned slightly when she heard the door shut and eyed Mulder as he walked over to her. "Are you sure?" he asked. Jo nodded. "Yeah. Everything's fine." Scully huffed into her hand and Thornton's eyes shifted to her. "All right," she admitted. "I'm lying." "What happened?" Dana asked. Jo flopped into the chair across from Mulder's desk. "It happened again," she told them. "The airport thing." "They're following you," Mulder said. "Yeah, I know," she replied with a sigh. "The same guy was probably on the road with me on the way over. And I know they're just going to watch... learn, until they find a weakness." She brought a hand to her face; tracing the three scars on her cheek. "They're doing this because of what I am, aren't they?" Mulder's eyes flashed to Scully's, then back to the woman across from him and nodded solemnly. "I don't have any other explanation for it," he said. Jo's eyes moved to a spot on the wall. "So what'll they use me for? Warfare? A renegade soldier? Genetic engineering?" She looked at Dana. "Where am I going to go?" she asked softly. Scully took a deep breath. "We have somewhere in the outskirts of Annapolis. It's a cabin my family used to use during the summer. It's free for the winter." "Scully and I will stay with you alternately so you'll always have someone there until we get these guys." Jo nodded and lifted her head. "When do we leave?" ******** The Next Morning, 6:30am The door to the old log cabin swung open as the trio stepped inside. It was remarkably well kept; Scully's mother had sometimes used it to get away. The sun shone through the windows facing the shoreline to Chesapeake Bay, lighting what used to be a busy living room, the family sitting in front of the fire, playing games and telling stories. Thornton had ended up staying at Scully's apartment the night before, trying to sleep on the couch, but slumber was not forthcoming. Hopefully she'd do okay here until these stalkers were apprehended. "This is a nice place, Dana," Jo said, setting her bags on the floor in the hall. "Thanks." "No problem," Dana replied. "We'll set things up at work and I'll come back here tonight," Mulder told her. He turned and smiled at her, opening the door. "Get acquianted with the place, get comfortable. I'll see you later." Jo looked back at them with a smile. "Sure," she replied. The two agents shut the door. Jo stood quietly until she heard the car drive off, then started to the back of the cabin to find a room. ******** "Target sighted..." A large coloured man sat in a small cottage along side his partner. He brought the walkie-talkie to his lips again. "Stay at a safe distance," the voice on the other end directed. "Orders still stand..." "Yes sir..." ******** "You think it's the government?" Scully asked as they drove back to Washington. Mulder nodded. "Without a doubt," he replied. "Think about it... A soldier with the enhanced sight, hearing, strength and stealth of a jaguar. And on your side?" "An ace in the hole," Dana said softly. ******** Jo sighed and dropped her bag onto the lone bedroom in the back and wandered out into the living room. She sat on the soft couch; feeling the pair of Colts pressing gently into her lower back; however, she made no effort to move them. Jo looked around the cabin until she heard a thud. She immediately stiffened, her right instinctively reaching for a gun. Her thoughts ran wild; those of the men she'd seen coming to the house, breaking the door down and killing her. She stood and walked to the front window, moving the curtain aside with the barrel and saw someone across the street getting out of a car and walking into their house. Jo closed her eyes and let her arm slacken by her side. "Shit," she whispered. She holstered the .45 and ran a hand over her face. "These next few days are going to be murder on my nerves..." ******** 10:00am After a few hours, Thornton had finally settled down with her laptop and a cup of tea. She cleared off a desk in the living room which looked out over the bay and hooked it into the phone jack. Her fingers typed away, the clacking the only sound in the cabin. <> tazz>> Hey Jag... Missing you. :-( jag>> Missing you too Tazz... Where are you? tazz>> Cairo. jag>> Cairo? You've got a comp. modem line?? tazz>> Swanky hotel... jag>>**slaps forhead** Of course, only the best. Never let it be said you didn't push for the most expensive accomodations...BTW, how much IS it costing? tazz>> Per night? $250 Can. approx... Don't know for sure... But then I was never good at math... :-) jag>> That's why I like you... You don't have have anything to hang over me... So what're you doing? And what time is it over there? Shouldn't you be sleeping? tazz>> Not much... 7pm, so no... Got a new dig... Abdul asked me over. jag>> How is he? tazz>> Good... Wants to know how the artifacts he sent over are doing. jag>> Safe and sound. I put 'em in my studio... With the pottery. tazz>> Be sure to keep 'em away from the kiln... The heat'll ruin 'em. jag>> Yes dear... :-) tazz>> So where're you? jag>> In a cabin on Chesapeake Bay. tazz>> Why? Pause. jag>> I don't want to talk about it through this room... You think we move to could make this a little more personal? tazz>> :-) I'll do one better... Give me your phone number... ******** "I want to come back there." Jo shook her head. "No, don't," she told him. "You'll probably get hurt... They can probably hear us now." "Jesus, Jo... then what can I do?" She sighed. "Nothing. Just... I'll talk to you every day okay? It's... too complicated to let you in... It's too complicated even for me." There was the sound of a car outside and paranoia kicked in once again. "Listen, I'll talk to you later," she said, looking toward the front window. "Be in that same chat room at eight o'clock my time." With that, she hung up the receiver and walked over to the window. It was just one of the neighbours and Jo silently cursed herself. ******** 5:00pm The temperature had gone down considerably and Jo had to abandon her Docs for a pair of hiking boots to keep her feet warm. She had decided to take a walk to clear her mind of the situation at hand. She knew that it was pretty iffy to go out on her own, but she figured if she had her Colts and her necklace, she'd be fine. Shivering slightly, Thornton guessed the temperature to be at minus twenty plus the windchill. she thought. Then again, she was from Winnipeg. It was kind of ironic that she liked the cold weather since she was originally from Brazil. You'd expect someone like her to turn into a popsicle the second they stepped outside. It was the snap of a twig that caught her attention. One thing about this ability she had, was that a few of her senses were enhanced. Not by much, but more than the average human. A snap again. This time from a different direction. Jo reached for a gun and waited. A shadow to the right... Footsteps to the left... Realizing she was in big trouble, Jo looked around her. No one was in sight. She grabbed the amulet in her right hand, figuring she had at least thirty seconds. But she had no clue that they'd hit from a distance... ******** "When did you say you'd be there?" Scully asked. Mulder shrugged as he packed up the files on his desk. "This evening," he replied. "No specifics. I figured I'd pick up some Chinese on the way over." He looked up at her. "Wanna come?" Dana looked around her immaculate desk, then surveyed her bag. "Ummmm sure," she said. "I'm clean." "Great." Mulder stuffed the files into a bag and walked to the door. "Let's go." ******** The force of the rock against her head knocked her to the snowy ground. She rolled a few times and laid on the ground, a hand coming to the point of impact. A nasty bump was already forming and the pain that shot through her was beginning to affect her eyesight. She crawled through the snow and her hand finally hit the cold metal. She didn't even get to her feet when she felt her gun being kicked from her hand. The four burly men surrounded her and she could only see fuzzy shapes before her. Shaking her head to clear it, Jo pulled the other .45 and brought into her blurry sights and only successfully managed to receive a foot connect with her stomach. She fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for breath and a large hand grabbed the collar of her jacket and pulled her to her feet. She opened her eyes in time to see a fist headed in her direction. The stinging pain flew through her mouth and jaw; blood instantly poured from the cut lip. Jo grimaced. A bit of satisfaction crawled through her when she saw him shake his hand, but it faded quickly when another fist crossed her jaw. She dropped to her knees, trying to gather an energy she had. There was no way she was going to be able to morph in time. One of the men pulled her up to him and he leaned into her ear. "Hey, Jag," he sneered. "Got a message from Jade... you remember Jade? The poacher you ruined?" Thornton turned to the assailant with wide eyes. The man chuckled. "I see you do. He says to tell you he's watching you." It had only been about a year and a half since she had thwarted Jade's efforts of poaching the endangered animals from the New York City Zoo. It had been her first case with Mulder and Scully and she had revealed her ability to them in that four day period. Feeling a sudden burst of energy, Jo reared back her arm and nailed the man in front of her with a solid right. The man stumbled backwards. "I see you got a little spunk," he said. "That's fine... it'll give us something to do..." ******** "Man, that smells good." "Don't you dare touch it Fox Mulder." Scully glanced at him and returned to the road. "You take any of that Kung Pao Chicken and I'll castrate you with a butter knife." Mulder cringed. There was a short silence as Mulder debated on Scully's last comment. Would she? Wouldn't she? Those seemed to be the questions that passed though his mind the most lately. "I hope Jo found something to do," Dana said, breaking the silence. "I'm sure she has," Mulder replied. "You know her, she's probably having a great time." ******** The spin kick was delivered flawlessly to the small man's jaw, sending him to the ground. Boy, was she ever glad she had taken those martial art classes. She stood, waiting for another attack, when she felt the sharp pain in her lower back. She fell to her knees and saw the thick branch being tossed to the side out of the corner of her eye. That was the last thing she saw; the kick to her nose sent her to the wet, white ground for the fourth time and she was out cold. The four men stood over her and watched her; seeing if she had any more fight in her. When she refrained from moving any, the men left, leaving her just metres away from the cabin... ******** 6:20pm "No it's not," Mulder argued. "It is too." There was no way Scully was going to let him win this match. She could be just as stubborn as he was. The dark blue car turned the winding corner onto the street where the cabin was located. Scully was careful not to slide the car any more than she could help. Mulder, giving in to his desires, dug into the Chinese noodles and pulled out a few to pop into his mouth. When he looked up, he spotted a dark area on the front lawn of the neighbour's cabin. He frowned. It almost looked human. "Hey, Scully," he said. "What's that?" He pointed to the lawn. His partner slowed the car and turned into the cabin's driveway. "I don't know," she replied, opening the door. Once she was out of the car, her heart leapt into her throat. "Mulder..." "What?" He looked up at her through the driver's side window and followed her gaze toward the lawn. "What is it?" "It's Jo," she told him before taking off. ******** Dana crouched beside the Brazilian. She touched her neck; checking for a pulse, which she found. It wasn't strong, but there was one. She looked up and saw Mulder skid to a halt on Jo's other side. He sucked in a small breath when he saw the extent of her injuries. There was a dark bruise and bump just to the side of her left eye; dried blood ornamented her pale features, staining the snow beneath her. Mulder raised his head to his partner. "She's alive," Scully told him. "We need to get her inside immediately. She's probably suffering from hypothermia and frostbite. It's too hard to tell how long she's been out here. Can you help me lift her?" Mulder nodded and put his arms underneath Jo's and lifted her gently; Scully taking her feet. He turned to her when he heard a groan. "It's all right, Jo," he said. "We've got you." ******** The two agents laid Thornton on the couch without speaking and Scully rushed to the hallway in the back of the cabin to retrieve a few blankets. She came back out and saw her partner sitting beside the still Brazilian. Putting the blankets down beside Jo, she turned to her partner. "Take off your shirt," she told him. He frowned at her. "The best way to warm her is skin to skin and you're bigger than I am, therefore have more body heat." Her partner finally nodded and took his jacket off; reaching to untuck his shirt while Scully faced Jo. she recited to herself. Dana reached for her jacket. Slipping it from her shoulders gingerly, she started on her shirt. She gasped quietly when she saw the cuts an bruises on Jo's stomach. She moved to her jeans and pulled them off gently; careful not to hurt her more than she had to. When everything but her underwear had been removed, Scully turned to Mulder, who waited silently. "Shift closer," she told him. "And hold her close, but not tightly. She's got a few bad injuries." Mulder did what he was told and moved over a bit, gingerly taking the woman into his arms. He sucked in a breath. Thornton groaned at the sensation of pain that rocked through her and pushed away weakly. Mulder didn't need much power to keep her against him; she gave up after only one push. Her eyes had yet to open and Scully was pretty sure she was going to have difficulty opening the left one. The bruise the rock caused had spread rapidly to her forehead and cheekbone. A few minutes later, Scully emerged from the kitchen with a mug of tea and put it on the table. "Here," she said. He had grabbed a blanket and wrapped the both of them in it. Scully knelt in front of her and handed the mug to him. "Try and get this inside her. It'll help warm her." She stood again. "I'm going to run a bath so she can warm up faster." Mulder nodded and turned to Jo and brought the mug to her lips. Feeling the heat radiate off the liquid, Jo brought a cold hand out from the blanket and held the mug; taking a sip. Mulder tilted it back a bit. "Woah," he said. "Slow down." He could feel her heart beating a little stronger against his chest and she began to shiver. He let out a ragged breath. This wasn't exactly what he thought he'd be doing when he got here. He thought they might sit and watch some TV or play some cards or something. he told himself. A few minutes later, Scully emerged from the hallway. "All right, give her to me." Mulder nodded and stood, being careful not to jar the woman in his arms. He walked her into the bathroom and with Scully's help, put her into the hot water. Dana removed the blanket and sat on the toilet seat, staring at Thornton. Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, Mulder disappeared into the living room to fuel the near dead fire. About an hour later, Mulder sat on the floor in front of the fire; his head resting on the couch not far from Jo's. He had stepped out for a few minutes to retreive Jo's Colts from the snow and, once they dried out a bit, they'd be fine. Scully had called him back into the bathroom not that long ago and asked him if he would help her take Jo into the living room again. He turned his head when Scully sat down beside him. "She's getting a little more colour," she said. "The worst of the injuries I cleaned... Nothing broken." Mulder nodded. "So, what do you think happened?" Scully shrugged. "My only guess would be the obvious." "But the point of stalking is *not* to be found out, not to be seen," Mulder told her. "Why would they do this?" Dana shrugged and looked back at Thornton. Her face was still very pale; she looked considerably ill. "I don't know, but they sure did a number on her. I found a bruise on her lower back that extends about six by twelve inches... Something must've hit her. She's lucky none of the vertebrae broke." "So what do we do?" Scully sighed. "Give it until tomorrow... She might want to talk then." A beep assaulted the silence and the two of them looked up at the laptop on the desk. The screen showed a white background with one line of characters. A second later, another line appeared... then another. Mulder stood and walked over to the computer, pulled out the chair and read the screen. tazz>> Jag! Where are you??? tazz>> What's going on?? Have you forgotten? tazz>> Come on... answer... <> tazz>> Where have you been? jag>> Hi... I'm a friend of Jag's. tazz>> Who are you? Where is she? jag>> Right here. Name's Fox Mulder. Special Agent from the FBI. tazz>> Right... Then what's you badge number? jag>> JTT047101111... Check me out, go ahead. tazz>> ... tazz>> naw, I'm sorry... I believe you. What's going on? jag>> She got caught on a stroll... Been beaten pretty badly, but she's fine... suffering from hypothermia... tazz>> ... tazz>> She's okay though? jag>> Yeah... not to worry, I've got a doctor on hand. tazz>> ??? jag>> My partner, Dana Scully... JTT0331613... :-) tazz>> haha... thank you... ah... I have to leave, I'm needed... I'll be back here at four o'clock your time tomorrow afternoon... ??maybe I could speak with her then?? jag>> Just a sec... jag>> Yeah, probably... she's a fast healer. tazz>> I know... :-) <> Mulder closed the laptop and turned around in the chair. His eyes flicked from Scully to Thornton. The Brazilian slept soundly; curled tightly in a few blankets. "We've got to find out who did this," Dana said softly, still staring into the fire. Mulder nodded somberly as the silence washed over them again. He finally spoke. "So how 'bout that Chinese? You hungry?" Scully turned to him and nodded. "Yeah." "I hope there's a microwave in here somewhere..." ******** 8:00pm Mulder and Scully sat quietly in front of the fire; the only sounds being the fire and the clinking of cutlery against the plates. Scully stared into the flames, not really registering anything at the moment. She couldn't shake the events that happened earlier. "Scully?" Mulder's soft voice cut through the silence. She looked at him. "Why didn't she morph?" Dana shrugged. "Maybe the timing wasn't right... maybe they hit her first." She played with the chow mein on her plate. "Who do you think we're dealing with here, Mulder?" she asked. He looked at her and shook his head. Suddenly, there was a sound of shifting behind them. The partners turned to see Jo with a grimace on her face. She opened the one eye she could. Opening her mouth to speak, she found she couldn't; the cold still gripping her vocal chords. A look of panic spread over her face and she began to move off the couch. "No, no, no, no," Scully said, kneeling beside the couch. She pushed Thornton back down. "Don't get up. You need to stay there." Jo's eyes flicked from Mulder to Scully and back again, the frightened look never leaving her features. A stabbing pain through her back made her eye close again and she settled into the cushions. Her chin quivered and a single tear ran down her cheek. "She doesn't know what's going on," Dana told her partner. She looked up an over the back of the couch. "I'm going to put the kettle on... Tell her what happened, or, what we know." Mulder felt his heart clench at the look on Jo's face. She had no idea what was happening or happened to her. The hypothermia causing mental confusion. She probably didn't even remember what happened to her. At all. He crawled up to her and wiped the tear from her cheek. "Don't worry," he said. "You're fine... You were outside and got into a fight with whoever is watching you. Scully and I found you lying in the snow. You were, are still, suffering from hypothermia." Jo's hand reached up and touched her left eye where the rock had hit. Mulder lowered his gaze. "They did a number on you. You've got multiple injuries including a major bruise on your back." Thornton's arm reached out and motioned to the large piece of driftwood over the fireplace. Mulder looked up at it. "What?" he asked. "The wood?" Jo nodded. "You were hit with wood?" She nodded again and motioned for paper and a pen. Mulder reached over to his trench coat and pulled out his notepad to give to her. Jo took it and sketched a small picture and handed it back to Mulder. He looked at it. "A tree branch?" Thornton nodded and he closed his eyes, shaking his head. Scully walked in and set a tray with a pot of tea onto the table that had been pushed to the side. She sat on the floor beside Mulder and lifted the pot. "Tea?" she asked Thornton. Jo nodded and closed her eye again, leaning against the pillows. She reached a hand out; asking for the notepad again. Mulder handed it to her. She scribbled some words onto the paper and gave it back. <> Mulder smiled. "No problem." "Do you remember anything?" Dana asked, handing Jo the mug of tea. The Brazilian shrugged. "How are you feeling?" Taking the notepad again, she took more time writing a message. <> Scully nodded. "Sorry... Stupid question." Jo shook her head and snagged the pad of paper. <> She paused; frowning, then returned to the message. <> "What do you mean 'funny'?" Scully wondered. "Besides the injuries?" Mulder added and Jo nodded. "What is it?" Thornton shrugged and wrote another message. <> Mulder and Scully looked at each other, unsure of what to make of it until Jo took the notepad back. <> Smiling, she handed it back. Dana shot her a glare. "That's not funny." After a half hour, the tea was finished and Jo drifted off into sleep again. Hopefully, she'd be able to talk once she woke up... It was an iffy situation; the cold had basically frozen her vocal chords. Scully looked up as her partner sat beside her, leaning against the couch. "Perimeter secured Cap'n," he said with a mock salute. Dana smiled. "Thanks." "Don't you worry none now li'l lady..." He patted his holster. "Any bad guys and li'l Spooky here'd take care of 'em." He smiled when she shook her head and lifted his left arm, inviting her to scoot closer. Taking the offer, Scully slid over and leaned against him; his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "So what do you think Jo's 'feeling funny' has to do with everything?" Scully sighed, enjoying the warmth of her partner's body. "I don't know. She probably has the flu or some kind of infection. It wouldn't be unusual for someone who'd been in minus ten weather for God knows how long." Her eyes drifted shut. "We'll see how she's doing tomorrow and take it from there... She's probably fine." Mulder looked down at her; feeling her relax. "Probably," he mumbled. ******** 6:00am Jo stirred slightly and tried to turn over, instantly regretting it. A sharp pain shot through her lower back and she groaned. "Wait a second..." she whispered. She smiled. "All right." Her voice had returned for the most part and she moved incredibly gently to sit up. She opened her right eye and surveyed the room. Cabin. Coast line. "The cabin." She nodded to herself and caught sight of the paired agents beside her. The two partners used each other for support as they slept soundly in front of the dying fire. Jo smiled. "'Bout time," she whispered. She moved to get up off the couch without disturbing her friends. Taking the blanket with her, she shuffled slowly into the kitchen to put some water on. Scully shifted slightly, snuggling closer to her partner. She sighed and opened her eyes. The fire was dead, and it was suddenly a lot brighter. Bringing a hand to wipe the sleep from her face, she felt a hand tighten around her waist. She looked at her watch and tried to sit up. "Come on, Mulder," she said. "Time to get up." Mulder groaned at the sudden loss of heat and pulled her closer to him, nuzzling his face into her hair. Dana rolled her eyes. "Mulder, get up." She pushed herself away from him and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. "Mulder," she said with a hint of urgency. His eyes finally opened and blinked a few times. "What?" "Jo's gone," she told him, motioning to the empty couch. Mulder sat up, his heart accelerating. "Where is she?" Scully shook her head. "I don't--" "Right here," came a weak voice. The two agents looked toward the sound. "Jo," Scully said, getting to her feet. "You can talk." "Barely," the Brazilian replied. She cleared her throat and started back to the couch. Scully came to her side and helped her to sit. "Thanks." Mulder lifted himself to the couch and sat on one side; Scully sitting on the other. Jo adjusted the blanket and caught sight of herself underneath it. Her eyebrows raised at her state. She looked at Mulder, then at Scully. "You better have been the one who undressed me," she said with the utmost in seriousness. Scully smiled as did Mulder. "Now, come on ,Jo," Mulder said. "Don't be shy... You have a wonderful body." Dana cracked up and Thornton turned to Mulder. "Think you can run faster scared, than I can mad?" Mulder shook his head. "No... But I can now." "Only because I'm injured." "That's good enough for me." Jo sighed and rested her head against the back of the couch. "So..." She cleared her throat again. "What's the consensus on my condition?" Mulder shook his head at her wording. "Yes, ladies and gentleman, the doctor is back." "Nothing broken," Dana told her. "Lots of nice bruises though. How's your eye?" Thornton thought for a moment. "All right," she replied. "I can open it a little. And my back's a bit more mobile." After a short silence, Mulder got to his feet. "I should be going," he said. "I've got to get some work done... Skinner's probably wondering where we are." "At six o'clock in the morning?" Scully raised an eyebrow. Jo frowned. "Skinner?" she asked. Mulder nodded. "As in Walter Skinner?" Mulder glanced at his partner and back to the Brazilian. "Yeah. Why?" Thornton shrugged. "No reason," she dismissed. She lifted herself off the couch carefully. "I'm gonna take a shower." She turned to Mulder. "I'd like to head into DC with you, if that's okay." "Jo..." Dana warned. "I'm fine Dana," she said. "Everything still works." She smiled. "Besides, I can't be responsible for a backlog in your paperwork." "Yes, you can." Jo chuckled and manoevered to the bathroom. "You need a hand?" This from Scully. Jo turned to her and shook her head. "Nah..." She looked down at herself. "I seem to be halfway there anyway... I'll let you know." The two partners watched her disappear behind the door. ******** Thornton stepped out of the shower and grabbed the towel hanging from the rack. She dried herself as fast as she could; muscles permitting and wrapped it around her. Looking at her facial injuries, Jo was caught completely off guard by the intense pain that shot through her chest and stomach. Whimpering slightly, she braced herself on the counter and squeezed her eyes shut; hoping to ride it out. She felt like every cell in her body was being ripped apart. Finally, the pain subsided and she panted at the energy it took from her. She looked at herself in the mirror, noting the palor in her face. ******** Mulder and Scully stood when Jo emerged from her bedroom. She looked a little pale, but a lot better than she had the night before, for obvious reasons. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose black denim shirt, her injuries didn't look as bad as they were. "Ready?" Mulder asked. Thornton held up a finger. "One minute," she replied, looking around the room. Spotting what she was looking for on the table, she reached for them. "I thought they'd have taken these." Holstering her two .45s, she turned to Mulder. "How did you find them?" Mulder shrugged. "Wasn't that hard," he told her. "They're not that small." Jo smiled. "Thanks." She clipped the two holsters to the back of her jeans; pulling the shirt over them. "I think I'll call them Mulder and Scully. Thanks for bringing me in from the snow." Scully shook her head. "I think I'm flattered. Mulder?" Fox turned to her. "Hey, I'm happy to get anything named after me." Thornton laughed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Never leave yourself open like that Mulder. You're liable to get a nice shot below the belt." She strode to the door. "Come on. Let's get out of here." ******** "... Target moving..." "... They'll be back... And I'll be there..." "... Yes sir..." ******** FBI Headquarters Washington, DC, 8:00am "We should tell Skinner about Jo," Mulder told his partner as they waded their way through the desks. Jo had wandered off after they stepped inside the building, telling them she'd see them in an hour. Neither were sure of what was going on. Scully nodded. "I think that's a good idea. He might be able to help her." They walked by the AD's office and paused when a male agent rushed out; his face red. Mulder cleared his throat. "Maybe we'll do it later." ******** Walter Skinner scribbled his signature down on the write-up just sent to him with regards to a young agent. He was so sick of all these rookies letting their emotions getting the best of them. That usually led to decking someone they shouldn't... Like the Special Agent in Charge. Skinner shoved the paper aside and pulled another into his sight and read it quickly. Just as he was finishing, he heard the door to his office close. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm busy," he stated sharply as he signed his name. "You don't even have enough time for a misguided rookie?" That voice... There was no way he could mistake it. The AD looked up from his desk and a wide grin spread over his face. He stood from his chair. "Joanne?" he asked. Thornton smiled and walked over to him. "Hey Walter," she said. "How's it going?" Skinner wrapped his arms around her. "Fine, great," he replied. "What are you doing here?" Jo grimaced slightly at the pain in her back. "Take it easy," she grunted. "I'm a little tender right now." The AD frowned and pulled away from her; her bruises finally registering. "What the hell happened?" he asked, bringing a hand to her face. She shrugged. "You should see the other... guys." Her eyes lowered. "What's going on?" Taking a deep breath, Jo looked up at him. He had always been a good five inches taller than her. "I was... am... being... watched." "What?" "It started about a month or two ago." She sat in one of the chairs across from his desk. He sat in the other. "I never really paid much attention to it... until I found surveillance photos in a car I borrowed." "Of you?" Skinner asked. She nodded. "I was just seeing my brother off at the airport when it happened. I was on the phone with Mulder when I found them. He and Dana told me to come down here so I could be put somewhere safe." "Were you?" Jo huffed into her hand. "I thought so," she replied. "Dana let me use her family's cottage on the shoreline of Chesapeake Bay. Neither of us figured I would be found there." "But you were." She nodded. "That afternoon. I went out for a walk before Mulder came back to check on me and I heard something move in the bushes. After deciding it was a threat to me, I pulled my gun and waited." Skinner watched her closely. "And?" he asked. Thornton sighed. "I was hit by something... and that's all I remember at the moment. Apparently I was knocked unconscious because Mulder and Dana found me in the snow when they arrived. I was in pretty bad shape." "Do you know who's watching you?" "No... no clue." She shrugged. "I can't remember." The AD rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He looked up at the Brazilian when she stood. "Where are you going?" he asked. "I told Mulder I'd meet him," she replied. "He's probably waiting for me." She started to the door. When she grasped the doorknob, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She met Skinner's concerned eyes when she turned. "You can't go back there," he told her. A silence hung between them as he fought with the idea bouncing around in his head. He finally sighed and spoke. "Stay with me?" ******** "So... Tell me again why we're going back to get your things?" Dana asked. Mulder turned down the snow-covered gravel; Jo staring out the backseat window. "I've got somewhere else to stay," she replied flatly. "Somewhere where they'll never look." Mulder look out the window at his side for a brief second. "And that place is?" No answer. "Jo?" This from Scully. Mulder glanced in the rearview mirror and his eyes widened. "Scully..." He slowed the car and pulled onto the soft shoulder. Dana turned to see what was wrong. Jo was curled up in her seat, eyes closed tightly, and her arms wrapped around her. Scully opened her door and moved into the back seat. She crawled over to her friend and touched her shoulder. "Jo?" she asked quietly. The Brazilian shook her head. "Ow... God..." "What's the matter Jo?" Dana asked again. "What's wrong?" "Hurts..." she managed to squeeze out. "Badly..." Mulder watched from between the front seats. "'Feeling funny'," he muttered to himself. "Scully, she said she was feeling funny... She said it was like nausea." Scully turned back to Jo. "Is that what it is?" She was responded with a frantic nod. "But it's not nausea." Jo shook her head. "It'll... go..." "We have to get you to a hospital," Dana told her. She moved away from Thornton, but was kept there by a firm grip. She looked up to see Jo shaking her head. "No... hospitals..." "Jo, you may have something bleeding in there. We need you to get checked out." Just as that was said, the pain lessened and Jo relaxed a little. Scully frowned. "Jo?" After taking a couple breaths, Thornton looked at the small agent. "I'm fine," she said. "Let's just keep going." Mulder and Scully exchanged unsure glances, but Jo's won them both over. Mulder turned around and put the car back on the road. Scully stayed in the back and buckled herself in. "What the hell's going on, Jo?" Dana asked. Jo stared out the window once again. "I don't know." "Jo--" "I don't know all right!?" came the intense response. "Is that okay? I didn't ask for this to happen. I thought I would be safe in that cabin." The fire in the Brazilian's eyes suddenly made Scully wish she was looking out the window again. "I go out for a harmless walk and get the shit kicked out of me. Then I wake up in front of a fire and find I can't even talk or remember what the hell happened to me. So you tell me Dana... Would you know what was going on?" Scully watched Jo with more shock than anything. She wasn't really expecting an outburst like that, but now that she thought about it, she was asking for it. "I wouldn't," Dana told her softly. "I wouldn't know. I'm sorry." Thornton sighed, still gazing out the window. She finally turned back to her friend. "This is just all too... too much for me to handle." ******** The car pulled up to the cabin in the deserted neighbourhood. Once the car was completely stopped, Scully frowned. "Something's wrong," she said. Mulder turned around. "What?" "The door," she told him, opening the car door. "It's been broken into." The three agents stepped out of the car cautiously and made their way to the cabin. All the guns were drawn, minus Jo's second Colt. Mulder stood on one side of the door, waiting for Jo and Scully to get into position. Once the trio was ready, Mulder broke the door open, spinning to the other side. Jo and Scully moved through the door, looking left and right; Mulder taking up the rear. Silently, Thornton motioned for Mulder to take the kitchen and for Scully to follow her into the back of the cabin. Dana nodded and stepped cautiously behind Jo; watching Mulder disappear into the kitchen. Jo pressed herself up against the wall outside one of the bedroom doors. After a few deep breaths, she swung around to find the room empty. Dana watched her move and once the Brazilian was inside the room, she felt a hand close over her mouth. The figure behind her moved silently, but quickly, backing up into the living room. She hoped that Mulder might have been coming out of the kitchen, but she could see him checking out the back of the cabin. A hand came around her, taking the gun from her hand and placing the barrel beside her ear. The figure took her outside the house to the front lawn. There, they waited. ******** "Dana?" Jo frowned and looked around another corner. She walked into the living room and stood there, thinking of the places she could be. It was then that she heard the voice. "Hey, Jag!!" it yelled. Thornton raised an eyebrow and turned to the open front door. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" Her eyes narrowed and she started outside. She froze on the front step, seeing Scully held captive by a tall man. A man she recognized vaguely. He smiled visciously. "Interesting seeing you in human form," he said. "You remember me?" He tightened his grip around Scully's neck. "I'm sure she does." A moment's thought was all it took. He was one of the men who beat her. And now, looking at the other five standing with him, she concluded that three of them were also responsible for it. Suddenly, Mulder rushed out the front door and was, as Jo was, paralyzed in an instant. "Mulder," the man said. "Long time, no see." Mulder's heartbeat accelerated slightly. Kaffar. The man who was his captor on his first case with Jo. Now after looking at all the other faces, he concluded that they all had come from that poaching ring. But... where was-- "Jade," Jo said coldly. The tall, blue-eyed man walked out in front of the group. Jade smiled. His face was distorted by scar tissue. The scars that Jo had given him on their first meeting. "Jag," he replied. "How nice of you to come." "You've been stalking me." It was a statment, not a question. "That I have," he admitted. He motioned to her right hand. "Rid yourself of that please." Jo looked at the gun in her hand and tossed it to the snowy ground. "Ah, the other too, if you don't mind." Jo tossed that as well. "I don't suppose it would matter if I did." "Jo, what are you doing?" Mulder whispered harshly. She turned to him. "Just let it go, Mulder," she told him. "I'll deal with it." Jade looked at his comrades and smiled. "I see you're not wearing your necklace," he pointed out. Jo's eye widened as her hand flew to her chest, feeling nothing. She looked up to see a familiar piece of jewellery dangling from Jade's finger. "This yours?" Jo's blood increased its volume tenfold and she stepped out farther into the snow. "What's your point, Jade?" He smiled at her. "You have no gun, you have no power. You are useless without this necklace. Isn't that right?" Jo narrowed her eyes at him. "Step a little closer and say that, Jade. I'll show just how useless I can be." "Oh-ho!" he said, laughing with his colleagues. "You hear that guys? She just threatened me. The little woman without anything to protect herself threatened me." Thornton looked at Scully who watched the entire thing silently. She just stood there and Jo became more and more frustrated with the man standing in front of her. Trying to keep herself under control, she bit her tongue and flinched. She brought a hand to her mouth and looked at it... Blood. She had cut her own tongue. Feeling her teeth gently, she frowned. What was going on? She could *feel* her teeth growing, feel them grow pointed. She could feel it all happening. Once she felt her muscles tense, the pain in her chest and stomach returned. She cried out and dropped to her knees; her arms wrapped around her middle. Mulder tried to help her, but was held off by a large man with a big gun. Watching his friend in pain, he frowned. Something was happening. Something strange. Scully's eyes widened at the event. Within about ten seconds, Jo had... somehow... transformed into the half-human-half-jaguar without the necklace. She shuddered when she saw the look in the mutant's eyes. It wasn't human. Jag raised her head from the bowed position and stared at Jade. He shook slightly in fear. This was something he wasn't expecting and by the looks of the others around him, even Mulder and Scully, they weren't either. But she felt different. She didn't feel human, she felt like a jaguar and she wasn't sure if that was a good, or a bad thing. Regardless, one last look at Jade set her off. In a split second, she attacked him; taking him to the cold, wet ground. Taking the opportunity, Scully ran back to her partner's side; away from the melee. Jag looked up at the other men around her and she bounded off Jade to started on the rest of them. Two hid in the cabin they were in front of; missed by Jag's eyes and ears. Jag finally returned to Jade and crouched over him. He looked up at her with the utmost in fear. He knew he was powerless against this... thing. He pleaded and pleaded. "Oh, God... Please no..." He sobbed uncontrollably. "Please... don't..." Jag watched him and cocked her head, like she couldn't understand him. However, thinking she was going to let him go, he moved... a little to soon. Jag reached down and grabbed his throat with her right hand. Jade's pleas were cut off ubruptly as Mulder and Scully watched in silence. In complete awe of the situation. They couldn't believe that Jo had changed without any help at all. A second later, the two partners flinched when Jade's throat was torn out, the red spray catching everything within a metre. Dana covered her mouth and closed her eyes; trying to rid the vivid picture. When she opened her eyes, it was all over. Jo straddled the now dead Jade; his blood decorating her clothes and face. She was human once again... and in complete shock. There was a sudden scream and she looked up at the two poachers she'd missed. "You're dead Jag," one said. "You're fucking dead." The two of them ran off into the woods. Thornton looked over at Mulder and Scully with a look of innocence. She stared at her blood covered hands as the two partners walked over to her. Mulder helped her to her feet. "What... I killed them," she said. "I..." Her eyes couldn't leave the bodies in the snow. Mulder put an arm around her and escorted her back to the cabin. ******** Mulder sat Thornton down on the couch and sat himself down beside her. Scully walked directly into the kitchen to call the police. Mulder watched Jo; concerned. She hadn't reacted yet. She just sat there, staring at the wall ahead of her. He understood this behaviour all too well. He always exhibited this kind of thing to distance himself. He looked up as Dana walked back into the living room and sat down on the other side of Jo. After a silent conversation with his partner, Mulder addressed the Brazilian. "Jo?" he asked softly. "Are you okay?" No answer. "Jo," Scully offered. "You know it's all right to let this out." Not even a flinch. "She's in shock," Dana told her partner. "We need to just let her come out of it." Mulder looked up at her. "What happened out there?" he asked. "I thought she needed the necklace to morph." Dana watched him before she answered. Even the theory of Jo morphing was something that the small agent was still trying to grasp. Finally, she nodded. "She does, I mean, I thought she did. I have no idea what happened." "My God..." came a small voice. It was Jo. She still stared out at the wall ahead of her, but she seemed to be registering the recent event. She shook her head. "Jo?" Mulder asked. She turned to him. "I killed them..." "Do you know what happened?" Her head shook again. "No, I... damnit!" she exclaimed. Mulder and Scully jumped as she pushed herself off the couch. "I don't know!" She ran a bloodstained hand over her face. "I don't what's going on in my own body!" Jo looked out the front window. "I was... an animal... out there." "Jo, you can't blame--" Mulder started. "Myself?" she finished for him. She stifled a laugh. "I can't blame myself. Then who the hell *can* I blame? I have never killed anyone in my entire life. Never. I've come close, but never followed through." She sighed and raised a hand to the window. "I didn't think twice," she told them softly. "I saw him, and I attacked him." She closed her eyes and lowered her head. "Now I have six deaths under my belt. Six deaths which I committed in less than five minutes with my bare hands." "Jo, you weren't in control." "Then tell me who was," she said. "Tell me. It wasn't you who was straddling that man, holding his... in your hand." She stared at her right hand, riddled with dried blood; reliving the possession of the respective organ. She looked up at her friends. "Who *was* in control?" Mulder and Scully watched her, standing by the fireplace. She had no idea what had happened, or why she did what she did. And the hardest thing for the two partners... was that they didn't know either. ******** One Month Later Bethesda, Maryland, 2:00pm The metal clanked together as the moves were executed; mixed with the soft padding of bare feet on a hardwood floor created the only sounds in the large studio style apartment. A few cries echoed in the bare room; the ceilings high enough to do just about any exercise. The silver weapons seemed to fly through the air; agile wrists and fingers being the only things grounding them. After returning home and having a long talk, Thornton, Mulder and Scully realized that there was a very good chance that Jo would still be stalked. The result, after discussing it with Assistant Director Skinner, was that Jo should relocate and resign from the bureau, therefore minimizing her status. The bureau found her a nice, large apartment in Bethesda, about a ten to fifteen minute drive from Washington. Jo leapt off the floor, managing to execute a less than perfect spin kick. She jabbed the metal weapon out in front of her and moved her left foot; pivoting to strike the air with the weapon in her opposite hand. The smooth movements gradually sped up; the Brazilian's imagination running overtime. Whenever practicing, she always created imaginary opponents, but in light of recent events, it was getting a little out of hand. ******** Mulder walked out of the elevator on the fourth floor and turned down the hallway. He stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, whistling quietly. He was no more than two feet away from Jo's door, when there was a loud bang and Mulder had to blink a few times to make sure he saw what he did. "Jo?" he called, fingering the long piece of metal that now protruded out into the hallway. ******** Thornton wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and sighed. She smoothed back the strands of hair that had escaped the elastic and walked to the door. She hoped she hadn't impaled the pizza guy. ******** Mulder examined the metal. He jerked back when it disappeared into the apartment and the door opened. "Shit," Thornton sighed. She looked at Mulder. "I'm not even in here for two days and I already need the super." She motioned Mulder in and closed the door, examining the hole about five feet from the floor. "Hey maybe I should keep it for Dana, huh?" She smiled at her friend and turned to him. He noticed her wardrobe which consisted of a white tank top and a pair of dark blue cotton pants, with a black belt tried securely around her waist. Jo looked down at herself and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout the outfit," she said. "You caught me during practise hours." Mulder shook his head. "It's okay," he told her. He let his eyes wander from wall to wall, taking in the enormity of the place. Cardboard boxes lined many of the walls, but he noticed one large box was already open. "So, to what do I owe this visit?" she asked. He turned to her. "Just wondering how you're doing." "Good," Jo nodded. "Haven't quite settled myself yet, as you can see." She motioned to the boxes. "But I'm getting there... Where's Dana?" Mulder shrugged. "Meeting I guess. What are those?" he asked, speaking of the weapons in her hand. "Oh, these. They're sais." She slipped them into the small scabbards tied around her waist along with the belt. "I've got to keep up with my training now. There's not much for me to do." She looked around at the high ceiling, the windows, a few of which stretched from the floor to the ceiling, and the staircase which lead to a bedroom and a bathroom. "I guess this place isn't bad, but it's not my house." Mulder nodded in understanding. "And Steve's doing well, I... told him to stay in Winnipeg." "Why?" Mulder asked. "I can't risk having him here," she told him. "He'd get hurt. And I couldn't stand it if he did because of me... Did the tests come back?" He nodded. "Yeah. They... they didn't say much." "But you have a theory." "You're from Brazil right?" he asked. Jo nodded. "What do you remember about winters in Winnipeg?" Jo shrugged. "They were cold." "But what do you remember about how long you spent out in them." Thornton looked up, trying to snag the answer out of the air. Then she frowned. "You know, I never stayed out more than an hour at a time. My parents would always drag me inside before anyone else." Mulder snapped his fingers. "Jo... Do they know about...?" She nodded. "Yeah, of course. Why?" Mulder turned away from her; a hand at his chin. "I think the cold altered your ability." Jo chuckled. "What?" "Just think about it," he said, turning back to her. "You're from Brazil... You're not used the low temperatures here since you were never out in the cold for more than an hour at a time. But you *were* at the cabin. You said you went out in the late afternoon right?" "Yeah." "That was about what?... Four or five?" Thornton nodded. "Five I think." "So Scully and I found you at six thirty. Which means you had been exposed, skin to snow, for at least an hour to about minus ten degree weather. That 'funny feeling' as you called it, must have been some kind of biological alteration." "Which changed the way I morph?" Mulder nodded. "Exactly. I think that there was something that initiated the transformation at the cabin." He held his bottom lip between his teeth. "What do you remember about that? When you changed." Thornton sighed. "I know you'd rather not think about it, but it's important that we know." "I know, I know," she nodded. She closed her eyes, trying to recall it. "I was angry... umm... I... frustration... and lots of pain." "Adrenaline," Mulder whispered. Jo's eyes opened. "What?" He looked at her. "Adrenaline," he repeated. "Those emotions; anger, frustration, pain, they're all going to stimulate the release of adrenaline. Plus, one of the men had Scully." "Great," Jo said. "I'm the ninties version of the Incredible Hulk." "No, no, no," Mulder told her. "I think it's deeper than that. I think... it's a reflex, a... protective instinct. I think it's the *level* of adrenaline. You saw Scully was in danger. The fact that something life threatening could have happened raised the adrenaline level in you blood. Now add the anger, frustration, and pain and--" "Voila... mutant extrodinairre." Mulder nodded and the two of them were silent; lost in their own thoughts. "So why the loss of control?" Jo asked him. "Killing those men is not something I'm proud of." Mulder shrugged. "There, I think it's a state of mind." He walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "That's going to have to be something we work on. Until then..." "Don't get angry?" Mulder smiled. "Try your best. Scully and I'll to help you out." He watched her for a minute and sighed. "Listen, I've got to get back to work. I'll call you later okay?" Jo nodded silently and looked up when Mulder walked by her. He turned back briefly when the door was open. He smiled, then disappeared outside the apartment. Jo sighed. She caught sight of her cat, Thai, sitting on a pile of boxes. "Looks like we can finally go out and hunt for mice now," she said with a chuckle. She looked at the fifteen foot ceiling and closed her eyes. The ringing of her cellular phone brought her out of her reverie. She found it on a tower of boxes and held it to her ear. "Hello?" she asked, wandering to the window. "Joanne," came a deep, familiar voice. She smiled. "Walter. What's up?" "I just wanted to see how you were doing." "Okay... I haven't unpacked yet and my furnishings should be arriving in a few hours." She turned around and leaned against the windowsill. "How are *you* doing?" "Good. It's kind of slow around here." "Mulder just left." He chuckled. "Ahhh, so that's why." There was a comfortable silence between them before Skinner spoke again. "Hey," he said. "Hmm?" "You need some company tonight?" he asked. Jo smiled. "I don't *need* company," she replied. "But it'd sure be nice to have some. What'd you have in mind?" "I don't know. I could help you unpack, we could order something in, watch a little television..." "And?" A wide grin spread across his face. "Que sera, sera..." Jo's eyebrows raised slightly. "Did I ever tell you I love your wavelength?" "No, but I think I'd like to hear more about it..." THE END December 7, 1996 "The two tragedies in life are not getting what you want, and getting it." --Oscar Wilde "In all creation there is nothing more puzzling, more fascinating, more mystifying, or more sacred than the human person!" --Kathleen V. Hurley & Theodore E. Dobson "I'm not insane... I'm creatively enhanced." --The Warfarine Dealer [in light of the episode: "Terma", I felt that I needed to change my tagline] Death to Roborat!! >:-)