Bad Blood Rising

Disclaimer: I do not own characters from The X Files, The L Word, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lyrics to the Sophie B. Hawkins song Damn, used without permission. All things used without permission. No profit.
Summary:Bad Blood with Monica replacing Mulder and some original material.

Chaney, Texas

Monica was chasing Ronnie through the woods, but I was too far behind to stop her. I could hear Ronnie screaming, “Help me, somebody help me, she is going to kill me.” Ronnie tripped and Monica jumped on top of him.
“Monica!” I yelled out trying to catch up. When I do finally catch up I cannot believe what I see. Monica is straddled over Ronnie and appears to drive a wooden stake through his heart, as if she has become Buffy right before my very eyes. Only this poor kid doesn’t turn to dust. His lifeless body lies before me, and I am both freighted and shocked. Monica sounding almost incoherent, reaching up to pull his top lip up revealing vampire teeth saying, “Look at that, huh” I turned wide eyed and still in shock. I reach up with my delicate index finger to examine his teeth. Something didn’t quite feel right, and I push them down to reveal plastic vampire teeth over his real normal human being teeth. Only they are just the top and not the bottom for some unknown reason.
I pull out the fake teeth and slowly looking up at Monica, the thought of what she has just done renders me speechless. “Oh shit” is all
Monica manages to say, looking sweaty, confused, drugged, and her eyes were dilated.

We really didn’t want to talk about what had happened. I think we were both still in a state of shock, and a little uncomfortable to speak. We sat on the plane and stared into space. What was going to happen?
What would become of us now? What in the hell were we going to tell Skinner and everyone else for that matter? *----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

I hadn’t seen Dana since yesterday when we got off the plane. We were both decided that speaking was out of the question considering the recent chain of events. I didn’t know what to say. I could hardly believe any of it myself. As I sit here at my desk trying desperately to write my official report and struggling as to what to actually put in it. She walked through the door, looking very hesitant and reluctant.

I just watched her as she walk over to the chair in front of my desk.
Even now in the middle of all of this I still couldn’t help but think about how beautiful she is, how one look from those big magical eyes can make the whole world stand still. I decide to try to get back to my report when she speaks. “Monica?” she preceded with caution

I interrupt her “Don’t, don’t even start with me” I said with a firm warning. Really I am just afraid of what she is going to say.
Frustrated I crumble up my report and throw it at the waste basket.
Unfortunately, it lands on the floor near the other 9 previous attempts.
I got up and walked over to pick the paper wads up and throw them away, however my frustration took over and I began to kick the trash can to find some kind of release. I could use a smoke but that is not an option right now. In a much uncontrolled manner I start stomping the can resulting in damaging it and now even more paper fell out onto the floor. So much for my attempts to relieve some stress. Well, I could think of some ways, but I don’t think Dana would appreciate that or would she? Hey a girl can dream can’t she? Looking back I realize that she is looking at me as if I have completely lost my mind.
I guess any uncontrolled outburst of emotion to her is equivalent to loosing your mind. I will never understand how she does it, keeping her emotions under lock and key. It works to keep people at a distance no doubt about it, but it has to hamper your life. Always being distant, never letting anyone in, guard always up. How can anyone truly enjoy life like that? I know that I always get accused of just the opposite, being too friendly, to caring and trusting. Allowing my self to be open, for people to hurt me, well that may be true to some extent but to embrace our emotions is to truly live. So I assume the exact opposite holds true in her case. I feel a slight pang of sympathy. That is until I see that you have really lost your mind this time, look in her eye, pointing at her for dramatic effect, and to reassure her that I am not crazy. “I know what I saw.” I say. She bites on her lower lip, not sure how to proceed.

“Skinner wants our report in one hour” She speaks slowly, softly as if she is trying very hard not to incite me to further irrationalism,
“What are you going to tell him?” She asked with her head moving slowly up and down her arms folded a crossed her chest. I am leaning against the desk in front of her, I fold my arms a crossed my chest mirroring her actions. I just shrug and answer her question. “What do you mean?
What am I going to tell him? I am going to tell him exactly what I saw.
“What are you going to tell him?” I noticed her look change. If she
thought I lost my mind to having conformation that I have indeed lost my mind.

“I’ll… tell ….him… exactly what I saw.” She says drawing it out real slow and cautiously.

“Now how is that different?” I asked. She doesn’t answer at first, she
rolls her eyes and shakes her head taking on that you’ve got to be kidding me look.

“Look Dana, I am the one that might wind up going to prison here. I
gotta know if you’re gonna back me up or what?”

She starts to speak, stops and shifts in her chair, her eyes take on a more annoyed look. She continues, “First of all if the family of
Ronnie Strickland does indeed decide to sue the FBI for, I think the figure is four hundred and forty-six million dollars, then you and I both will most certainly be co-defendants, second of all, I don’t even have a second of all, Monica, four hundred and forty-six million dollars.”

I just shrug mouth open not really able to say anything.

She continues, “I am in this as deep as you are, and I am not even the one who over reacted, I didn’t do the uh ….with the... thing.” She said making a slight stabbing motion. Ok, now I am getting irritated.

“I did not over react, Ronnie Strickland was a vampire.” I raise my voice to make my point.

“Where is your proof?” She asked raising her voice to meet mine.

“You’re my proof, you were there.” If she wants a challenge I will give her one. Instead she exhales deeply tilting her head to the side as if she doesn’t believe what she is hearing.

I can’t believe what I am seeing.

“Ok I want to hear exactly what you are going to tell Skinner.” I state, scared to hear her answer. She lets her tongue escape and lick the corner of her mouth, it sends a shiver throughout my body, and warms my centre. Even in the somewhat heated debate she still manages to excite me. I am not sure if this says more about what she is capable of, or more about me. Looking at her in that navy blue suit and powder blue shirt, they way it sets off her eyes is distracting, a pleasant distraction.

“Oh you want to get our stories straight.” She says snapping me out of my lustful thoughts.

“No, no, no, I didn’t say that” I explain, “I just want to hear it the way you saw it.”

“I don’t feel comfortable with that” She says honestly and almost playfully at the same time. She can be hard to read sometimes, hell, most of the time. I try to focus my extrasensory gifts whenever I am with her; I need all the help I can get when it comes to cracking the mystery of one such Agent Scully.

If she wants to play I can play with her

“Prison Scully, your cell mate’s nickname is going to be large Marge,
She’s gonna read a lot of Gertrude Stein.” Actually, I don’t know how she is going to react to my insinuating that she is straight, and that a woman in prison will take advantage of that. I know all the rumors about her and Mulder.

She lowers her head down to her hand, where her elbow is resting on the arm of the chair, allowing her hand to cover part of her face. Her mouth suggests that she is holding back a laugh. Could it be that she finds my thoughts of her being straight funny, or is it merely my comment and playful tone she finds funny? I hope it’s about her not being straight, keep hope alive.

“All right” she sighs.

“All right, start at the beginning.” I offer.

“You want it right from the very beginning?”

I raise a finger up to stop her; I turned and took my seat behind the desk. I reached down and pulled out a mini tape recorder. It is one of the ones Dana tries to keep with her in case of an emergency autopsy she might have to perform in the middle of nowhere. It is going to come in handy now, who can fault her for being overly prepared. I am starting to form the theory that she would rather die a public shame than be caught unprepared. I hold it up asking her with a look.

She replies, “Fine.” She sucks in a deep breath, showing her trepidation. Another deep breath and I can’t help but to notice her chest rise and fall. I try not to be obvious of course, but hey I am not blind.

“Yesterday morning” she said sluggishly getting up from her chair to state the facts with great caution, but maintaining professionalism.

“When I arrived to work, you were ah….” She turns a somewhat sharp looks at me, characteristically exuberant. She says this almost as if she taking little stabs at me, not menacing but not all together good humored either. I guess when you factor in the amount of time we spend working together, on our good days and bad, I would have to admit that she can annoy me also. I guess this is what she is trying to relate to me, that I have annoyed her on this occasion.

She continues her narration.

“Your first words to me Monica were hope you brought you cowboy boots.”
I looked at the plane tickets and asked you rather calmly, you want us to go to Dallas? To which you replied, Yeehaw, well actually to a town called Chaney about 50 miles south of there population about 361 by all accounts very rustic and charming but as of late ground zero for a series of nocturnal exsanguinations.”
“Exsanguinations of whom,” I asked while you turned on the projector and started you slides of dead cow.

“How’s that, grab you?” you asked. I started to answer you.

“It’s a…” but you interrupted me before I could finish. “Dead cow exactly or more specifically a dead nine hundred pound cow with it’s body completely drained of blood, as was this one, this one, and this one, this one and so on all in all. Approximately one cow a week over the past six weeks.

“Any signs of” I tried, you interrupted me again

“Two small puncture wounds on the neck”

“That’s not what I was gonna ask.”

“Too bad, we got em, check it out” Then you proceeded to show me more slides.

“Well, these may be syringe marks their placement may be to emulate fangs, such ritualistic blood letting points toward cultists of some sort.”
That is when you looked over at me like what I said was the craziest thing you’ve ever heard.

I asked you “What?”

You managed to say through your laughter “Yeah, that is probably it is satanic cultists, come on Dana.”

“You’re not going to tell me you think it’s that Mexican goat sucker
thing are you?”

“El Chupacabra no, that got four fangs not two and besides they suck goats, hence the name.”

“So… instead…this would be?”

“Classic vampirism.” said, Monica.

“Of a bunch of cows?” replied Dana.

“And one dead human, last night a vacationer from New Jersey, come on, we gotta go.”

“Well why the hell didn’t you tell me that from the beginning?”

“Lock the door on your way out.”

The town of Chaney is too small to maintain a morgue facility as such we made our way to The Peaceful Slumbers Funeral Home. To examine the body of one Mr. Dwight Funt recently deceased. It was there that we were met by a representative of the local law enforcement. Sheriff Bette Porter.

“You the FBI agents?” questions Porter.

“Hi, I’m…”

“Agents Reyes and umm Scully, whatdoya say we go take a look at your victim?”

“Yeah, by all means, after you.” The sheriff said.

She turned and looked at me and nodded. She did not try to hide the fact that she found me attractive, explained Scully in depth.

“Come on Scully, get those little legs moving.” you Monica said rather rudely.

Sheriff Porter took us to the morgue and showed us the body. Where you became even giddier, Monica, if that was possible.

“No exam has been done” I asked the sheriff.

“No ma’am he is just like we found him in the motel room, when I heard you folks were interested I figured we best leave it up to the experts.”

“Your satanic cultists have some sharp little teeth.” you said sarcastically, turning down his collar to expose the puncture marks.

“What satanic cultists?” Sheriff Porter asked.

“Go ahead tell her your theory.” You were being sarcastic, almost as if you were trying to embarrass me or something, Monica.

“Well my theory has evolved; basically I think we are looking for someone here who has seen one too many Bela Lugosi movies. He believes he is a vampire therefore he”

“They act like one; yeah that makes a whole lot of sense.” Sheriff
Porter concluded. “I think she’s right.” She added.

“What about the fangs marks?” You asked as if you couldn’t believe that the sheriff was agreeing with me.

“Well someone so obsessed might file down their incisors; I think that a mélange casting should help us make identification.”

“Mélange casting, that’s a good idea.” Sheriff Porter agreed.

Sheriff Porter walked over to me and asked, “Now isn’t there some sort of disease that makes a person think they’re a vampire?”

“Well there is a psychological fixation called hemotodipsia which causes the sufferer to gain erotic satisfaction from consuming human blood.”

“Erotic, yeah” Sheriff Porter smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

“There are also genetic conditions which cause a heighten sensitivity to light, to garlic, profuria, zero dermapigmetosa.”

Sheriff Porter nodded, “You really know your stuff Dana.”

“Dana? She didn’t even know your first name.” Monica interrupted.

This caused Monica to halt Dana’s narration of what happened. She did not like that fact that Sheriff Porter was clearly attracted to her. She noticed the way Dana acted around her and she didn’t like it, in fact it made her quite jealous. Monica was not the jealous type either, but she had to admit the sheriff was stunning. If Dana was going to venture into that territory, then she wanted to be the one who was guiding her along not some local sheriff. All this time she thought she was just imagining that Dana was attracted to the woman. That her mind was playing tricks on her and now as she is sitting here listening to her retelling her side of the story, the fact almost knocks the breath out of her.
She was at the very least attracted to the Sheriff. Did that mean she was interested in women? Was she interested in her? Or could it be that she just enjoyed the attention and would never had taken it any further?

Dana’s mind broke out of her story telling mode, and her face became tight. She shifted nervously around in her chair, not wanting to look Monica directly in the eyes. She hadn’t meant for the little slip up to
occur. She was usually better at hiding her secret lifestyle.

“Are you going to interrupt me or what?” Was all she could manage to get out to Monica? She was embarrassed by her little admission.

“No, go ahead….Dana” Monica replied letting her know she caught on to what she had admitted, in case there was any doubt in her mind.

Scully went back to her narrative

“Anyway that is when you had your big break through, whatever.”

“Agent Scully, you really know your stuff. “ Sheriff Porter said taking the time to give her the once over and gaze into her eyes.

“Sheriff you say this man is exactly how you found him?” You asked,
Monica.

“Yes ma’am, to the letter.” The Sheriff said

“Have you noticed that this mans shoes are untied?”

“They sure are.” Sheriff Porter stated.

“Monica, what’s your point?”

“This means something, Sheriff, do you have an old cemetery in town off the beaten path, the creepier the better?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Take me there now.”

“Monica…”

“Scully, we are going to need a complete autopsy on this man, the
sooner the better.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, what am I even looking for?”

Then you placed you hands on my shoulders looked me straight in the eyes and said “I don’t know”

I turned and looked at Sheriff Porter like she need some explanation of your actions, but all I could say was say “She does that”

Sheriff Porter walked over towards me, tipped her hat, “Ma’am.” walking out to take you to your cemetery.

“That was when I began the autopsy it really is a very long process that is very tiring on your body. Most people do not realize all what goes into performing one. I was hungry, and tired, and to be quite honestly annoyed. I continued with the autopsy after carefully examining all of his vital organs I noticed that the stomach contents were that of a pizza. This made me hungry since I had eaten since early that morning. My body was aching, my feet and legs hurt to stand on them any longer and my neck and hands were stiff. I completed the autopsy and headed back to the Sam Houston Motor Lodge. My only thoughts were to eat, shower, and sleep. I couldn’t even figure out which to do first. I put money in the magic fingers and it felt good, that is until you came crashing in I couldn’t even manage to move to look at you so, I gave you the answer you wanted, cholorhydrate.

“What?” You yelled and walked in. I turned my head to look at you and you were standing there covered in mud.

“What the hell happened to you” I asked

“Nothing” you replied and sat in the chair. “Clorohydrate, you say?”

“Yeah, it was the thing that you didn’t know you were looking for clorohydrate, more colorfully known as knock out drugs. I found it in abundance when I sent in the tox screen on our murder victim.”

“No seriously, Monica, what happened to you?”

“Who slipped him the Mickey?” was your response.

“My theory, your vampire found it necessary to dope up poor Mr. Funt to the gills before he was able to extract his blood, probably did it to the cows too.”

“What kind of vampire would do that?”

“Exactly, what I was trying to say.”

“We got another dead tourist, you gotta do another autopsy.”

“Tonight, damn, I… just put money in the magic fingers.”

“I won’t let it go to waste.”

Then you came and jumped on my bed in your filthy clothes I got up to go do the autopsy. You were still on the bed laughing, when I said “This one is mine, Monica, don’t get mud everywhere.”

Upon performing the second autopsy I realized that this victim shared the same stomach contents and that the cholorydrate was in the pizza. I quickly remembered seeing the pizza boy coming to the room on my way out. So I rushed back to the motel room trying to get to you in time unfortunately, it wasn’t soon enough. I saw the half eaten pizza box shake off the bed. With my gun drawn I entered into the room, not quite sure what to expect. I noticed your feet on the floor by the bed. I slowly approached you. The pizza boy jumped up at me, pushed me on the bed and ran out the door. I rolled on the floor and fired four shots, the last shot I managed to blow out his tire.

“That’s it?” Monica interrupted.

“Well, luckily I had gotten there in time, I mean though you were drugged, you weren’t in any immediate danger, you were more or less unharmed.”

Scully reverted back to her story telling.

I found you lying on the floor next to the bed your eyes were closed,
I wasn’t sure you were conscious. I lightly slapped your cheek, and that was when you started to recite these lyrics
Damn/ I wish I was your lover/ I’ll rock you till the daylight comes/make sure you are smiling and warm/ …..Do such things to ease your pain/free your mind and you won’t feel ashamed.

“I did not!” Monica yelped.

“Since my last shot blew out his tire, he had to flee on foot. I left you behind and I entered the woods in pursuit. I assumed you were incapacitated, then, I heard screaming. When I arrived in the clearing I found that you had caught up with him first and over-reacted, and that his vampire teeth were fake.”

“That is what you are going to tell Skinner?”

“Well I am going to argue that we caught a killer an utterly non- supernatural killer, a natural killer but a killer none the less, and that your zeal to catch up with him was augmented by the clorhydrate you were given.”

“You are afraid to tell the truth!”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s not the way it happened at all. What are afraid of that if you tell it the way it really happened that you’ll look like an idiot like me?”

“Monica, why don’t you tell me the way you think it happened, starting at the beginning.”

“You’re damn right.”

Now Monica began her narration.

Yesterday began like any other morning; you arrived at work characteristically less than exuberant. I gently laid the tickets down as not to upset you and spoke softly. I hope you brought your cowboy boots.

“Why are we going to Dallas?” you whined.

“Actually, it is a small town just south of there called Chaney. They have had some incidents down there that I think you’ll agree are pretty interesting.” I said softly.

“Like what?” You ask as if I am causing you severe pain.

I continue to approach you cautiously not wanting to upset you.

“I, I brought some slides, which to better illustrate.”

You let out a deep irritated sigh, “It’s a dead cow Monica.”

“Six actually and here is the really interesting thing...”

“Why am I looking at six dead cows?”

“Um, well the manner in which they died all six were mysteriously
exsanguinated.”

“And asked, Dana”

“And, two little puncture marks on the neck; look I have a slide of that.”

While I was trying desperately to find the slide with the picture I was looking for, I could feel your annoyed eyes on me. I tried to look at you with my best please forgive me look, I am sorry, but you just stood there as if I was actually the most idiotic irritating person you had ever met.

“And uh, one dead human victim, a vacationer from New Jersey, his body completely drained of blood and two puncture wounds on his neck.” I offered hoping to appease you. “Ok look, Dana, I don’t want to jump to any hasty conclusions, but on the strength of the evidence we have I think that what we may be looking at what seems to be a case of vampire, or vampire like attacks.”

“On what do you base that?” You said sarcastically

“Well on the corpses drained of blood and the fang marks on the neck.”

While you twist your head as if to say that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

“But as always I am very eager to hear your opinion.”

“Well it obviously is not a vampire.”

“Well, why not?

“Uh, because vampires don’t exist.” Dana so condescendingly stated.

“Well, that’s one opinion, I respect that, but none the less a murder has been committed here, and we can go down and help bring a killer to justice in whatever form he may take mortal or immortal.”

“It’s not that Mexican goatsucker either.”

Upon arriving at the funeral home I made an interesting observation, one which you apparently didn’t hear. “That’s a whole lot of caskets.”

“That’s the largest selection in the state.” The owner responded.

“Why would a town with a population of only 361 need that?”

“Repeat business….mortician humor.” The owner offered, and excused himself.

“Apparently your mind was somewhere else.”

I turned to look at you; I must say I have never seen such an outward display of attraction from you in all the cases we worked on. I believe I heard a woo escape from your mouth when Sheriff Porter entered the room.

She strolled up to us, and said “Ya’ll must be da govment people, I’m
Bette Porter.” It was difficult to understand her with those big buck teeth.

“She had big buck teeth?” Dana interrupted.

“She had a slight overbite, yeah” Monica answered.

“She did not, and that is significant, how?”

Monica, shrugged, “I am just trying to be thorough.”

“So anyway, then we went to go take a look at the body.”

Monica picks her side of the story up where she left off. No exam has
been done yet? I ask, the Sheriff replies, no ma’am, that’s just how we found em. And then you being lost somewhere in thought turn and say to the
Sheriff No exam has been done? That was when she replied, um no ma’am when I heard ya’ll was interested I decided to leave it to the experts. I cannot recall a time that I have seen you smile so much Dana.

“Now um that can’t be what it looks like can it?” Sheriff Porter asks.

“Well that depends on what you think it looks like Sheriff”

I explained how vampires have been with us, and how myths were passed down through the ages. She did not seem to be able to comprehend.
So you told her your theories of a lunatic watching too many vampire movies and if I didn’t know any better Agent Scully, I would say you were flirting with her.

Dana remained quiet and did not respond to any of the bait Agent Reyes was tossing her. She wasn’t sure she was going to reveal anything about her attraction of woman to her, and she definitely wasn’t going to do it before she heard Monica’s version of what happened.

“Well, that still that leaves us in somewhat of a quandary because there are as many different kinds of vampires as there are countries that fear them.” Monica continued, and then I went on to continue to brief her on the many different beliefs concerning vampires. While you checked your watch indicating that you were extremely bored and wanted to leave.
You were speaking to me but you keep looking at her.

“If there’s a point Monica, please feel free to quickly come to it.”

“There is, that we don’t know exactly what to look for, what kind of vampire we are dealing with or if you prefer, what kind of vampire this killer wishes to be.”

While you stayed behind to do the autopsy the Sheriff drove me to the cemetery.

“Agent Reyes, ya mind me askin ya why we’re out here?”

“Historically cemeteries are thought to be a haven for vampires as are castles, catacombs or swamps, but, unfortunately, you don’t have any of
those.”

“We used to have swamps but only the EPA made us take to callin em
wetlands.”

“Yeah, so we’re out here looking for any signs of vampiric activity, broken or shifted tomb stones, the absence of birds singing.”

“Here ya go, cause I ain’t heard any birds singin’ of course, it’s winter and we ain’t got no birds, is…is there anything else?”

“Sheriff, I know my methods may seem odd to you…”

“No, no now ya’lls govement people and that’s all I need ta know.”

So we staked out the cemetery. I poured out seeds all over the ground, since historically certain types of seeds are thought to fascinate vampires. The one true thread that exists in every vampire legend is that vampires are highly obsessive compulsive. If you were to toss a handful of seeds at one, he would have to stop whatever he was doing and pick them all up. If he sees a knotted rope he has to untie it, it is in his nature.

The Sheriff got a call and that’s when we headed over to the RV Park.
Everyone was standing outside watching this RV going around recklessly in a circle. The Sheriff thought it would be a good idea to try and shoot the tires out. On a RV that is moving in circular motion, it appears to be a lot easier on TV. I decided to jump on the vehicle only to be drug around longer than I would have preferred, to have to let go and land in the mud. When the vehicle finally came to a halt, most likely due to running out of gas we opened the door and a dead body fell out to meet us. We interviewed every single person and they all said they saw nothing. Tired and frustrated, and lacking a solid lead, I just wanted to get cleaned up. I had the Sheriff drop me off which is where I ran into you.

I couldn’t understand why you were screaming at me “Whadya mean I gotta do another autopsy, and why do I have to do it right now, I just spent hours on my feet doing an autopsy all for you. I do it all for you
Monica, you know I haven’t eaten since six o clock this morning and that was only a half cream cheese bagel and it wasn’t’ even real cream cheese it was light cream cheese, and now you want me to do another autopsy?”

“What the hell happened to you?” Dana said staring at Monica.

I thought it best not to answer you, what could I say anyway? You were visibly and audibly angry. I didn’t want to anger you anymore, so I slumped into the chair. Finally you left, but not without demanding that I don’t touch the bed.

I undressed and took a much needed shower. I came out to find the pizza
boy.

“They lady outside um, said you would pay for this.”

“She ordered a pizza from you, how much?”

“$12.98”

“Hold on let me get my money.”

I paid him, and then realized just how hungry I was. I didn’t intend on eating your pizza, I was starving. I was going to order you a replacement one before you got back. None the less I ate your dinner and put money in the magic fingers. I leaned up and noticed that my shoes were untied. Suddenly, I felt waves us sleep coming over me quickly. I tried to lie down, but by then it was too late. I fell off the bed trying to reach my cell to call you. I finally managed to dial your number but was unable to speak; you understandably hung up on me. The pizza boy had returned with glowing green eyes and fangs. He even hissed at me. I grabbed my half eaten bag of seeds and flung them across the room. The drug was really kicking in, and it was all I could do to do that much. He reluctantly bent down and started to pick them up. I lost consciousness, when I came to he was hovering over me, mouth wide open ready to bite me. I heard your voice, calling me but I couldn’t answer, you fired hitting him in the chest twice. It didn’t appear to have an effect. He leaped up and almost flew across the room, and was out the door. You went after him.

“You’re saying that I actually hit him, twice?” Dana could not believe what she was hearing.

“Yes square in the chest, twice no effect.”

“Then he flew at me, like a flying squirrel?”

“Well, I don’t think I will use the term flying squirrel while I am talking to Skinner, but yeah that is what happened.”
Monica started to narrate again.

Once I recovered, I broke a chair leg off and left after him I knew what I had to do, to protect you.

Monica hadn’t planned on revealing that she was trying to protect her, that she felt the need to protect her so deeply that it penetrated every part of her being. It was why she had over-reacted as Dana put it.

I caught up with him and you know the rest.

Dana looked at Monica almost sympathetically, “Monica it’s not just me,
noone in their right mind is going to believe that story.”

“Well they will have to once they examine Ronnie Strickland’s body.”

The both got up and left for Skinner’s office. They were waiting outside of his office, sitting on the loveseat. Dana reached over to straighten Monica’s top but she just flung her away with a quick hand movement. Dana straightened her jacket slightly angered that Monica fought off her attempt to show her a little attention. Dana licked her lips trying to gain Monica’s attention. She leaned over and whispered, “Monica, please keep reminding him that you were drugged.”

“Would you stop it?” Monica whispered back.

“It couldn’t hurt.” Dana offered softly

“Just stop it.” Monica was so frustrated that Dana didn’t believe her.

Skinner opened his office door and both agents sprang to their feet.

“Scully, Reyes…:

“I was drugged.” Monica said abruptly.

Skinner just sighed and rolled his eyes; he was used to Agent Reyes.
“They want you back in Texas. Ronnie Strickland’s body has disappeared from the morgue. Apparently in conjunction with this the coroner has been attacked, his throat was bitten.”

“The coroner is dead?” Monica asked.

“No, his throat was bitten, it was sort of gnawed on…daylights burning
agents,” with that Skinner returned to his office.

Dana turned to Monica, “He was dead.”

“I noticed that.”

“With a stake through his heart.” said, Dana.

“I noticed that too.”

Monica and Dana returned to Texas. Heading straight for the cemetery,
Monica believed that history states that a vampire needs to sleep in his native soil. It was dark and cold and Dana could think of other ways she would like to spend the night away from everyone and everything she sees on a daily basis, well with the exception of Monica of course.

“But Monica he had fake fangs, what kind of vampire needs fake fangs?”

“Fangs are very rarely mentioned in the folklore, real vampires don’t have them. It is more of an invention of Bram Stoker. I think may be you were right before when you said that this was a guy who watched too many Dracula movies. Only this guy happens to be a real vampire.”

“Where the hell is he then?” Dana was cold and could use a little warming up compliments of the truly sexy Monica Reyes.

“What about the family that was going to sue us, where do they live?”
Monica inquired.

“Aunt and uncle their mail comes general delivery to a local post
office.”

Sheriff Porter pulled up. Both Agents turned in her direction.

They walked over to meet her, when she got out of the vehicle.

“Sheriff Porter.” Dana greeted her.

“Hey there Agents, I heard ya’ll were back in town, thought I might be of some assistance.”

Monica took a deep breath and decided to trust her instincts. She most certainly did not want anything to happen between Dana and the sheriff. She couldn’t stop it or deny that Dana was obviously attracted to her. After all the time they spent together, Dana never looked at her that way, and it was breaking her heart as she was forced to see it now. Monica had spent many of nights wondering how to bridge that gap between them, but never seemed to know how.

Dana quickly looked at Monica tapping her nail on her front tooth, indicating that she did not in fact have buck teeth.

“Yeah actually, um, you can, you can stay behind here with Agent Scully and keep an eye on things while I go and check something out.” Monica stumbled over her words.

Dana looked up at her surprised.

Monica wrapped her hand around Dana’s neck and said, “Don’t say I never did nuttin for ya” mocking Sheriff Porter. Then she quickly removed her hand and left for the RV Park.

Dana stood there her thoughts were swirling around in her head so fast that she thought she might faint. True she was attracted to the
Sheriff, but she wanted Monica. How could Monica just leave me like that? I know she thinks she is doing me a favor but, doesn’t she know how I feel about her? She is supposed to be the one with the gift. How could she not know, all the little things that I do to try and show her? It must be what I have feared all along, she knows, she just isn’t interested in me. With that realization Dana thought she might be sick.

Sheriff Porter quickly walked up beside her. “It’s too cold to be sitting out here, how about we sit in my car and I will pour you some coffee? I have a thermos in there.” Her words dripped with sex. Dana couldn’t hide the attraction, it was a raw animalistic attraction but it was there. She couldn’t do anything about it though, because her heart was crying out for Monica.

As promised Sheriff Porter poured some coffee out of the thermos and into a coffee cup for Dana.

“Thanks” Dana whispered.

“You’re very welcome” the Sheriff replied.

Dana brought the soothing hot liquid up to her mouth and began to take it in.

“So what do you believe about vampires?” the Sheriff asked.

Dana swallowed a big gulp of coffee. “You mean beside the fact that I don’t believe in them?”

“Yeah aside from that,” the Sheriffs gaze was intense, almost mesmerizing, sex seemed emanate from her very being as well as her voice.

“Well, they’re supposed to be very charming, seductive,” she takes another big drink. “No, I mean even if they really did exist, who’s to say that they would actually be like that.” Dana’s voice becomes soft. “As Agent Reyes says there are supposed to be many different kinds of vampires.”

Matching Dana’s softness, Sheriff Porter whispers, “Yeah, sure there are.” She shakes her head slightly and takes a deep breath. “You know I really need to apologize to you about Ronnie, he makes us all look bad.”

Dana tilts her head trying to decide if she is actually hearing what she thinks she is hearing. She is feeling tired.

“It’s just not who we are anymore.” Sheriff Porter says apologetically.

Dana’s head is quickly becoming fuzzy, she is fighting to maintain consciousness but she is loosing the battle.

“We pay taxes, we get neighbors, old Ronnie he just can’t grasp the concept of a low profile.” The Sheriff turns to her and gives her a look. If Dana had any question as to if she was drugged, she didn’t now.

Dana’s head fell back on the seat, exposing her neck; Sheriff Porter reaches over and takes the coffee cup out of her hand.

“Although he may be a moron, he is one of our own.”

Dana’s head is too heavy for her to lift; she rolls it around to see the Sheriff looking at her with glowing green eyes.

Meanwhile Monica arrives at the RV Park and finds Ronnie Strickland’s RV. He is inside sleeping in a coffin.

She awakens him when she opens the lid, and he starts to attack, she slams the lid down. He continues to struggle trying to get out. She has quite frankly had enough for one day, whips out her handcuffs and cuffs the coffin shut.

She attempts to leave but all of the residents have circled around her with glowing green eyes. They are closing in on her, backing her up against the RV. She has nowhere to escape.

The next thing she sees is daylight, with Dana standing on the outside of the car. Monica is lying in the front seat and her legs are stretched out the window. Her shoes are untied. She squints because the light is hurting her eyes, her brain is foggy. Dana is wearing the Sheriff’s jacket and not looking as if she is in any better shape than Monica.

“Monica”

Monica leans up trying to focus.

“Dana, what happened?”

Dana releases a heavy sigh, “I came to in the cemetery, that’s all I know.”

Monica checks her neck in the car rearview mirror. She gets out of the car and checks Dana’s neck as well. No marks on either of them, well, that is good at least.

They look out over the RV Park, everyone and every there is gone.

“They pulled up stakes” Monica says.

Dana just looked at her for a moment, and took a deep breath, not really sure of what to say, embarrassed that she cannot remember anything that happened. She looks down and notices that Monica’s shoes are untied. Monica out of pure instinct bends down and ties them.

Another plane ride in silence, even if they decided to talk, neither one of them has any memory of what happened. They made a pact, not to see or speak to each other until after they met with Skinner.

Later that day in AD Skinner’s office, they both recited their versions of the story.

Skinner sighs, “So that is it, they simply disappeared without a trace and that is exactly the way it happened from start to finish?”

Both agents nod in agreement. Dana looks over at Monica, “Well I can neither confirm nor deny Agent Reyes’ version of events that happened outside my presence.”

“Neither can I confirm or deny Agent Scully’s version of events but uh”

“Anyway I was drugged.” Dana interrupts.

Skinner looks at her wondering what actually happened out there. This is not the Scully he is used to seeing and dealing with.

“That is essentially, exactly what happened.” Monica attempts to cover for her

“Essentially” Dana agrees choosing her words carefully.

“Except for the part about the buck teeth” Monica throws in and exits
Skinner’s office before Dana can say anything to her.

Skinner looks at Scully with an uncomfortable look, allowing her to leave also.

*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

Dana returns to the office to find Monica slumped over, her head resting on the desk.

“I suppose you couldn’t help but throw that little dig in about the buck teeth in front of Skinner, it’s a good thing he doesn’t care what gender you implied that I am attracted too.”

Busted! Monica thinks to herself. She slowly raises her head up to look at Dana. “I am sorry I just couldn’t resist, if I thought for a second he would reprimand you in any way, you know I wouldn’t have said anything. You have to believe that. I just knew he wouldn’t care.”

“Lucky for you, he doesn’t”

Monica knew she shouldn’t have said anything about Dana being attracted to the sheriff, but she also knew Skinner wouldn’t care. He didn’t care about who Monica dated, but then again Dana had no way of knowing that
Skinner knew about Monica.

“What is it with you and the Sheriff anyway; I mean you know she didn’t have buck teeth, nor was she some dumb backwoods sheriff that you made her out to be.”

“Why are you so defensive about it Dana?” Monica decided to avoid the answer because she was already sure she was no match for Sheriff Porter or anyone else she might find attractive.

“Why won’t you answer the question Monica?” Dana searches Monica’s eyes trying to detect anything that would give her true emotions away.
After all Dana had worked hard at keeping her attraction to women a secret, and although it is already a blown cover, she did not wish to make a fool out of herself by telling Monica how she feels about her. She is almost certain that Monica doesn’t feel the same way.

“I’d rather not talk about it.” Monica was beginning to feel rejected even though she hadn’t made her feelings toward her known. Just thinking about the sheriff with Dana, was enough to make her nauseous.

“Oh, no you don’t, Monica you can not just out me in front of the
Assistant Director of the FBI, and then decide you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Look I just knew Skinner wouldn’t care it’s not that big a deal”

“The hell it isn’t, and how, how did you know Monica, let me guess you had a strong feeling.” Danna snapped. She was frustrated she couldn’t understand how or why Monica would do such a thing.

“Dana, that’s not fair.” Monica looked wounded. Dana knew better than to make fun of her gift, she knew how others who didn’t understand her,
made Monica feel horrible.

“What about this is fair?” Dana asked.

Monica inhaled deeply, “Ok, if you must know, Skinner already knows about my preference for women, he saw me holding hands with the girl in accounting I was dating awhile back. He asked me to step inside his office. He explained to me that he was not at all concerned with whom someone is romantically involved with; however, I should be more discreet because there are those around who do, and would use it against me. So you see, Dana I already knew he wouldn’t care. I wasn’t trying to be malicious.” She gazed softly into Dana’s eyes trying to ease any pain she might be feeling at the moment. She knew she hurt her, even if it was unintentional. Damn it, why did she have to be so in love with this woman.

Dana’s expression softened. “I understand now, however, in the future I would appreciate the option of choosing who I decide to come out to.”

“I understand, and I am truly sorry.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Skinner before?”

“I am not sure; I guess it just seemed like a private moment between us.”

Dana just nodded in agreement.

“I know you have to be starving, will you at least let me buy you dinner?”

“Monica, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t, I want to.”

“Ok if you insist”

“Only the two trips to Texas have worn me out, would you mind terribly if I ordered out and we ate it at my house, I just want to throw on some comfy clothes and relax.”

“That sounds like a good idea; I don’t think I am up for restaurant either.”

“Ok great I will see ya at Seven, any preference for dinner?”

“Surprise me.”

In more ways than one Dana thought to herself as she walked out to the parking garage. So if Skinner knows about Monica, does he think we are an item? Oh gosh that made her head hurt she couldn’t think about
Skinner anymore right now, and Monica was right he didn’t care so why was she allowing herself to get so worked up. She drove home, trying to decide what she was going to wear to Monica’s. She said she wanted to relax in comfy clothes, but what does that mean? Her closet is full of business suits, and three inch heals. Rarely, does she wear sneakers except for when she does autopsies. Those she leaves in the back of her trunk, with her overnight bag. She opted for the one pair of broken in jeans she had, hell, the only pair of jeans she owned, but they were comfortable. She picked her black soft sweater and black boots to complete the outfit. Ok so it wasn’t that casual, but it was a casual as she had. She showered making an effort not to fantasize about tonight with Monica. She wanted to, but suppressed the urge. She didn’t want to be all worked up and sitting next to her, she might be forced to do something crazy. She really didn’t want the night to end in rejection. There was too much pain in her life as is. There was something about her she couldn’t quite place it, but Monica had a way of making her life brighter just by being in the same room as her. She knew it was a horrible cliché but it was true all the same. She dressed and headed over to her place. Her mind kept drifting to the way Monica was acting in Texas and after Texas. It was as if she were jealous of Sheriff Porter. Why on earth would she be jealous? She didn’t want her; she so much as told her so when she left them together.

Dana pulled up outside and made her way up to Monica’s. She started to knock, when the door opened to a big toothy grin. “I sensed you coming”
Monica teased, stepping back allowing room for Dana to enter. She was not aware of how hungry she was until the aroma of some type of New
Orleans cooking filled her nostrils, she was glad that she gave Monica the options to choose dinner. She would have probably just settled on some boring pizza. This was a pleasant surprise and she would be spending it with Monica. “Wow, Mon, this smell great.”

“I am glad you like it.” Did she just call me Mon? Hmmm.

“What exactly am I smelling” Dana asked moving toward the table, to get a better view.

Monica stifled a giggle she loved seeing Dana when her guard was down, if it had only been a rare few times.

“Well we have Oysters Rockefeller to start with, then Okra Stew and
Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, and for dessert Beignetts.

“Who else is joining us?”

Monica laughed nervously, “No one, gosh I know it’s a lot of food, but
I wasn’t sure what you would like.”

Dana smiled, “It’s ok, and it was a sweet thing to do.”

Monica relaxed a little. She walked to the closet to hang Dana’s coat up.

They entered the dining area, and began to eat.

“Oh my, Mon, this is excellent, you can have me over for dinner any time” she raised her eyebrow as she continued to sample this and that from the huge spread on the table.

She called me Mon again, twice in one night. What does that mean? Is she flirting with me? If I didn’t know any better …. Oh gosh she said something to you; answer her before she thinks you’re rude.

“Thank you even though all I did was call the order in.” Monica managed to say.

“Well at least you knew what to call in; I swear we would be eating boring old pizza if it were up to me.”

Monica giggled, and then they both were giggling. Maybe it was the wine, or may be it was being able to be in each other’s company again outside of work. The last couple days of work had been a terrible strain between them.

They finished eating, cleaned up and made their way to Monica’s leather sofa, bringing another bottle of wine with them.

Monica and her leather, I bet if I looked in her bedroom I would find leather in there too. Dana thought to herself, the idea causing her to become tingly inside. The wine wasn’t helping her keep a clear head right now either. She looked up at her and realized that Monica had the strangest look on her face.

“What?”

“Oh, um nothing, never mind.” Monica didn’t mean to stare at Dana that way, she was so sexy, her eyes were becoming glassy from the wine, she was more relaxed than Monica had ever seen her before. Her voice dropped to a sultry sound she had not heard before, but rather enjoyed it immensely. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t aware of how close they were actually sitting until now.

“Monica, I know I probably should bring this up but what really was going on with you and Sheriff Porter, I need to know.”

“Oh, Dana, I don’t want to talk about work and all that stuff now, I just want to relax and enjoy the night. “

“Please” Dana begged in a very low seductive voice.

Monica felt a spasm in her centre and wasn’t quite sure how forth coming she should be. The wine was not helping in efforts to be in control of her emotions. She swallowed a big gulp of wine and decided to try to explain.

Dana continued drinking her wine, against her better judgment.

“Well, you were right, she wasn’t buck tooth, or stupid, and in fact she was quite stunning.”

“I don’t understand why you behaved that way; to be honest I have never seen that side of you before, was it because you wanted her?”

“No, well I mean, yes I thought she was attractive, who wouldn’t but I didn’t want her.”

“Oh, ok but I still don’t understand” Dana’s mind was cloudy and she wasn’t in any state to be her normal perceptive self.

“I didn’t want you to get hurt. It was obvious that you found her attractive Dana, but women like that only want one thing and when they get it they’re gone before the sun has a chance to come up. I guess it upset me that you who are usually amazingly perceptive, couldn’t see it. I was trying in my own misguided way to protect you.”

Dana studied Monica as she spoke, considering her words carefully. She did not want this night to end in an argument, especially with her looking so sexy in her faded jeans and a simple long sleeved white t- shirt, clinging to her breasts and the rest of her body in all the right places.

“I appreciate your concern Monica, but you are assuming that I did not know what she was, when in fact, I knew and understood exactly what she was. It was a pure animalistic attraction I can admit that; however, that didn’t mean that I was willing to do anything about it, except to maybe appreciate the attention. It was nice to feel attractive to someone. It has been a long time Monica.” Gosh, I didn’t think before stating that last part. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

Monica’s face twisted at the sound of Dana’s words and what she was actually saying. Did she not feel my attraction to her, was it unwanted? Did I fail to show her how I felt about her?

Dana swallowed hard and continued, she might as well finish the thought now. “That is why I was so hurt when you left me with the Sheriff. You didn’t even ask me, you just assumed that since I was attracted to her,
I was going to act on that impulse.”

She picked up her wine glass and gulped down the rest of it. She quickly grabbed the bottle and filled another glass.

“Well I am sorry, you’re right I shouldn’t have assumed anything. I thought I was giving you what you wanted, and although it was a very difficult decision for me to make, I honestly thought I was doing you a favor, most women wouldn’t be able to control an attraction that strong.”

“I am not most women, and I learned a long time ago, not to act simply on my emotions.”

There was sadness in Dana’s eyes, without thinking first Monica laid her hand on her forearm to comfort her. The touch traveled though out Monica’s whole body. Unknown to Monica it traveled the same way through
Dana.

“You have to admit though, that makes you a very hard woman to read.”
Monica spoke softly

“What is it that you want to know?”

Dana looked deep into Monica’s eyes. She saw the calm there, the comfort. She wanted to be there, to feel that with her. She knew Monica could share it with her, should she choose to, but it had to be Monica’s choice.

Monica broke eye contact, it was overwhelming her senses and if she didn’t, she knew she would kiss her.

“Well, I understand that you were hurt because I misread you, but I am sensing something else, is there any other reason you were hurt by my actions?”

Damn Monica and her gift, she is going to make me tell her isn’t she?
She has that look in her eye now, that I have to know look, and I have seen it enough to know. It doesn’t go away until she is satisfied with an explanation.

Dana downs the rest of her wine, here goes…

“Well to be honest yes. I didn’t want you to leave.”

“Is that so, and why not?”

Is the wine making Monica dense or am I not explaining myself clearly?

“I was attracted to her yes, but I didn’t want to be with her. I wanted to be with you.”

Oh gosh I said it, now it is out there, please Mon, don’t reject me, and don’t break me. I don’t know what I would do. Dana’s head was swimming and her heart was racing.

“What do you mean?” Monica was unclear as to what Dana was trying to say to her, she hated to put her through this but she needed to be absolutely sure, before she admitted to anything.

“Oh gosh Mon, you’re going to make me say it…..” Dana moved in a little closer, gently held Monica’s hand. That simple touch was enough to light the world on fire. Monica’s heart was about to beat out of her chest, as was Dana’s.

“I am attracted to you Monica; you’re the only one I want to be with, you and you alone.”

‘Dana, I had no idea, but I feel the same way about you.”

They gazed into each other’s eyes searching beyond any shadow of a doubt, that their intentions matched their words, and they found that they did.

Monica slowly leaned in her lips stopping right before Dana’s. She looked into her eyes one last time seeing exactly what she needed to continue desire, longing, if she wasn’t mistaken love.
She ever so gently brushed up against Dana’s soft lips with her own.
She slowly traced Dana’s bottom lip with her tongue. Dana’s lips parted in anticipation. Monica’s tongue entered her mouth and they began a
soothing exploration of each other, their tongues caressing, and circling one another. Monica hands were feathering Dana’s hair while Dana’s hands were pattering the nape of Monica’s neck. Monica deepened the kiss, the heat, and need rising in her body. Their hands began to roam over their bodies, as they pulled each other closer.

Dana broke the contact, breathing heavy and backing away from Monica.

Monica’s voice let out an involuntary whimper at the loss of contact.
Confusion and panic started to take over.

As Dana stood up she followed suit not knowing what was coming. Dana looked at her asking breathlessly if there was somewhere more comfortable they could go.

Monica took her by the hand, “Yes of course, I am sorry, I was um, well, you know.”

Dana nodded and smiled.

As Monica led Dana by the hand down the hall toward her bedroom she smiled to herself knowing that this was the beginning of something beautiful. That once in a life time love that most people search for, and never find. Here she was with the love of her life, and this was only the beginning.

There was something between them that transcended time. Something that neither could explain, but they were grateful that fate had smiled upon them and they were given the chance to express and share their love. In each other souls they were whole, entire, and complete able to conquer all of life’s opposition, while also being able to cherish all of its joy.

The End