"How many times have we been here before? Think about it, the specifics may be different but the idea is the same. It never changes, one step forward, three steps back. Don't you get tired of it all?" said Scully with the very familiar look of astonishment and exhaustion on her face.
"So what do you suggest we do? Just give up when we've gotten this far? You know the game by now Scully, we need to keep looking, searching, I will not believe that it has all been worth nothing. Not after all these years". She knew that look in his eye. The one that said that Mulder will be looking into every possible corner he could find. And how could she not stand behind him. After all the years they have been working together at least she knew that even if they did not find the answers to the mystery of the universe that her partner so desperately searched for at least they would be in for one hell of a ride.
"Ok, I give in, what do you have for me Mulder?"
"We'll Scully so glad to see you turn around so quickly, you may be loosing your touch." Mulder gave her one of those, I know you better than you know yourself looks. She couldn't help but to smile at him.
"Today, an interesting file found its way on my desk. Four similar deaths in the past two months. All victims between the ages of 22 and 34. Both men and women. All four victims, different races."
"So whats the similarity?" asked Scully with one eyebrow raised, waiting for the "Oh" factor.
"That's where it becomes interesting. No one would have noticed it. The M.E.'s assistant is very green and wants to been recognized. He did more than dotting all his i's and crossing all his t's. All four victims had a tattoo on their right upper extremity. Right by the rotary cuff. All different tattoo's, all different artists but when he looked a little deeper he realized the tattoos where covering up a scar." Mulder stood looking at his partner waiting for her reaction.
"Ok, so lots of people get tattoo's to cover up scars. There has to be more to it than that to find your interest. So are you going to keep me hanging here Mulder or what?"
"They all had the same metal implant that was taken out of Duane Barry." Mulder held his breath. He knew what a tough case that had been for her, and for him. After detaining Barry, Scully had gone missing for a period of time and when she was finally returned she had no memory of where she was or what had happened to her. It was one of the most difficult times in Mulders life. It was then he realized how much she meant to him. When he knew that he never wanted to loose her.
"How can you be so sure?" She felt almost frozen. This could not be happening again. She felt the sudden urge to leave the room and go home. She hadn't thought about it in years but here she was feeling like it just happened yesterday. She didn't want hear this about Duane Barry or the implants.
"I had them tested by our ballistics unit. They only found one match in their files. It's undeniable."
"If that's the case Mulder, then that means its the same object that is in my neck, the same object that caused and cured my cancer."
What could he say. "Yes." was all he could come up with. "Look Scully, I didn't take this case to bring back old ghost, but when you really think about it all we did was avoid the details. We were all so happy with the fact that you were in remission that nobody dared questioning a thing. Now it seems to have thrown itself right back in our faces." Mulder looked as though he aged within the five minuets they have been talking.
"But their implants are not in the same location as mine. Doesn't that mean anything?"
"I don't know Scully, But don't you want to find out?"
"So where do we start?"
"We leave for Detroit in three hours." Mulder handed her a boarding ticket. "It looks as though there has been a fifth victim. I'll pick you up at your place in and hour and a half."
