Disclaimers:
GAMM: I do not own anything. All rights belong to R.A. Dick (Josephine Leslie) and 20thCentury Fox.
X-Files: The X-files, are the property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Fox Television. I own nothing….
AN:This is a crossover story between the X-Files and the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I seldom do crossovers as I am more of a purist and believe that characters belong in their own universe and thrive there for a reason. But every once in a while some story refuses to leave me alone even though I try very hard not to write it; this is one of those stories. This is a complete story (novel length) and I will not leave you hanging. I will take a little time between posting chapters to polish them up, but the story is done.
It is being placed in the main body of stories because I am convinced that few people check the crossover category, and I think it's worth a read.
A short summary of each show in case readers are not familiar with both.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir: This was a book published in 1945 by R.A. Dick (Josephine Leslie) and became a movie with the same name in 1947, with Rex Harrison starring as Captain Gregg. The book and the movie are self-contained and work well as what they are, I always found them rather sad and tragic until the end. In 1968 NBC decided to turn this into a family show with the same title, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. The heart of the show is the romance between Mrs. Muir and a long dead sea Captain. She is widowed with two children and moves into the house that he built, Gull Cottage; trouble is that he is still there. And their attraction is mutual though impossible given his state of being. The show only lasted a year on NBC but then was picked up by CBS for one more year, and turned into even more of a kid's show, backtracking severely on the heart of the show; the impossible romance. Even with that every show had some lovely moments and though short lived, many fans still enjoy the series.
The X-Files: Was a TV show created by Chris Carter on the Fox Network. It was about FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Mulder was obsessed with aliens and the paranormal because he believed that his eight year old sister was abducted by aliens when he was twelve years of age. Agent Scully is assigned to debunk his work but ends up being his greatest ally. There are stand alone, monster of the week episodes as well as prevailing story arcs concerning government conspiracies and alien takeovers. These two characters go through impossible things: so many near death experiences, abductions, cancer, infertility, torture, loss of family, almost too much too bear. Near the end of the series they finally take that last step and are romantically involved. That involvement to their surprise (she is supposed to be infertile) produces a son named William. Due to writer's considerations more than anything else (my personal belief) after several attempts on her son's life, Scully gives William up for adoption (Mulder is on the run trying to lure the killers after him). Mulder is finally caught and sentenced to death, but friends break him out and he and Scully go on the run and that is where the series (nine years' worth) ends. They made one more X-Files movie six year later named I Want to Believe (IWTB). Mulder and Scully have stopped running and have settled in a rural house in Virginia. She is working as a doctor in a small catholic hospital and he is hiding in the house. They go through an ordeal as they try to help find a missing FBI agent which tests their relationship. In the end Scully rescues Mulder, and they decide to go on a vacation away from the darkness. The last shot of them in the closing credits is Scully in a swimsuit and Mulder in swim trunks rowing a boat across a beautiful blue sea someplace tropical.
This story takes place in 2008; immediately after IWTB…
Summary: Mulder needs a special favor and is convinced that only a powerful spirit can help him with what he needs; but first he has to prove that spirit exists in the form of one Captain Daniel Gregg; formerly of Schooner Bay, Maine. And what happens if he finds the ghost?
The Ghost Files
By Dark Poltergeist
Chapter One
The grey Ford Taurus slowed to a stop on the dirt road that ran along the edge of the cliff, providing a spectacular view of the rocky Maine coast.
Fox Mulder threw a careless smile at his partner of many years and the love of his life as he eased his tall frame from behind the driver's side of the car.
With a shake of her head, Dana Scully sighed and got out, happy to stand and stretch out some of the kinks that her protesting muscles had acquired. They had been on the road for what seemed a long time. She knew Mulder very well and was sure that this wasn't a scenic detour on his part; there was something here in this beautiful but isolated area that he was interested in, something driving that brilliant mind of his.
She walked around the car and rested against it, next to him, hips touching as she saw him staring at the ocean.
"Isn't it beautiful, Scully?" he asked, his hazel eyes staring out at the waves that mercilessly pounded the shoreline, spray and foam obvious from their spot on the cliff.
"I guess," she said and linked her arm in his, drawing close to him.
"Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail the ocean? To be Captain of a ship?"
"Not really. I had several tours of navy ships from my Dad. And did some sailing in my youth."
"No, Scully, that's not what I mean." He turned to her, excitement in his eyes. "Can you imagine sailing without modern devices? Wouldn't it be great to talk to someone that had sailed a Schooner over one hundred years ago? Someone that had been the Captain of one?" He grinned at her.
Scully eyed her other half with the barest hint of a smile touching her face, waiting for Mulder to unveil why they were really here.
"Mulder, anyone that sailed one of those ships is long gone, dead, and buried."
"What if they weren't?" He raised an eyebrow and wiggled it at her until she laughed.
"All right, I'll bite. What if they weren't dead and buried, then what? And why are we really here?"
"Well, I think you're right about the dead and buried part, but perhaps still alive enough to talk to us."
"Mulder!" She was getting exasperated.
"Haven't you heard of the Legend of Gull Cottage?"
"Gull Cottage? Legend? We've been in Maine for a day, what are you talking about?"
Mulder turned around, reached into the back seat, and pulled out a thin book relating to local folklore and legends and handed it to her. She opened the book to a marked spot and began to skim the content. "The ghost of Gull Cottage?" her blue eyes looked at him in disbelief. "We're on vacation and you want to go ghost hunting?"
He took a small packet of sunflower seeds out of his pocket, and popped some in his mouth and just smiled at her.
"Really? An X-file? On our vacation?" She regarded him in disbelief.
"No, not that. First of all we don't do that anymore."
"And second of all?" she crossed her arms in front of her.
"Curiosity, Scully, personal curiosity." He gave her a playful poke in the ribs. "Come on, it will be fun. Haven't you ever wanted to talk to a ghost?"
"Mulder, we did and it wasn't any fun." She shuddered, remembering the ghosts she had met. First he had dragged her ghost hunting one Christmas Eve to a deserted mansion with some unhappy ghosts that tried to kill them. Then there was that little boy who had ultimately led her to his grave and thus his killer, but had physically appeared alive in every other way. And there had been a few others along the way, all of them had creeped her out in one way or another. Despite their unscientific ability to be proven, Scully did believe in ghosts and didn't like them one little bit.
"But it has been reported that Gull cottage in haunted by an intelligent ghost, a poltergeist of sorts that went by the name of Captain Daniel Gregg. Though people have had the living daylights scared out of them, none of them have been harmed unless you count their own clumsiness at running out of the house," Mulder munched on some more sunflower seeds.
'But this book is old, it's from the early seventies, and the most recent publishing date says that the house has been quiet for years." She gave him a skeptical look. "No ghosts.'
"Oh, I think there's still a ghost, but I think he's a happy ghost." Mulder smiled.
"A happy ghost? Mulder, what are you talking about?"
"It seems the ghostly disturbances quieted, for the most part, after Carolyn Muir moved in.' He raised an eyebrow in speculation.
Scully laughed. "You've got to be kidding. You think that there's a walking, talking ghost that has some sort of relationship with the tenant of Gull Cottage?"
"Yup, that's exactly what I think."
"You're insane. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, but you love me anyway. Or maybe because of it? Sometimes I'm not exactly sure…"
"Mulder, shut up!" she said and proceeded to shut him up by pulling his head down, and locking lips with him. There was no talking for several minute until she pulled away from him, her hand caressing his cheek. "Sometimes I like It better when you're quiet," she said, a smile in her eyes.
"Wow! That was a great way to shut me up, but you do realize if all I have to do is babble incessantly to get you to kiss me like that, that I can do this all day long. You do realize that, don't you, Scully?" He grinned at her.
She made a sound of frustration and walked around to her side of the car.
"Just sayin'," he laughed.
"Why are you standing by the car door? Where is Gull Cottage? We're driving there, aren't we?"
"See where the road climbs up the hill over there?" he indicated a spot on the road in the distance. "It's supposed to be up there and around the curve."
"How far?"
"A mile?" He shrugged. "Or so I've been told."
"A mile! Mulder! Why aren't we driving there?"
"Because we're having car trouble, it broke down here on the isolated road with no help in sight." He went over to her, turned her around so that her back rested against his chest. "And look at that, Scully, the sun is setting. It's almost as gorgeous as you." He held her close but she heard the smile in his voice. "It will be dark soon, repair shops are closed, and there is no where to stay or no way to get to town. Do you think Mrs. Muir might put us up?"
"You're impossible. You're making up a story and expect someone that we don't even know to treat us kindly and put us up for the night? What if she thinks we're criminals?"
"We are, aren't we? Fugitives from the law."
"Mulder, that was before, we've been cleared now and are free to live our lives." She scowled, not happy to be reminded of that. "So what happens when they come out and the car starts?"
"But it won't." He popped open the hood, reached in and removed the distributor cap, and threw it over the cliff.
"Mulder! Now we really are stuck. What if she won't let us stay? Or if they aren't home? Then what?"
"Then we walk into Schooner Bay," he said with a shrug.
"Where in the hell is Schooner Bay?" she asked.
"That way, past Gull Cottage, about three miles."
"Mulder!" she groaned.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Captain Daniel Gregg materialized in the Master Cabin of Gull Cottage by the french windows that looked out on the ocean. He was surprised that his beautiful wife hadn't noticed him. She was so good at perceiving his presence that he could hardly surprise her anymore, but she had her head bent over her keyboard, and was busy typing away. He walked over to stand behind her, and enjoying the element of surprise, leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug.
She yelped in surprise, struggled for just a moment until her mind registered that there was only one person in the world that would be able to do that to her, and then relaxed within his embrace.
"Daniel, you shouldn't scare me like that," she scolded.
"But it's so rare that I have the opportunity to do so, my love, you are far too aware of me.' He relaxed his hold on her and softly began to kiss her neck.
"How am I supposed to work when you do that?" She asked but he heard the laughter in her tone.
"I believe that's the point," he murmured in her ear.
Carolyn shivered, but not from the cold, she always enjoyed being touched by her Captain. "What do you have in mind?" she whispered.
"A great deal, my love, but unfortunately it will have to wait until later." With a last small nibble on her ear, the Captain straightened, took a step back and regarded her.
"Tease," she said, and then noticed his expression as he glanced out the windows again. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong? I am not sure that anything is wrong, at least not yet. But I did want to inform you that we will soon have visitors."
"Visitors?" She looked at the clock, it was almost nine pm. "Who would be visiting us now?" A worried look crossed her face. "It isn't one of the kids or grandkids?"
"No, my love, no one from the family. Strangers." He shrugged. "It would seem that their car has broken down nearby and that they are in need of assistance for the night.'
"Seem?" she asked, catching the inflection in his voice.
"Well, their car was not broken until they broke it themselves.'
"Which means they want to stay here." She frowned and turned towards her husband. "But why?"
'I suspect they are looking for me, the ghost that haunts Gull Cottage."
"Well, you certainly haunt me, and I wouldn't have it any other way." She walked across the room to him and gave him a sweet kiss.
"Thank you, my love.' He kissed her back.
"You're welcome." She frowned and stared at her ghost. "Ghost hunters?"
"Of a sort, though not of the Paul Wilke ilk. But they are not your typical tourist either." He tugged on his ear, a sure sign that he was uncomfortable about something.
"Why do you say that?"
"There's something about them, they seem, well, tested. I have nothing to base this on, just an impression that they have already seen a lot in their lives, more than most people." He frowned. "I think a great deal of it has caused them pain."
"My, aren't we the perceptive little ghost?" Carolyn teased. 'So why do you think they're here looking for a ghost?"
"They have obviously heard of me," he said, and stood proudly.
"Oh, brother. You have never quite recovered from you large ego, have you?"
"It's only ego if it is not warranted," he said with a cool glance for her.
"Daniel, you really are too much," she covered her mouth and laughed at him until his stance softened and he smiled at her. "Now, really, why do you think they are looking for a ghost?"
'I am not sure. A personal quest of sorts?" he shrugged and they heard a knocking from the front door downstairs. "It would seem they have arrived."
"So what do you want to do? Are you going to watch invisibly? Or greet them with me as my husband?"
"If you do not mind I will allow you to greet them, and I will observe them for a time. After I get a chance to gauge them I will arrive through the kitchen at an opportune moment, where you can introduce me as your husband."
"All right.' She leaned up to kiss him and for just a moment they stared into each other's eyes until they heard the sound of the door again, and Carolyn left to answer it.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The second knock resounded in the house and Scully regarded the front door with a frown. "Mulder, I'm not sure this is such a good idea. It seems like a lovely family lives here and I don't think we should intrude." She eyed him reproachfully.
"How do you intrude on a ghost? He probably already knows that we're here." He wiggled his eyebrows in her direction and she laughed.
"So you're going ghost hunting?"
"I wouldn't call it hunting. I just want to see if Captain Gregg exists.'
"Why?" Scully knew her partner and lover well, he was up to something.
"I want to ask him a favor," he grinned at her.
"You want to prove that there's a ghost here and then ask him a favor?" she stared at him in disbelief
"Uh, huh, but only if he's an intelligent and interactive ghost." He paused and widened his eyes making her laugh. "It's a big favor."
"Why do I put up with you?" She asked, moving into his personal space.
"I think, I hope, it's because you love me," he said softly, and bent his head down to kiss her.
It was at that moment that Carolyn opened the front door to see an unknown couple kissing on her front step. She smiled to herself as she studied them while they remained oblivious to her, more engaged in their kissing than they had planned. The man was tall, broad shouldered, narrow hips and rather lanky. He had thick brown hair currently entangled with the hands of the woman that was kissing him; she guessed that he was in his late thirties or early forties. The woman was much shorter than he was, standing at 5'2", she had a lovely figure and stunning strawberry blonde hair that went down to her shoulders, Carolyn guessed her to be of a similar age, though somewhat younger than her companion.
She noted with some amusement that the two of them hadn't heard her yet, and she glanced over to see the Captain materialize on the front porch beside her. He saw the couple before them and looked away for a moment in embarrassment before laughing quietly.
"My Lord, I think they like each other, don't you? Do they remind you of anyone else?" He smiled and gave her a warm look and laughed at her blush. "I will see you inside, and let you separate the lovebirds."
"Coward," she muttered at the spot where he had been standing.
Seeing nothing for it, Carolyn cleared her throat trying to tactfully interrupt their clench.
The couple froze, immediately realizing where they were, standing on the front steps of Gull Cottage, in front of the owner of the property.
"Oh, oh, busted," Mulder said and Scully felt his lips curve into a smile.
Scully knew she was turning about ten shades of crimson, and she felt like when as a teenager her parents had caught her necking with a boy. She turned away from the front door for a few moments to compose herself and then turned to face an older, but still beautiful woman, who smiled at them, amused by their antics.
Mulder, feeling a little less embarrassed, turned to greet the lady of the house. "Hi, I'm Fox Mulder and this is my…partner, Dana Scully."
'Please to meet you, I'm Carolyn Gregg," she said and extended her hand.
Mulder took her hand and studied the lovely woman before him. Average height, slender with a still shapely figure, she had silver, blonde hair that was coiffed in a lovely hairdo that framed her face, smooth, unblemished skin, cute nose in exactly the right place, and green eyes that sparkled with mischief and intelligence. His best guess was that she was in her late fifties, though the information that he had said she should be about seventy, but she was still so beautiful that she was someone he thought would always seem eternally young.
"Our apologies if we embarrassed you, and ourselves," she muttered quietly to Mulder and smacked him on his chest.
"Ow! A little less hostility if you please, Missy."
"Mulder, behave." Scully rolled her eyes.
Carolyn was trying very hard not to laugh at the couple before here, they were nothing if not entertaining, and though she was sure it was not intentional on their part.
"No offense taken," Carolyn said. 'It's rather late to be calling. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I hope so. It seems our car has broken down just up the road, we were hoping to call a garage?" Mulder asked.
'No garages will be open this time of night, its Schooner Bay," Carolyn said.
"A hotel?" Mulder asked.
"Probably not. Why don't you come in and we can discuss your options," she said and ushered them into the house.
The house was beautiful, Scully thought, having only stepped inside the entry way. She had never seen a house that was built to resemble a ship, and in such detail. It was evident in the wood paneling, the unique light fixtures, and the layout of the house that she could see. It was unique and tasteful, and very masculine. She liked it.
"Follow me," Carolyn said, and led them into a lovely living room, complete with galley windows opposite each other, once again giving the appearance of a ship. The item that most drew her attention was the portrait over the fireplace, a portrait that filled the room with its presence. Without thought, Scully left Mulder's side to stop in front of the painting, and she looked into the face of Captain Daniel Gregg.
"This is Captain Gregg?" She asked Carolyn.
"Yes, that was Captain Gregg. He built Gull Cottage over a hundred years ago," Carolyn crossed her arms in front of her as she regarded the portrait, a small smile on her face.
"He's very handsome," Scully stared at the portrait, transfixed. She hadn't found any man even remotely attractive since she had taken up with Mulder, but this Captain was exceptional. "He's amazing. Magnificent."
It was at that moment that the Captain materialized in the room so that only his wife could see and hear him just in time to hear Scully's comments.
"This woman has excellent tastes, my dear. She may stay." Daniel said, preening from Scully's compliment.
"Of course you would hear that," Carolyn mumbled under her breath so that only her ghost could hear, and rolled her eyes at him.
Mulder, ever watchful, observed several interesting things all in a short amount of time. Scully, his Scully, seemingly enraptured by the portrait of a man that she had never met, and Mrs. Gregg muttering something and rolling her eyes at an unoccupied spot next to her.
He stepped forward to stand beside Scully and stared up into the blue grey eyes of the man in the portrait, regarding his stern visage and had to admit that he could see how a woman could find this man attractive.
"I don't know, he doesn't do it for me. Scully, what about my boyish good looks?" He nudged her more forcefully than needed in the ribs.
"Mulder! What was that for?"
"To bring you back to earth," he said.
"Don't worry about it, Ms. Scully," Carolyn began.
"Dana, please." She smiled at Carolyn.
"Fine, but then the two of you need to call me Carolyn."
Scully nodded.
"As I was saying, don't worry about your reaction to the Captain. Many women, myself included, are quite taken by his portrait," she said and allowed her eyes to slide down from the portrait to her ghost who was now standing beneath it.
"Will you reiterate how handsome and charming I am?" he asked her, drawing himself up proudly.
Once again, Carolyn suppressed the laughter threatening to bubble out of her; some things about her Captain would never change, including the size of his ego. She shook her head and turned away so that she could tamp down the laughter she felt welling up within her. "If you will take a seat I will bring in some refreshments for us while we talk," she said.
"They are prepared and in the kitchen, my dear, you only have to bring them in," the Captain said.
"Thank you," she mouthed silently to him on her way out of the room. She returned a few moments later, a pitcher of lemonade, glasses, and some cookies on the tray she was carrying into the room.
"Let me help you with that," Mulder said, getting up and taking the tray from her and setting it on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"Well, manners do count for something," the Captain mused.
"So that portrait, that's Captain Daniel Gregg. You said that he built Gull Cottage?" Mulder asked.
"Yes he did as well as designing it."
"It has a unique feel to it; it was designed to be a ship, wasn't it?" Scully asked, looking around the room once again.
"Yes, he was a man of the sea and wanted his home to reflect that. It's said that Gull Cottage was considered a showplace in its day," Carolyn said.
"And it was, people came from miles around to view the house I had so brilliantly designed," he said with pride.
"Unfortunately Captain Gregg didn't live long after he had finished Gull Cottage," Carolyn said sadly.
"Was he lost at sea?" Scully asked, sipping her lemonade.
"No, something much more mundane, I'm afraid," Carolyn said.
"I kicked the blasted heater with my blasted foot!" the Captain bellowed, he had never gotten over that fact.
"He kicked the blasted heater with his blasted foot," Carolyn repeated without thought, shooting him a look that asked him to drop the volume of his voice.
"That's unique phrasing," Mulder gave Carolyn one of his charming smiles. "It sounds like something from a hundred years ago. I wouldn't have expected to hear that from a lady such as you."
"Oh, you'd be surprised what I can come up with." Carolyn could tell that Mr. Mulder was a natural born flirt, much as Daniel was, so she gave him a lovely smile back.
"Carolyn," Daniel rumbled in the background at her actions but he ignored him.
"So he died of asphyxiation?" Scully asked
"Yes."
"He must have been in a closed room?"
"He was upstairs in his bedroom, the Master Cabin. It was a cold November day, and he had the windows pulled shut. He wanted to warm the room before he got the fire started so he turned on the gas heater. He had just gotten back from an extended ocean voyage of several months and was exhausted. Sleep overcame him and he kicked the heater in his sleep, and died." Carolyn finished sadly, and looked across to Daniel.
"Do not be sad for me, my love. If it had not happened that way I would never have found you," he whispered in a husky voice, and Carolyn looked away from her guests at the ground, trying not to blush. He had the sexiest voice she had ever heard, and when he whispered in that tone, well, he knew what it did to her. She looked up and gave him a brief glare, realizing that he had done it intentionally. Her suspicions were confirmed when he laughed.
"What an ignoble end for a man like that," Scully again looked at the portrait. "The coroner established that as the correct cause of death? No stroke or heart attack?"
Carolyn gave her an odd look.
"Don't mind her," Mulder said and took Scully's hand in his. "She's a doctor, former coroner, and just can't help but think of things in medical terms."
"It was asphyxiation, my heart was fine," Daniel muttered.
"I know that," Carolyn muttered a bit louder than she intended in her annoyance to where he was leaning over her shoulder.
"Know what?" Mulder asked, looking quietly around the room.
"I know that it was asphyxiation and nothing else. I've seen the death certificate. Unfortunately, his death was initially ruled a suicide and he wasn't allowed to be buried on consecrated ground because of it," Carolyn said.
"Because they thought he had killed himself? Why would a man like that kill himself?' Scully was outraged.
"It's been reported that Captain Gregg haunts Gull Cottage, that he's a ghost. Have you ever seen his ghost?" Mulder asked.
"A ghost?" She laughed. "Surely Mr. Mulder there are better things to believe in than ghost?" she raised an eyebrow at him, her green eyes meeting inquisitive hazel ones.
"Mrs. Gregg, you would be surprised at what I believe in. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, even little grey men…"
"Little grey men?" Carolyn asked.
"Aliens," Scully supplied helpfully.
"The lad is daft. Likable, but daft," the Captain stated, walking around behind the couch.
"Oh," Carolyn said and exchanged a look with Daniel.
"I don't know, my dear, I think he truly believes this. He may or may not be insane but I think he is harmless, at least to us." Daniel shrugged. "Shall we let them stay the night? I think they will be the most entertaining company we have had in years."
Carolyn looked at him and gave him a slight nod.
"Very well. I shall return through the kitchen door in a few moments, coming back from a long invigorating walk. You can, of course, introduce me as your amazing, astounding, intelligent, handsome, and most charming of husbands."
She couldn't help herself, without thought she rolled her eyes at him as he laughed and vanished.
"You did it again," Mulder observed.
"Did what?"
"Rolled your eyes, like you were talking to someone that you were exasperated with."
'I know that feeling," Scully said as Mulder shot her a dirty look.
"And I have another question, if I may?" Mulder inquired.
"Of course," Carolyn said.
'You said your name is Mrs. Gregg? When you moved here wasn't your name Carolyn Muir?"
"Mulder," Scully elbowed him.
"It's all right; I don't mind answering his questions. Yes, I was Carolyn Muir when I first moved into Gull Cottage. I have since remarried."
'A Gregg?" Mulder continued.
"Yes, a Gregg. In fact, my husband should be here any time now. He went for a walk on the beach as is his habit."
Moments after she said this, they heard the sound of a door opening in the kitchen, and the footsteps of someone entering it.
"Daniel? Is that you?" Carolyn called
There was no answer but the sound of a man walking towards the living room was heard by all. Mulder and Sully opened their eyes in surprise as they regarded Carolyn's husband for he looked like an older version of the portrait of Captain Gregg without the beard and in modern clothes. They both looked from him to the portrait and back again.
"My love,' the Captain said coming to her side, giving her a quick kiss, and draping an arm around her waist. "I didn't know we had company."
"This is Mr. Mulder and Ms. Scully. Their car broke down on the road.'
"Damned bad time of day for such a thing to happen." He rubbed his chin. "Schooner Bay's garage is closed now, I'm afraid.'
"Yes, that's what your wife said," Mulder regarded the man before him intently, knowing how much he resembled the fabled Captain Gregg. He saw no harm in stating the obvious. "You look like that portrait."
"So I've been told,' his blue eyes twinkled in amusement.
"It's remarkable," Scully said and found herself quite taken with this living representation of the portrait. "I'm assuming you must be related?"
"Yes, I'm descended from the most amazing Captain Gregg. It would seem the genetics in my family line are quite strong."
Scully stared at him, unaware she was doing so.
"I've forgotten my manners, forgive me," he said and took Scully's hand within his own. Not breaking her gaze, he kissed her hand. "My name is Daniel and it is my pleasure to meet you."
Scully simply couldn't say anything; she just blushed, smiled shyly, and looked away.
Carolyn gave him a subtle nudge to the ribs, a reminder to behave himself. She didn't know what it was about him that seemed to fascinate even the most practical of women. She was willing to bet that their guest, Dana Scully wouldn't remember the last time she had been so charmed by a man.
Mulder saw Scully's unexpected reaction and frowned, why was she so impressed with this man? He expended his hand towards the Captain. "I think I'd rather have a handshake," he quipped.
"And I'd much rather give you a handshake," the Captain intoned in his deep voice, and offered his hand to Mulder. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Fox Mulder," he said, mentally comparing the feel of his host's hand to that of other human beings.
"Fox? What an unusual name."
"Yeah, I know," Mulder frowned.
"Do I call you Fox?"
"Only if I can call you Danny," Mulder grinned at the Captain's foreboding face, and a small rumble of thunder was heard in the distance.
"Dearest," Carolyn interlaced her arm with Daniels. "I didn't hear any rain in the forecast today, did you?"
He looked into the face of his wife, and sighed, the scowl replaced with at smile. "Now that you mention it, I do not recall rain being mentioned in the forecast either."
Satisfied by his answer, she nodded.
Mulder and Scully exchanged a look; clearly this couple also had their own form of unspoken communication.
"Well, it seems too late for you to get to town doesn't it, my dear? Why don't you stay with us for the night?"
"If you're sure it wouldn't be an imposition," Scully began uncertainly.
"No, it's not," Carolyn assured them.
"Forgive my saying so, but you seem quite the happy couple, how long have you been married?" the Captain asked curiously, a wide smile on his face.
'Errr…" Scully wasn't sure how to answer the Captain in the face of his certainty. Why did she suddenly feel as if they had done something wrong?
"We're not married," Mulder said in a matter of fact voice, coming to her rescue.
"Not married?" the Captain's voice rose ever so slightly in volume. 'It is obvious that you love each other, why in the world aren't you married?"
"Daniel, that's really none of our business," Carolyn prodded him.
"Do you want to stay in Gull Cottage for the night?" the Captain asked his visitors.
"Yes, we would," Mulder answered.
"Then you may, but you will sleep in separate bedrooms," the Captain said crossing his arms in front of him.
"What? We've been together for years," Scully said, her temper starting to get the better of her.
"Then you should be able to handle being apart for one night," the Captain told her in a sincere voice.
"But..." Scully began to protest, torn between her anger at being told what to do, and some unexpected amusement that this man felt he could tell her and Mulder what to do. That had never worked well for anyone in the past; all they had to do was ask their former supervisor, Walter Skinner.
"My house, my rules," the Captain said. "You are welcome to stay but it will be in separate rooms." He placed his hands on his hips and dared them to challenge him.
"Forgive him, my husband is very old fashioned," Carolyn said with an apologetic look at Mulder and Scully. "Come on, let's get their rooms ready," she said, pulling Daniel along and out of the room.
They waited a few moments until they heard their hosts going up the stairs, and then Mulder and Scully looked at each other and laughed.
"So are we going to stay in separate rooms?" Sully asked.
"Yeah, I guess. I do want to stay overnight." Mulder smiled and stole a kiss from her. "So what do you think of them?" he asked when the kiss ended.
"Well, except for the separate bedroom thing, they seem very nice. A nice, settled couple."
"Yes, well Mr. Gregg sure looks like Captain Gregg, doesn't he?" Mulder said.
"Except for him not having a beard, and the fact that he's older, I would say they were identical."
"I don't think its good genes, Scully. I think he is the Captain." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, Mulder, really! Just because a descendent of someone looks like an ancestor of theirs, it doesn't mean they are a ghost." She gave him one of her 'you've got to be kidding' looks. "Besides, he's solid flesh and blood. You shook his hand."
"And you had yours kissed."
Scully blushed.
"And that doesn't prove anything. We could touch the ghosts that we met on Christmas Eve too."
"I'd rather not think about that," Scully shivered. "They were lethal; we almost killed each other because of them." She gave him a searching look. "I don't like ghosts, Mulder. I don't want to investigate ghosts."
"Not even if it's Captain Gregg?" He tried not to let the jealousy seep into his voice. "You seem quite taken with him."
"Any woman would be, he's a charming man. Surely even you, as a man, can tell that."
"He is charismatic, though I won't let him kiss my hand," Mulder grinned at her.
"There may be hope for you yet," she said.
"So we're here for the night, will you survive without me?" he pulled her back into his arms.
'I think I'll manage," she said and kissed him.
"No sneaking off to visit the Captain," he teased.
"Mulder! I would never do such a thing." She waited a few moments before finishing her thought. "Besides, even if I wanted to I don't think his wife would take kindly to someone putting the moves on her man."
'I don't know, she doesn't seem too dangerous to me." Mulder looked up the stairs.
"Don't be fooled, we women get pretty irritated when another woman tries to take our man."
"Would you?" Mulder asked.
"I have." The smile on her face became a scowl.
'When?"
"Does the name Diana mean anything to you?" she said, her voice tight.
"Oh, that." He still recalled with regret that he had chosen to believe his ex-lover at that point in his life instead of Scully, the woman who meant everything to him. It had almost ended their relationship. "I thought you forgave me for that?" he gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
'I did, but I still haven't forgotten."
'And probably never will,' he muttered, and she shot him a harsh look. "Time to change the subject," Mulder supplied cheerfully. "How do we get the ghost to reveal himself?"
"Mulder, can't we just go to sleep? It's been a long day of driving and I'm tired. If you insist on investigating can't we do it tomorrow?"
"Ghosts are more active at night, you know."
"Who said? Besides, I don't believe he's a ghost. He's far too real.' Scully turned for just a moment and smiled at the portrait.
"Sure you're not going to piss off the wife, and me?" he whispered in her ear.
She hauled off and hit him in his arm, hard.
"Ow! I keep forgetting I'm joined at the hip with a tough woman."
"And I'll kick your ass. Just give me an excuse.' Her blue eyes lit up in challenge.
"No dice. I don't feel like a beating tonight. Let's save that for when we get home." He gave her a seductive smile. "Besides, I don't think the Captain and his wife won't understand handcuffs,' he whispered in her ear and she shivered.
He laughed as he took her in his arms and kissed her again. "Might as well kill some time while we're waiting," he said. As her lips met his she thought that she couldn't agree more.