William sat in the drivers seat, sipping coffee from a paper cup. Zoe beside him just stared, he had been running around town like a mad man, speaking to every one he saw. "what are you looking for agent Scully?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe nothing." He rested his head against the back of the seat. "who ever did this was clever, but it doesn't make scene. People kidnap and kill children all the time. Their bodies are usually dumped in shallow graves where they are least likely to be found. Why not do that...going through all the trouble of making that circle. They were making sure his body was found."

Zoe watched his face, he was trying so hard to get the pieces to fit. "what we need is a profile. Give me a minuet." Zoe stepped out of the car and pulled her cell from her pocket. "hay, it's me. You've heard? Yeah it's true. We need your help, I need a profile. I'll send you my personal notes and wait for your call. Hay M... I appreciate this."

"who was that?" Will asked as she slid back into her seat.

"a friend of mine, he's a brilliant profiler. We'll have a work up in a matter of hours once I send him my notes." she pulled out her laptop and began typing away.

"more notes?"

"i need to note my friend's involvement, and the fake circle." she confirmed.

"that's a nice laptop you have there. It's small." Will was grasping for small talk.

"this is a cheep one, called a notebook. You can get one at Wal-mart." she told him. Will just nodded. She stopped what she was doing on the computer and smiled at him. "your not really interested in computers are you?"

"no," will admitted. "but I know you are. I have heard through the grapevine that you x-file agents are all something close to genius in your own rite. Your into tech stuff right?"

"I'm sure the rumor mill has told you a lot of hullabaloo. I am a techno nut, but no where close to genius. What else do the gossips have to say?"

"I don't want to go there."

"I do, it's OK. I've heard most of it. What is new?'

"geez, Zoe... I don't know. They call you guys spooks and say you guys all live together. That you have some big house in town, like a commune. When you partner transferred out you made this speech about not having partners." Zoe began to chuckle. "where did you partner transfer to?"

"we are all weird you know? Jimmy and johnny can complete each others sentences. We do live together, it's cheaper that way. Mike was under a lot of stress, he transferred to violent crimes for a much needed reprieve."

"violent crimes is a reprieve?"

"it is a lot easier catching human suspects than it is chasing ghost and flying saucers."

"you really do all live together?" Will was intrigued.

"like I said it is cheaper if we all pay part of the bills instead of each paying an individual bill. I can see how people think it is weird, but we have all been friends since the academy. Jo and I even share a room."

"speaking of rooms, we had better check into the motel. Looks like this one is gonna take some time, till "M" is it?" she nodded. "till M gives us a profile."

the cheapest motel in town was sparsely furnished with 1960 decor. At least the sheets were clean, and there wasn't any thing growing in the bath tub. Zoe set her laptop on the desk and plugged into the oldest modem she had ever seen. The thing was probably older than she was. A knock on the door made her jump. "who is it?"

"agent Scully." he called. Zoe unlocked the door and let him in. "get a load of the phone? Nothing but the best for the FBI."

"phone? Is that what it is? I thought it was a dinosaur!" she laughed.

"i'm tucking in for the night, just wanted to make sure you were set."

"I'm fine, just setting up the computer for a video chat."

"chat?"

"yeah...long story short there is a reason I share a room with Jo. I can't sleep when I'm alone." she sat in the chair in front of her computer.

"you mean you don't plan on getting any sleep while we are here? How are you supposed to go out on cases if you are unable to sleep? You have a reputation for being an excellent field agent..."

"yes and my partner was a man I trusted and loved... as a brother. Mike and I shared a room when on assignment."

"were you lovers?"

"far from it. There are some secrets that are never meant to be told. Learned that from an old friend of mine."

"agent Mulder?"

"no, his partner actually. Special agent Scully, she was an amazing woman. Dana and Fox were like parents to me. They had a son you know."

"believe me I know. Every person I meet asks if I'm him. I'm not." she smiled and nodded.

"i know. You look exhausted, it's OK if you want to go get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"your sure?" she gave him a smile that would have convinced him were it not for the utter lack of conviction in her eyes. Those dark doors into her lonely soul, deep inside she was pleading for compassion. "do you want me to stay the night with you? Look we are supposed to be partners on this. I wish you would have told me about your little problem before I paid for two rooms, but as two adults I think we can spend the night in the same room."

"that won't be necessary agent Scully. I'm going to have a chat with my friends, get some information and I'll see you in the morning."