Author's notes: Sorry to anyone who has been anxiously awaiting the next installment. I had a severe case of food poisoning which left me incapacitated the last few days. Here it is, and this is where it starts to get serious. Mwah ha ha!

Knocking on Heaven's Door

Chapter 6

After much digging, Scully had found the little slip of paper that contained a combination of numbers of letters comprising a chemical compound that was present in Ed's bloodstream, and after a minimal amount of research, discovered that Ed's tattoo (and hers) contained ergot, which often brings on hallucinations. Even though she had no explanation why the chemical had not affected her as well, she felt that this was good news for Ed, and for her relationship with him. It meant that there may very well be a medical explanation for his aggressive behavior, and that he could be treated for it.

Surprisingly, her mood did not lift much with the news, however. She spaced out often during the week, and Mulder nagged at her constantly to find out what was wrong, but she was too distracted to notice. After much debate with herself, she decided to go visit Ed personally and talk to him about how to get help. He seemed more than willing, after all, and it would be a simple matter of visiting the hospital for testing and treatment.

Ed was ecstatic that she was coming, of course. But Friday came, and when she told Mulder her travel plans for the weekend, his tone changed from warm to desperate. She was more than tired of his little envious pity parties, though. "What's up with you?"

He hid his thoughts under an incredulous mask. "What do you mean? I didn't say anything."

She was in no mood for passive-aggressive behavior. "Ah, come on Mulder. Just come out and say it. You don't like the idea of me going to see Ed. We both know it."

"No…look," he said, his face softening. "Scully, I know it's none of my business who you date, and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm interfering. I just worry, is all. You never know about a person one-hundred percent, and there's no way of knowing if you can really trust this guy. I mean, have you even checked up on him?"

"Checked up on him? You mean, like a background check?" She felt herself transforming from mildly irritated to downright angry. "I think I can take care of myself, thank you."

She stormed past him and made it halfway through the door when he stopped her with his words. "Do you even know that he's under investigation by the police for the disappearance of a neighbor?"

She turned, knowing she needed to face him when she said her next words. "You've been doing a little checking up yourself, have you?" He shrugged. She hated when he was so nonchalant about his defiant attitude. "For your information, I do know about that, and the circumstances surrounding it."

She felt the need to get in his face to make herself completely understood. "Stay out of my business, Mulder. I mean it."

Scully sighed before knocking on Ed's door. He said he would do anything to get her back, but did he really mean it? Or, like most men who hit the women they love, was he just saying it to get her to return, so that he could continue with his abusive ways? She was about to find out, although she knew in her heart that if he laid the slightest finger on her once more, she would be gone for good. No amount of words in any order would be able to convince her to ever speak to him again.

So this was the moment of truth…at least for today.

She was not surprised in the least to see Ed acting like a cowed school boy. He had the requisite flowers—they were beautiful, as expected. He invited her to dinner—she said she wanted to talk to him first. He graciously offered her a drink—wine or tea—she was happy with water. They sat down across from one another in his bleak apartment to discuss the situation at hand, her with her cup of water, him with a bottle of beer.

She explained about the ergot in his blood. "So if you'll just go down to the hospital with me Ed, we can get you treated, and you'll probably feel a whole lot better. In fact, if you're willing to do that, I'll get checked out too, since I had the same type of chemical in my tattoo."

Thinking that her request was completely reasonable, she was shocked when he hesitated. "I don't know, Dana. I mean…I really don't like hospitals, and I don't trust doctors all that much…I mean, I know you're a doctor and all…"

She looked him straight in the eye as she interrupted him. "Ed. You said you would do anything to keep me. This is what I'm asking you to do."

He looked down. She continued, with complete resolve. "This is what you have to do if you want me to stay. I won't make an exception, Ed."

He looked at his right arm, where the remains of his burnt, scarred tattoo stood in dramatic contrast to his otherwise smooth, muscular skin. She thought he was debating the dangerous chemical contained in the body modification, and whether or not to have it removed. Soon she noticed him mumbling something, however, and with astonishment, she realized he was actually talking to the tattooed female face smiling up at him.

At first she could not hear the words he was saying. Her eyes widened when she heard him say, "No, I won't do it. I can't do it…don't ask me to…please." Before she could move to get out of her chair, the beer bottle in his left hand flew up to meet her head, and she heard a crash as it broke against her skull.

'I'm in trouble,' was the last thought that entered her mind before the blackness took over.