Who's The Father?

Part 6

By Trycee

Time-Line: Season 7

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Files, this is written for fun not profit.

Mulder and Scully moved past the parishioners who were setting up chairs in the revival tent straight up to the pulpit where the pastor was setting up his notes for the upcoming sermon. "Welcome, brother and sister to The King is Coming Baptist Church. Service starts in one hour!"

"Zachary Briar?", Scully asked.

The Pastor shook his head. "Brother Briar!", he said, calling someone over Mulder's shoulder.

They turned to see a tall man with dirty blond hair setting up metal chairs in a row. "Yes, Pastor?"

"These people are looking for you!"

They watched as Zack Briar approached them. Both Scully and Mulder pulled out their I.D. "May we speak to you?"

Zachary motioned for them to follow him out of the tent to an empty section of grass just an arm's throw from the church. "How can I be of service?"

Mulder glanced at Scully and then began to question the man. "Were you ever a member of the Armed Forces?"

"I was," the man said, with a warm smile.

"We're in you in the Army?"

"Yes, brother, I was."

Scully looked at Mulder and could tell he was uneasy. She knew he didn't do well with the religious types. "In 1994?", she questioned.

"Let me tell you what happened to me in 1994, sister!"

Scully shot a look at Mulder and then back to the man. "Go ahead."

"In 1994, I was a killer in the name of God and Country but what I was doing was sinning against God! I had evil in my heart and the devil sent his demons after me. One night I was sleeping and his minions came to me just as real as I'm standing here now!", he said, raising his hand to the sky. "I cried out to God, but he couldn't hear me because I was in the belly of hell! These demons had taken me to hell and where torturing me. They were stabbing me and torturing me in horrific ways!"

Mulder cocked his head to the side. "Experiments?"

"These demons were torturing my soul and I realized that I had turned my back on God and so God had turned his back on me!", he said, staring into the Agents eyes. "When I awoke in the morning, I thought it was a nightmare but it was real, brother and sister, it was as real as God is real! I had scars all over my body from those demons and I knew, I knew that things in my life had to change! I gave my life to God and I haven't looked back. Sometimes I see those demons in my mind's eye and I rebuke them in the name of Jesus because I am healed! I've been washed in the blood of the lamb and God has forgiven me and those demons cannot stay!"

Mulder looked at Scully but her eyebrows were raised as she stared at Zachary Briars. "Are you married, sir?"

"I am. My wife and I have been serving God for several years now. "

"We're you married in 1994?", Scully questioned.

"No, not then. I met my wife after I was discharged from the Army. In man's eyes, I had gone insane," he chuckled. "But in God's eyes, I'd seen the truth."

"Did you ever give a donation of sperm to a sperm bank?"

Zachary Briar looked from Mulder to Scully, a confused look on his face. "I'm sorry but no, I've never done that, why?"

"Sir, you were named as one of six men as the possible father of a now deceased three year old child named Emily Sims."

"Sims? I don't remember a woman named Sims. Before I was saved by God, I did partake in the flesh," he said, shyly. "But I don't remember a woman with that last name. Even before all this, I was a one woman type of guy."

"Me too," Mulder whispered, staring at Scully.

She looked at Mulder, her cheek reddening slightly and then she cleared her throat. "Would you mind giving us a DNA sample to rule you out as the father, sir?"

"A Father," he huffed. "That's something I have never been. My wife and I have not been blessed by God to have children. God will give us children in his own time."

Both eyebrows were raised as Scully turned toward Mulder. He could read her thoughts and nodded that he understood. Scully performed the DNA test and thanked him but as she went to turn, Mr. Briar grabbed her arm. "This child that died. What does she look like?"

He removed his hand and Scully reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo of Emily.

Zachary smiled as he looked at her polaroid. "She's very pretty. How did she die?"

"An incurable disease that spread all over her body. She was three."

"When?"

"1997," she said, as her eyes closed briefly.

"So sad to have only been here on this earth for three years," he said, looking up to the sky. "But God knows what he's doing does he not?"

"He does," she said, quietly.

"My wife and I haven't been blessed yet. We've wanted children so desperately but it isn't God's will. If this child is mine... and then to find out she is deceased, I think it would hurt me so."

"I understand," Scully said, dropping her head.

"Will you tell me anyway?", he said, looking at her. He was inches away from Scully which was making Mulder uncomfortable.

"My card," Scully said, handing it to him. "As soon as we know, we'll let you know."

"Thank You," he said, backing away. "God bless you both!"

"You too," she said, as Mulder came closer.

They walked back to the car and Scully sat down, slamming her car door. Mulder looked at her. "Scully?"

"I felt so sorry for him, Mulder," she said, as a tear formed in her eye. "I could feel his pain because it's my pain," she said, her eyes locking with his. "Our pain."

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close to imr. "You need a minute, Scully?"

"I do," she said, as she rested in his arms.

"Let's take a lunch break and then move on to number six. I need to contact the guys anyway."

She raised up and looked at him. "For what?"

"That's two that are sterile, Scully. And as far as we know, nearly all were in the Army. "

"We don't know about the first guy, we didn't ask him if he served."

"They can find that out for us."

He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number. "The Lone Gunmen," Langely answered.

"Stop recording me!", Mulder ordered.

"There," Langely faked it. "It's off."

"Langely, I know you haven't shut that recorder off, now shut it off."

"Jeez, what's got his panties in a twist?", Froehike asked as he listened in.

"Where are you Mulder?", Byers questioned as they all listened in on the same call via headphones.

"San Diego."

"Ooh, is the lovely Agent Scully in a bathing suit?"

"I can hear you, Froehike," Scully said, which made Mulder smile.

Froehike glanced from Langley to Byers. "Well, is she?"

"Froehike!", Mulder said as a warning. "Look, we have a list of names we need you to investigate. We think all six men were in the Army. I need service times and any info you can on them. "

He named off the list of names and hung up. Mulder looked at Scully and kissed her on the cheek before pulling off from the church. Scully could see Zachary Briar standing in the revival tent watching them as they drove off.

Mulder pulled into a rundown diner, his favorite and pulled Scully along. "Mulder," she complained. "Can we ever eat a place that doesn't have grease on the windows?"

"That adds to the ambience, Scully," he said, walking hand in hand with her.

They sat at a table across from each other. They ordered their food, a burger and fries for Mulder and a salad for Scully. When the waitress returned with a large juicy burger for Mulder and dressed up iceburg lettuce for Scully, she pushed her salad aside and grabbed a few of his fries. Mulder smiled. "You want your own burger?"

"No, I want yours," she said, with a twinkle in her eye which made Mulder's heart flutter.

The waitress came back to them asking if everything was okay. "Another burger and fries," Mulder said, much to Scully's surprise.

"Mulder, I said, I'd eat yours," she said, dipping a fry into ketchup.

"Scully, I'm a growing boy, I need all of my burger."

"Fine, I won't share my fries with you," she smirked.

They laughed as they waited for her order to arrive. After they'd finished their meal, they drove off in search of the last person on the list, Kenneth Holmes. They drove around to the modest home and pulled up in the drive way. A teenage girl was sitting on the steps staring at the two agents as they approached. "Who are you?", she asked.

"Is this the Kenneth Holmes residence?"

"DAD!", the girl screamed out, nervously. "Dad there are some people here for you!", she said, jumping up and running into the home.

Kenneth Holmes stepped out, a patch covering his eye. "Can I help you?"

"Sir, are you Kenneth Holmes?"

"I am," he said, cautiously.

Mulder pulled out his badge. "Agents Mulder and Scully. May we speak to you?"

He nodded and opened his door to them. They followed him in and then sat down on couch. Three teen girls were standing near the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. Kenneth Holmes sat down and looked at him nervously. "What's this about?"

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