Billy sat in the back of the van, wedged in the corner with his knees up. His elbows rested on them, chin in his hands. He watched the man in the wheel chair, curiously, head tilted to the side just slightly. The man in the chair watched him back just as intently, just as silently.

The uncontrollable fear was gone. Billy understood now that it had been fear not for himself, but for his Mother. Now that she was gone, so was the fear. In its place was a deep and smothering grief, but Billy knew he couldn't show it. So it laid in wait inside of him, waiting for him to be alone when it would be released in all of its fury. For now, his features were neutral, not betraying his turbulent emotions.

From the shadows came a dry hacking cough. It was an explosive sound in the bare van. "William." The name came out a dry heave. "William, come here."

The little boy obeyed immediately. Despite the man hardly being able to breathe he had a commanding voice that demanded strict obediance. Billy stood close to the man's side and just looked at him. Hi face was still hidden by the shadows. The man watched him, looking for any reaction, as he lit a cigarette. The flash of light was more than enough to reveal his disfigured features, but the child didn't even flinch. The only emotion that flickered across his face at all was a brief flash of pity.

The man waved the match out and took a drag on his cigarette. He exhaled, watching the boy all the while. "Do you know who I am, William?" he asked suddenly.

Billy hesitated for barely a moment and shook his head. "No." he lied.

The man smiled than, his usual half-amused little smirk. "I know that you're lying, William. I know you know who I am. I know about your, abilities." He took another drag of his cigarette. "And you look like your Father when you lie." He puffed on his cigarette thoughtfully for a moment, as if pondering his word choice. "Samantha and Jeffrey, too. Family resemblance I suppose. All of the Spenders have that same look when they, blur the truth." The man seemed to find this amusing, but his quiet chuckle made Billy shiver. If the devil laughed, it would be that same breathless rustle. "Now, who am I, William?"

Billy was silent for a moment, watching the man in the chair, weighing his options. When he spoke it was in a soft whisper. "You're my Grandfather."

"Your Grandfather? Is that who I am, than?" The man began to laugh, and the laughter quickly turned into a coughing fit. The cigarette man turned a deep shade of violet before he was able to catch his breath, but it was still obvious that he was pleased with Billy's answer. He reached out and squeezed the boy's upper arm, not to hurt him, but out of something like affection. "Very good William, very good."

Despite William's misgivings about the man, he couldn't help smiling at the praise. There was a twinkle in the man's eye that was not unfriendly, and while William did have certain abilities, he had purposely left them undeveloped. He couldn't discern the truth when it was carefully blended into near truths and half-lies, and the man before him was the king of these kinds of deceptions.

His Grandfather was smiling at him now. He held Billy's wrist and pulled him closer. "I am many, many things, William, not all of them things to be proud of. To some I would be called great, and to others I am a Monster of the highest degree. But to you, I am simply and foremost, your Grandfather." He looked almost sad for a moment as he drifted into thought. "It's an answer your Father would have given in your place. You're very like him. Intelligent, soft-hearted, forgiving, curious…" The old man trailed off in a breathless whisper. He took a deep breath and began again in a quiet croak. "He would have been something special, like you are, if it weren't for his damned values." The man's eyes glazed slightly as he remembered times long gone. "He could have been great if he would have followed me."

Billy stood beside him, watching him guardedly. The man fell silent, and stayed that was for so long that Billy began to think he might have fallen asleep. Just as he became sure that he must have the man looked up at him.

He put out his cigarette and pulled Billy onto his lap with surprising strength for someone who looked so frail and fragile. "You will be great someday, William. Greater than even your Father could have been. You, unlike him, have been chosen by powers greater than anything on earth. You know that, don't you?"

Billy nodded. He knew what his Grandfather meant. The Light. Somehow, his Grandfather knew about the Light. That knowledge made him feel more comfortable than he could ever remember feeling. It was as though he were with someone who was truly capable of understanding him.

The old man looked Billy straight in the eyes. He had worked with many children like Billy, and he knew how to trick the abilities they possessed. With Billy's being undeveloped and raw, he had no way to tell that the emotions he sensed from the man were projected. Naïve and trusting, it didn't occur to him that his Grandfather would trick him.

"I care for you a very great deal, William, just as I cared for your Father. I wanted the world for him, but he pushed me away. He had his own life to live, and I must respect that." The cancer man looked at William sadly. "What truly hurts me is that he would put the search for his truth before you, his own son. Barely around to support your Mother while she was pregnant, and disappeared again when you were just an infant, a newborn."

William stared silently. He was using his ability to read emotions, to know, just as the cancer man knew he would.

The man continued as if oblivious. "Your Mother, well, she wanted you, certainly. Your Father wanted you. He's not a cruel man, not unloving. But the both of them were married to their work, they always were. There was no time for a child. Dana, she didn't realize what she was in for when it came to having a child. Your Father was never around, she had to care for you on her own. It didn't leave time for anything else, and she was terribly unhappy with her life. And when it came down to it, between protecting and raising you and following your Father in his search… Well, the Van De Kamps were good to you at least, weren't they, William?"

Billy looked at him in hurt shock for a few seconds. "But, but didn't you help her? My Mother? If you love me, you were around, right? And, wh-why didn't I go to live with you if, if my parents didn't, didn't, want me?" His tone was agonized, and he looked at his Grandfather with injured eyes. The smile he received in return and the tone of his Grandfather's voice were perfect for his little act. He'd expected the questions.

"I'm afraid I was not allowed to be around, William. Your parents never cared much for me. Our personalities are far too different. Your Mother adopted you out secretly, anonymously, with no one's knowledge. Even your Father was unaware of it. Besides this secret adoption, I was a very sick man when you were born, William. I still am, as you can see, though I was much worse off than. I was expected to die very soon. I would not have been allowed to take you. Could I have done so, I would have given every star in the sky to take you. Unlike your parents, family is everything to me, you see."

Billy nodded, taking in everything his Grandfather said, believing every last word. He had wondered about them for a long time, but had been unwilling to find out anything because he would have to use his abilities. Now that he knew the truth, it left him feeling crushed and enraged.

The man smoothed Billy's hair gently. "I spent the last five years searching for you. It was only recently that I was able to discover your whereabouts. I had planned to speak with your adopted Mother today about seeing you." His eyes turned steely and cold. "Apparently, my driver had other ideas as to how the meeting would go. I promise you that will not go unpunished, William. I know Gloria was good to you, that she loved you. Her death will be avenged.

William just nodded, a lump in his throat not letting him speak.

His Grandfather looked away. "Strange that your parents were at the park today, wasn't it? I wonder if perhaps my driver is working for them, in a misguided attempt to get you back." His tone suggested that he was merely speaking his thoughts aloud, but he was delighted when Billy sat up, paying sharp attention, just as he had calculated for him to do. "But don't worry, William. When we arrive at my home, I will take care of the driver personally. You have an Aunt and Uncle who are desperate to meet you waiting there, this will be a wonderful surprise for them. I'll see that your Father, Mr. Van De Kamp, is notified of where you are. I'm sure he'll be along to take you home very shortly."

Billy smiled when the cancer man mentioned his Father. "You're going to call Daddy?" His happiness faded as suddenly as it had come. "Will I still get to see you?" he asked shyly. "If I go with Daddy, I mean?"

His Grandfather smiled. He had his grandson exactly where he wanted him. "Don't worry about that now, William. I'm sure he won't have any problem with it, especially if it is what you want."

"It is what I want." Billy said firmly. He hugged his Grandfather suddenly. "They can't keep me away anymore! I know the truth now." Billy looked up at him. "You'll find out if, if my birth parents had anything to do with what happened to my Mom, right?"

The cigarette smoking man nodded. "Oh yes, William. We'll find out, don't worry about that. I love my son, and I respect his wife, but I won't allow them to kill innocent people. If that is what they have come to, they will pay."

Billy looked away, nodding, the seeds of hatred his Grandfather had so carefully planted beginning to grow. He remembered meeting the woman in the park, knowing who she was as soon as he saw her. He remembered the strong feelings she had felt of wanting to take him home. He didn't doubt, with feelings so strong, that she would kill for what she wanted. It had to have been them, his birth parents. "Good."


The Scully-Mulder household looked like the FBI Headquarters. Mulder, Dana, Monica, and Skinner had enough laptops and equipment set up to outfit an entire unit. John was on his way there from work, where he was heading the official investigation into the kidnapping.

Dana watched the news. When you were working outside of the official investigation, the press often had the news before you. Most of the time, the media knew about leads before the agents themselves did. Trying to watch every news station at once, however, was next to impossible.

Scully turned the sound up on one of the televisions as a picture appeared of Billy Van De Kamp with both of his parents.

"… of now it appears that the boy's Father, 47 year old Daniel Van De Kamp is the prime suspect in the abduction. Our sources tell us that the FBI and local law enforcements have been unable to find Mr. Van De Kamp and that he was not at work at the time of the shooting and abduction, as was previously believed. His full name is Daniel Jacob Van De Kamp, he stands 6'1" and weighs approximately 180 lbs. He has gray eyes and light brown hair that is graying. He drives a black 2006 Toyota Camry, but may be driving an unmarked black van that was spotted at the scene of the abduction. If anyone sees a man fitting this description, they are urged to immediately report the sighting to law enforcement."

Dana tuned out as the description was repeated, along with a description of Billy. She turned the TV down again, and jumped as Monica touched her arm lightly.

Monica smiled at her and handed her a cup of tea. "Here. It's herbal, my own blend. It'll help relax you."

Dana smiled faintly and muttered a thanks as she took it, but she didn't drink. She didn't want to relax, she wanted to find her son. "How is the age enhancement coming and the comparisons?"

"They're coming." Monica replied. "It's a little slower on these home computers, but we'll know soon. Anything new on there?" she asked, gesturing to the television.

Dana shook her head. "Nothing important. Their blaming Gloria's husband Dan. I'd care a little more if I didn't already know who was behind it."

Monica nodded, looking away. Everyone, Mulder included, was having trouble believing that CGB Spender was alive and well enough to be abducting children and killing their parents. "Maybe he's working for him."

Dana shrugged. "It's possible." She stood up and began pacing the room again. She couldn't stand just sitting there. She wanted to be out on the street, looking for him. Finding him before the bastard he was with could hurt him like he had hurt Samantha and Jeffrey, his own children.

The house fell eerily quiet as everyone worked, no one really knowing what to say. Tension built up until John came half an hour later, when the air was thick enough to swim through. His face was grim when he came in.

"You can turn that garbage off." He nodded towards the televisions where Dan Van De Kamp's face was now prominently displayed on all of them. "Dan Van De Kamp was found dead three hours ago. They found his car on the side of the highway. He was in the trunk, shot execution style."

John sat down on the couch. "The official story's going to be he was in trouble for embezzling, so he killed the wife and went on the run with the kid." No one said anything, but they had all been in the FBI long enough to understand. John looked directly at Scully. "They're covering it up. You were right about who's involved, that's for sure. It goes all the way to the top. We're on our own, and the government, not just the FBI, but the whole damn thing, is going to do it's best to make sure no one ever finds out what really happened. Word I got is that anyone suspected of mucking around in this is as good as dead."