A/N: Even though 'I Want to Believe' came out in 2008 in my universe it is roughly 2005... just in case it was unclear to anyone.
3rd Person POV:
Mulder is met by an Agent Drummy who brings him to see Special Agent Whitney
"Excuse me." Drummy says walking into Whitney's office, "They're here,"
She gets up and walks around to introduce herself.
"I'm Special Agent in Charge Whitney. Fox Mulder, I believe. I know this is awkward but welcome back. My team and I appreciate your trust."
"Trust being what it is, I do have my one condition." He reminds the agents.
Drummy and Whitney exchange a look with the clear subtext being 'is this guy for real?' but eventually sigh and get on with it. A third agent is called over and brings a gas mask which is presented to Mulder.
"Thanks but I brought my own." Mulder reaches in his bag and place his mask on and then nods signaling he is ready. Both agents take a small needle and prick their thumbs showing neither of them have green blood.
Mulder removes his mask satisfied he isn't working with aliens or hybrids.
"Sure you still want my help, can't help but notice the look on both your faces, like I'm (whistles sci-fi like theme indicating he understands they think he's out there)"
"I know your work on X-Files cases and believe despite some of your more extreme beliefs you do get results and may be the best chance Monica Bannan has right now so let's just say I'm willing to overlook some of your more unconventional personality traits." Whitney tries to explain as diplomatically as possible, he smirks and can't help thinking how much like Scully she just sounded like... at least Scully before... everything.
She hands the case file to Mulder who starts to look it over.
"How long has she been missing?" He asks.
"Since Sunday evening. Almost three days."
"Thats a pretty quick development for you to be desperate enough to ask for my help." He remarks.
"Before she went missing the case was already a little..." Whitney searches for the right word but Mulder helps her out,
"Spooky?"
"Yeah."
"Besides wanting to believe she's still alive do you have any other reason to hope she will buck the statistics on being missing over 72 hours?"
"Soon after she was missing, we found this. A severed arm." She explains sliding over some some photographs.
"Where?"
"About ten miles from her home."
"Can I assume no one here needs me to point out this is a man's arm."
"It's a match for evidence of a crime scene found near her house." Whitney explains.
"Blood or tissue match?"
"Blood. Found in her garage and on the tool that matches the wound."
"I take it you were led to it." Mulder guesses.
"Like a needle in a haystack." Whitney responds
"By someone claiming to be a psychic pastor?"
"Father actually, Father Joseph Fitzpatrick Crissman" She corrects him.
"And I guess you want my opinion on if he's full of shit or not" Mulder asks.
"Father Joe..." Drummy starts to explain but Mulder interrupts.
"Father Joe, friend of yours?"
Drummy ignores the question, "He cold-called six hours after Monica Bannan was reported missing, claiming a vision of her, a psychic connection."
"And he's why you believe she's still alive?" Mulder says understanding a but more.
"Yes." both agents say.
There is music coming from a black-and-white TV in a bedroom containing a double bed. In room leading off from the bedroom, Father Joe is kneeling, saying his prayers when there is a knock at the door.
"Father Joe?" Drummy asks as he pushes open the door.
"Excuse the mess. I haven't been sleeping." the father explains.
"Father Joe, this is Fox Mulder." Drummy says moving to reveal another man entering the room.
"Okay."
"He'd like to ask some questions."
Father Joe turns and looks expectantly at Mulder.
"Mind if I ask what you were praying for father?" Mulder asks him after a beat.
"Salvation of my immortal soul." Father Joe answers.
"How do you know if he hears your prayers? If he's still interested in you after what you've done?"
When Mulder was reading up on Father Joe it was revealed he was a convicted pedophile.
"I have to believe he does hear me, or why would he send these visions?"
"Maybe it's not God doing the sending," Whitney injects joining the men in the small room.
"You call them visions um does that mean you see them, like images or a movie?" Mulder wants to know, fascinated by the father's potential ability.
"Yes, I see them in what you might call my mind's eye." Father Joe explains to Mulder.
"What do you see?" He asks.
[Father Joe picks up a cigarette and lights it.]
"I see the poor girl being assaulted. See her putting up a fight. I hear dogs barking."
"You see her alive."
"No, but I feel that she is."
"Can you show us how you do it?" Mulder asks completely enthralled in the possibilities despite the things this excuse for a holy man has done to innocent children.
Father Joe stubs out his cigarette and closes his eyes and concentrates, he opens his eyes again and looks to Mulder,
"I saw something but it wasn't your missing agent, it was a mother and her young boy... beautiful he was, he had your eyes Mr. Mulder."
The blood drained from Mulder's face, he wasn't sure if he wanted to believe the Father had actually seen his son, could lead him to his family. Normally it would have been his greatest desire to believe what he was saying but he didn't want James in this pervert's head and a part of him prayed the man in front of him was full of shit and couldn't see a damn thing even if it mean there was no hope for the missing agent.
Mulder excused himself and stepped outside. A moment later Whitney comes out and joins him.
"So, do you think he's for real?" She asks.
"Hard to say." Mulder mutters still thrown by what Father Joe told him.
"Was it agent Scully's son he was talking about it there... your son?" Whitney asks.
Mulder turned around and stalked towards her a bit menacingly,
"Let's get one thing straight, Dana Scully has nothing to do with this and her name nor my son's will make even the slightest appearance in this case file is that understood?"
Whitney is taken aback slightly, Mulder had appeared to be very laid back, mellow, good naturedly cocky, but the Mulder in front of her was none of those things he was breathing out rage like a smoking dragon in the freezing weather. She nodded her head and told him she understood, she wouldn't make any note that Father Joe alluded to a mother and boy, a boy with Mulder's eyes.
Drummer appears behind them, "Everything okay out here?" he asks picking up on the tense vibe.
"Yeah," Mulder says, "Let's take the physic Father for a ride, see just how physic he is."