Scully was asleep before they reached the Motel.  He parked the car as close to their rooms as possible and walked round to her door.  He wondered why he was keeping do quiet as he opened the door, knowing he was going to wake her.  He put one hand on her knee and the other on her shoulder.

"Scully…" he said softly, "We're here"

She moaned softly and turned her head away from him, her hair tumbling into her face.  He squeezed he knee and shook her shoulder a little. "C'mon Scully, time to get up"

                Moaning again she faced him and he gently tucked her hair behind her ear.  The confusion on her face worried him.  She wasn't usually so tired and listless.  His green eyes met her blue and he saw clearly the fear the lay beneath them.

"You fell asleep," he said weakly.  He took her hand and she allowed him to lead her from the car and up to her room.  Her hand shook as she tried to get the key into the lock.  Ignoring her groans of protest Mulder took the key from her and opened the door.  She walked in and sat down heavily on the bed.

"Are you okay?" he asked crouching down in front of her. 

"I'm fine." She said yawning as she pulled her hair from her face with both hands. "I just haven't been sleeping"

"I could give you something for that if you want."

"No, I just need to rest"

                Mulder went into the bathroom and returned with a glass of water. 

"Here, take some."  After she sipped it he placed the glass on the bedside table and pushed her shoulders back into the bed.

"Sleep" he ordered.

"It's too early" she complained, "We've got work to do." But she wasn't strong enough to fight him.

"Well how about if I go out and get us some food and you wait here.  We can go over the medical reports here."

"Okay, " Scully said, already drifting off.

                Mulder traced his fingers down her legs to her feet and removed her shoes.  He pulled the quilt from around the bed and placed it over her.  With a quick glance over his shoulder he left the room.

Sgt Murphy pulled up outside the school and made his way up to the office.  The room was crowded with police, and the county coroner.  The chatter round the room was jovial as the men stood round a few holding coffee.

"Who found him?" he called out angrily.  The chatter abruptly stopped as they all turned to face him.

"I did, sir," one of them ventured, "His wife called me as asked me to take a look round because he didn't return from a meeting at lunch time."

"What meeting? With who?"

"The FBI sir."

"Get those agents out here right now"

"Yes sir"

"I want this room cleared.  Everyone out," he shouted finally.

                After everyone left he walked round to where Dawson's body lay.  Sighing loudly he bent closer and pulled the gun from his already stiffening fingers.

"You stupid damn fool" he whispered as he looked at the gun.  Recognising it immediately as the gun he'd helped Dawson buy he placed it into an evidence bag he'd pulled from his pocket.  He said he'd need it for security for when he was working late.  A soft cough from the doorway brought Murphy back to the present.

"Sir… the FBI are on the way."

"Good," he said holding out the gun.  "Get the prints off this"

"Sir?"

"Just do it"

                Mulder sat at the small diner counter sipping his coffee slowly, hoping that Scully was sleeping.  He tried to think of when she had first shown signs of tiredness.  They had gotten back to Washington on the Wednesday and finished the reports by Thursday evening.  Mulder offered to take her out for dinner but she said she need sleep and left.  She'd taken Friday off and he hadn't spoken to her again until she'd walked into their office on Saturday evening.  Was she tired even before then? He mused silently.  He finished his coffee and picked up the menu wondering what to bring back to her when his mobile rang.

"Mulder" he said curtly into it.

"Agent Mulder? The FBI?" the voice asked.

"Yes," he said cautiously, not recognising the voice on the other end of the phone.

"This is deputy Brody.  We've go a situation here at the school and Sgt Murphy is asking for you to come round." The voice was stammering and unsure.

"What kind of situation?" Mulder asked.

"It's Dawson Reilly.  He's dead."

"I'll be right over."

                Mulder considered ringing Scully but quickly dismissed it.  If it was sleep that she needed he wasn't going to deprive her.  Leaving her to rest he went to the school alone.

                Scully woke with a start.  Twilight crept round the room pulling with it a soft darkness.  She turned to face the small clock on the locker and saw that it was 20:30. Her head pounded loudly with a sound that seemed to reverberate off the walls.  Pulling herself from the bed she showered and dressed a quietly as she could, aggravating an already angry head.  She pulled a box of headache tablets from her wash bag.  With effort she managed to twist the childproof lid off, spilling them over the bathroom counter.  Taking two she slipped them into her mouth and swallowed some water.  Knocking on Mulder's door she got no reply.  She called out his name but still no reply.  Noticing that their car was gone she tried calling him on his mobile but only got his message minder.  Before she could put her phone away it's shrill ring drilled though her head and made her jump.

"Scully"

"Marcus Avenue," the muffled voice said.

"What?"

"He's waiting for you."

"Who is? Mulder?" Scully went back to her room pulling a map from the desk she searched for Marcus Avenue.

"Hurry…he's hurting."

"Who is this?" she called into the phone but the line had gone dead.  Looking for her gun she found it under the suit she discarded earlier for jeans and a t-shirt.  She clipped it to the back of her jeans and pulled the t-shirt out over it.  Grabbing her light, black windbreaker she rushed to the motel office and rang the bell urgently.

"Okay, okay, where's the fire?" the attendant emerged from the back room still fixing his belt.

"I need to find Marcus Avenue.  Can you show me where it is on the map?"

"Sure but it's not called that on the map."

"Where is it?" she asked unable to keep the urgency from her voice.

"It's right…there," he said showing her a small byroad called Kennedy Drive.  "Some people call it Marcus Avenue on account of a high school kid that jumped from the cliff into the ravine, at the end of the road."

                Wanting to know more but not having the time Scully made her way down the street toward Kennedy Drive, walking almost 2 blocks before managing to hail a cab.

"Kennedy Drive," she said sitting into the car.

"Hey lady…I don't-"

"Just drive," she pulled out her badge and slammed it against the division.  One quick glance from the driver told him to drive and he took off.

                Mulder was ushered into the office, ignoring the hushed voices he passed.  He winced at the body that lay before him.

"You Mulder?" the voice came from behind the desk and as Mulder leaned forward he saw a large man in jeans and a shirt with a sheriff's badge hanging out of his pocket, crouching over the body.

"Yes. What happened?"

"Where's your partner?"

She's working on something." Mulder replied, meeting his stare.

                With an audible grunt Murphy stood and approached Mulder.  Not attempting to shake his hand Murphy reached into his pocket and retrieved his notepad. 

"It appears that you two were the last to see Dawson alive."

"We left his office at approximately 4.30pm and proceeded to the Maguire Residence."

"You arrived there at 5.05pm." Murphy said reading from his notepad.

                Mulder walked around the table to where the body lay and crouched down at the head.

"This looks like a suicide.  Where's the gun?"

"I've sent it for prints."

"Prints?"

"You can never be too careful."

                Mulder stood shaking his head slowly.  "Can I see the photo's of the scene before you started moving the evidence?"

"Photo's?"

"You and half your squad have trampled round this room taking evidence and leaving false traces.  You yourself removed the weapon without photographic placement of where it lay."  Murphy opened his mouth to argue but Mulder stood and turned away.  "I want this body wrapped and sent to the morgue marked for autopsy."

"Autopsy?"

"You can never be too careful," Mulder called over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

"Now you listen here-," Murphy shouted

"No, if you are going to try to pin a murder on me maybe it would be better if you thought about the evidence, and surely the fact that I'm FBI might mean that I know something about murder scenes," Mulder said, his voice low and even.  "Clearly from the angle of the wound I can see that this was self inflicted.  I want an autopsy performed so that I can show you."

"Why would he commit suicide?" Murphy asked his face red with anger and humiliation at being showed up in front of his squad by this clean cut g-man.

"Now that is a question that I might be able to answer.  I want that body prepped and ready for autopsy by Monday morning."

                Mulder had pulled up to the motel before he realised that he had forgotten the food.  He knocked lightly on her door and called her name.  When he got no reply he assumed she was asleep and pulled out the spare key she had given him.  Threading softly he walked into the room only to find it empty.  He checked the bathroom and called out her name again.  He picked up some of the tablets that lay scattered across the counter and saw that they were for headaches.  He tried ringing her but got only her message minder.

"Scully it's me.  It's 9.30.  I just got back to the motel.  Call me."

                He noticed that the clothes she'd worn to bed we left rumbled on the floor.  Ruffling through them he found that her gun and badge were gone.  He went down to the office and rang the bell.

"Hey.  What can I do you for?" the attendant asked keeping an eye on the TV behind him.

"My partner, a small lady with auburn hair, and blue eye's, did you see her go by?"

"Better than that, she came in to ask for directions."

"To where?"

The attendant pulled out a map and showed Mulder Kennedy Drive.  Without saying thanks Mulder grabbed the map and ran over to the car.  Sitting in the car he felt his gun pressing into his hip and hoped he wouldn't need it.

Scully paid the driver without thought of how she would get back to the motel and ventured carefully towards the end of the avenue.  It was a narrow dark road, with a grass trail running up the centre.  Large trees and bushes blocked any escape from the sides.  200yds from where she stood she could make out a clearing.  Her hand found her gun and she unclipped it from its holster and held it down along her slim body.  Cursing herself for not thinking of taking a torch she walked up to the clearing.  The ground was hard with dried mud and she left a dust trail as she walked on.

"Mulder?" she called out softly, almost afraid to be heard.

"Hello Dana."  She spun round her gun held out in front.

"I wont hurt you."  The voice seemed to come from all around.  Spinning round Scully held her gun out rigidly pointing it into the darkness.

"I'm a federal agent.  I am armed.  Come out the where I can see you"

                To her right the bushes shook and Liam stepped out into the moonlight.  His long black hair hung down to his shoulders, concealing his face.  He wore a plain black t-shirt and a pair of light blue torn jeans.  His sneakers were scuffed and dirty.  With his hands in his pockets he walked over to the end of the clearing where the cliff edge was. 

"Beautiful view?" he asked gesturing towards the ravine where a scattering of houses could be seen in the distance.

"Liam?" Scully walked over to him.  Reholstering her gun she stood behind him. 

"He feels your pain.  I feel your pain."

"My pain?"

                He turned to face her, keeping his face hidden and removed his hands from his pockets.  He held them down his sides with his palms facing outwards towards Scully.  He slowly raised them into the crucifix position and it was then that Scully saw the blood.  It drained from wounds on his wrists covering his arms.  Looking closer Scully saw the tattooed black text that stretched the length of his inner arms up and under his t-shirt.

"You too can be healed," Liam said looking up for the first time.  Scully gasped at the sight of the blood that ran down his face from multiple cuts and scrapes that scattered his forehead. 

"What happened to you Liam?" she asked hoping to pull him from whatever trance he seemed to be in.

"The power of God lives in us both."

                Without warning he grabbed Scully his hand slamming into either side of her head.  She screamed and tried to pull away but his hold was too strong.  He forced her to her knees and the dust swirled up around her as she impacted with the ground.  She could barely hear what he was saying but his lips were moving quickly.    Scully weakened from the pressure on her head.  Feeling faint a dizzy wave washed over her, her headache pumping viciously against her skull. 

                Suddenly a bright light pierced the darkness from behind them.  She heard the gravel skidding and Liam released her.  She dropped to the ground as Mulder jumped out of the car pulling his gun out and aiming it at Liam.

"Get away from her," he shouted angrily.

"Amen," he said quietly, walking away from her, towards the ravine.

                Mulder walked over and placed himself between Liam and Scully.  "Turn around and lie on the floor." He ordered still pointing the gun at Liam.

"No, not again, you wont take me again."

                Before Mulder could stop him he ran for the edge and a jumped over.  Mulder watched after him running to the edge but he couldn't see the bottom in the darkness.  Scully groaned and fell over onto her back. 

"Scully," he said softly.  He knelt behind her placing her head on his lap and gently took her hair from her face.  The blood was smeared round her neck and face and matted into her hair, but he could find no wounds.  He placed his jacket round her shivering body and called for an ambulance.

                It wasn't long before the ravine was being searched.  Murphy came up to the ambulance where Scully was being examined and Mulder waited.

"You sure it was the Maguire boy?" he asked, not for the first time.

"Yes.  He was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and a pair of red sneakers.  He was covered in blood.  I think that a pretty specific description, don't you?" Mulder said his voice full of impatience.

"And he jumped over the edge?"  Mulder didn't reply only stared back at Murphy.  "I've just got off the phone with Robert Maguire and he says that Liam ahs been there all evening, studying.  He's there now."

"Did you talk to him?" Mulder asked.

"No, but his father said he was there."

"It was him, I saw him, Scully saw him."

                At that moment Scully stepped out of the ambulance and walked over to them.  Conscious of her partners worried looks she didn't meet his gaze.

"Sgt Murphy?" she asked holding out her hand towards him.  He took it and she shook it tightly.  "I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to meet before.  I'm Special Agent Dana Scully.  I understand there has been some confusion as to the identity of the attacker?"

"Attacker?" Murphy said unsure.

"Yes, the person who attacked me," she said flatly, removing any question.

"Liam Maguire has been at home all evening.  He's there right now."

"Then he won't mind a visit from us will he."

                Scully glanced at Mulder who simply nodded and followed her back to the car.  She sat into the passenger seat and waited for Mulder to drive.  He sat next to her and looked over.  She had cleaned most of the blood from her neck and face but it still clung to her hair, matting it together.  He watched as she retrieved a hair tie from her pocket and pulled it back into a ponytail, which hid most of the blood.  He could still see the tiredness in her eyes and there was something else there but he decided not to ask.

"You gonna drive or are you waiting to be beamed over there."  She smiled over at him and put on her seatbelt.

"After all these years Scully, you're still surprising me," he said softly, laughing a little.

"It's a ladies second best weapon."

"What's the first?"

"My gun."

                Liam lay motionless on his bed ignoring the incessant banging at the door.  The moonlight seemed to shimmer around the room making the shadows sway.  The curtains waved slowly as the breeze came in the open window.  His hands had stopped bleeding and the blood lay caked to his skin staining his bedclothes.

"Liam, open this door."  His father shouted from the hallway.  Without even looking at the door he closed his eyes and prayed, his prayers coming out in soft whispered that spun round the room lifting the curtains as if a blast of air burst in from the windows.  His books flew from their shelves bouncing off walls and travelled round the room like a hurricane.  His Father rattled the door, slamming his shoulder against it until finally the door swung open.  The books fell abruptly to the floor and the curtains floated back to the wall. 

"I told you to leave them alone."

"For I am ready to fall and my pain is ever with me," Liam muttered lowly.

"What did you do to her? Did you hurt her?" his father asked approaching the bed.

"He feels only the pain of His own body and He mourns only for Himself."

"You can't mess with these people Liam, they're FBI, don't you know what that means?"  His father grabbed his shoulders and shook him roughly.   Liam turned his gaze to his father, who immediately let go of his shoulders and backed away from the bed.  "Liam, you have to calm down and try to understand, your gift…it can be a burden also…you need to understand it fully before you use it."  His voice was shaky and did nothing to hide his fear.

                A car pulled up outside, shining a bright light in through the open curtains.   Robert rushed over to the window and watched as the two FBI agent walked towards the front door. 

"I lied for you today Liam and for my sins I will pay, but I can do no more for you." 

                Before Liam could reply he walked out of the room and to the already ringing doorbell.  He opened the door and balked at the sight of the two agents.  From the bedroom window he didn't see the blood on Mulder's trousers or matted into Scully's hair.

"Hello Mr. Maguire.  We'd like to speak to your son." Scully flashed her badge as she spoke.

"He's… he's-,"

"Is he here?"

                Robert looked down to the ground opening the door fully to let them in.  "May god forgive me for what I am about to do," he whispered to himself.  As the agents walked past he snapped the gun from Scully's holster and screamed at them to stop walking.  They both turned around, Mulder holding his gun down against his leg.

"Mr Maguire, calm down…put the gun down," Scully said softly.

"NO…" he shouted, "give me your gun… GIVE IT TO ME"

                Mulder put his gun on the floor and gently kicked it over to where Robert stood.  Robert stopped it sliding with his foot and bent down to pick it up.  Footsteps behind him made Mulder look around where he saw Liam standing midway down the stairs. 

"Liam, I did it for you. They don't believe."  Robert pleaded with his son, waving the gun dangerously. 

"Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our home to aliens," Liam said softly, walking behind the agents and opening a door that lead under the stairs.

                Robert walked forward pointing the gun towards Mulder and urging him down the stairwell that reached into the cellar.  Scully started to follow but Liam held her back.  Leading her into another room he sat her down on a couch and stood in front staring at her.  She could hear Mulder's voice but couldn't make out what he was saying.  The sound of the gunshot went through her body as if it was her who had been shot and suddenly she realised Mulder wasn't speaking.

"Mulder?  Mulder?" she called hoping he'd answer but got no reply.  Liam stared at her watching her reaction.  Robert came into the room.  Blood covered his hands but Scully could see no wound.  "Where's Mulder?" she demanded angrily, standing up.

"He's of no matter now."

"Where's your wife and daughter?" she asked, quieter this time.

                The anguish that washed over Roberts face was clear and obvious.  Scully looked over at Liam who was still staring

"But for this purpose I have let you live, to show you my power, so that my name may be declared throughout the world," he announced.

"Exodus 9:16," Scully said softly.

"For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption has come."

"Isaiah 63:4," she said, as if angry at his use of her words, her bible.  Scully returned his stare and matched its ferocity.  Robert came up beside them and looked between them.  The room seemed to sway; ornaments and pictures flew off the walls and hurdled round the room.  Robert stepped away from them and Liam turned his stare towards him.  Suddenly Robert found the gun in his hand pointing at his own head.  The metal pressed hard into his temple. 

"You don't have to do this," Scully yelled over the noise of the wind as it blew round the room, engulfing them in a storm.  Looking over at Liam she saw his face was writhing in pain.  "Liam, let him go, don't do this."

Liam looked up, his eye's black as night.  Scully tried to look away but found herself trapped.  The sound of the gunshot made her turn to where Robert had been standing.  Now he lay a bloodied mess on the floor his head propped up against the wall. 

"I don't know what you think you are, Liam, but you are not God."

                Liam laughed loudly, the sound bursting into Scully's ears.  Reaching up to them she found a drop of blood in them.

"God?" he said laughing still, "I'm better than God.  I've more power than He ever had."

"What is it Liam? What do you want?"

"Stretch forth thy hand from high, rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of aliens."

                Liam lifted his hands to the sky.  The wind that circled around them blew harder forcing Scully back to the couch.

"Why did you kill your father?" she asked quietly surprising Liam from his reverie.

"I had to. He lied to me.  He was a sinner," he said flatly.

"Are you going to kill all the sinners?" she said trying to keep her voice even and emotion free.

"I ordered him to kill your partner."  He seemed to take pleasure in her pain of not knowing whether Mulder was dead or alive.

"Did he?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"No, but I will"

"You are a vengeful god."

                They both whipped round at the sound of Mulder's voice.  Blood poured from a gash on his forehead where he had been smashed with the handle of his own gun.  Scully visibly sank at the sight of him standing there.

"You okay Scully?"  She nodded slightly at him.  As he walked into the room the wind died down to nothing and all the objects fell to the floor.  An eerie silence filled the room as if waiting to explode.  Mulder held up his gun, that he'd retrieved from Robert's body and aimed it at Liam.

"I am the resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  Liam stretched his hand out to Scully.

"John 11:25-26" she said softly.

"Scully come here" Mulder said taking a step towards them, his gun still aimed at Liam.

                Liam threw his hand out at Mulder who found himself flung against the wall.  His body hit hard and the room plunged into darkness.  Still watching Scully, he took her hand and led her out to the car.  She sat in the passenger seat and watched Liam as he took the drivers seat.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Home.  I want to bring you home, Dana."