Thanks for reviews
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Mulder and I pulled up outside St Katherine's Cathedral just before two o'clock. I led Mulder into the quiet church and towards the altar the front. "It's nice here." Mulder said. I nodded.
"Do you know what the main aisle of a church is called?" A soft voice asked from behind one of the pillars. Mulder and I both looked across and saw no one. "It's a Nave."
"Grace?" Mulder asked. The girl stepped out from behind the pillar. Light shining through one of the windows shone behind her head. The light illuminated her blonde curls giving her a halo. "Grace Ayre?"
"Yes sir," She nodded. She walked through the pews towards us. She stopped just in front of Mulder and held out her hand.
"Agents Mulder and Scully." He said and shook her hand. She smiled at him then turned to me and shook my hand.
"I know you," She said looking at me. Her bright green eyes sparkled. "You're a parishioner here."
"Yes," Scully nodded.
"Scully?" She said trying to figure out where she knew my name. "Margaret Scully's daughter. Dana." She said triumphantly. "Your mother sowed this dress for me." She said putting her hand on her chest. I looked at the dress it was a simply blue cotton pinafore. Grace had a white t-shirt under the dress and a cream-coloured wool cardigan over the top.
"Have we met?" I asked suddenly unsure. Grace shook her head and smiled.
"Not that I recall."
"Grace?" Father Brian said coming from one of the side doors of the church. Mulder and I both looked across at him. "Dana, what a pleasure to see you again. How are you?"
"I'm well, thank you Father." I smiled.
"Good, good." He nodded. "What brings you to church on such a lovely Friday afternoon?" He asked.
"Father Ayre. I'm Special Agent Mulder." He said.
"Of course." He said with a sigh. "You're here about Grace."
"That's right." Mulder nodded. Grace looked from Mulder to me a little confused.
"Come through to my office," Father Brian said. "It's just out the back."
"Thank you." Mulder said. Father Brian led us out the side door he'd just entered through and towards a small stone building just apart from the church. It was surrounded by a green leafy garden. Father Brian unlocked the wooden door and pushed it open.
"Please have a seat." He said. Mulder and I sat down. Father Brain sat behind his large wooden desk. "Fetch another chair from the store room Grace."
"Yes sir," she nodded and walked out of the room. She returned a minute later with another chair.
"I really don't see that the FBI should have an interest in my niece. She's only a child."
"Sir, we have reports from parishioners that Grace has the ability to heal. Our unit at the FBI investigates strange occurrences. Ritual healing, I believe, falls into that category." Mulder said.
"If Grace can heal, how is that a case for the FBI? Surely it's not against the law. She hasn't harmed anyone, she hasn't broken the law."
"No," Mulder shook his head. "It's just a case of interest for me. The x-files, the cases I mentioned, they're a passion for me."
"I'm glad you have something to be passionate about." Father Brian smiled. "I understand now. I thought Grace was in some kind of trouble. The FBI doesn't usually call and make an appointment to see us. If this isn't an official interview, I'll leave you to talk to Grace alone. I have a group of school children coming through to talk to me."
"Thank you for your time Father." I smiled. He returned my smile.
"I hope to see you on Sunday Dana."
"Yes Father." I nodded
"Do you need me to give the children a tour Father?" Grace asked.
"I think I can handle it. You cooperate." He said.
"Yes sir." She nodded and smiled. Father Brain walked to the door.
"Give my best to your mother." He said to me before leaving.
"Is what these people say true?" Mulder asked looking at Grace. She smiled innocently.
"I can't lie to you, I know that, but please, you can't tell people. You can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to be the centre of a religious cult. If people find out, they'll come to me to be healed. I hate to refuse, I hate turning people away, but I cannot bring ridicule to this church, to my Uncle. Do you understand? Father Brian could be turned away if this gets too big. Please understand, please."
"We won't expose you Grace. All we want is the truth. Our files are classified." Mulder said.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." Father Brian said looking at Mulder and I. "Grace, the teacher wants to spilt the group in two. Will you take one group on a tour while I speak to the others please?"
"Yes sir." She nodded. Father Brian smiled and disappeared out the door again.
"I'm sorry," Grace said standing up. "I really have to go."
"Can you contact us?" Mulder asked. "I just want to talk to you about this."
"Of course," She nodded. "I can catch a bus into the city and come to the J. Edgar Hoover building this afternoon if it's suitable." She said walking out of the office. She waited for Mulder and I to follow her before she locked the door. She pulled the large key out of the lock.
"Ok, we'll set up an appointment so you can get through security." Mulder said. Grace nodded and entered the main building.
"Grace, thank you, Mrs Ludlum has separated the groups for us. Please give these children a tour of the cathedral and a bit of history of cathedrals in general."
"Yes Father." Grace nodded. She turned and smiled at the group of children. Mulder and I stood in the doorway and watched her for a few minutes.
"Well, all cathedrals aren't the same, but generally they're built in the shape of a big cross. The main entrance, down there," She said pointing. "Usually faces west. We're standing in the Nave, the main aisle." She said glancing at Mulder and I. There's a south and North transept, for parishioners, or people attending church, to sit. Up there is the apse, and the ambulatory. And three small chapels."
"We better get back to the office." Mulder said. I nodded and followed him to our car.
"How did her parents die?" I asked as we drove. "Does the file say?"
"Yeh, ah, her father was killed in a fire a few months before she was born and her mother died during child birth. Father Ayre is her only living relative. He adopted her and raised her. He named her too. Grace Mary Ayre."
"I was raised in a religious family, but I can't imagine being raised by a priest." I said. Mulder smiled and handed me the keys.
"Especially a priest that home schools her." He said. "Twenty-four hour Sunday school." He said. I smiled and unlocked the car.
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So...should I post the next chapter? Please review. If I get a nice one I'll post the next chapter. Hey, if I get a bad one I'll make this disappear.
