Scully laid snuggled next to Ethan wrapped in a sheet. She still had a smile on her face even as she slept, an indication of what had preceded earlier in the night. She had never seen him as sensual as he had been with her lately. And as she dreamt, she hoped this kind of relationship would continue between them. But she knew that a single ring of the phone could change everything in a second. And that is precisely what happened next as she became aware of her cell ringing on the nightstand. She opened first one eye and then the other as she fumbled for the light. Her pupils instantly dilated as she finally found the switch and light flooded the room. She could hear Ethan moan as the light apparently had reached his eyes as well. She then picked up her cell and answered it. "Sc…Scully."

"Agent Scully, it's Detective Patterson."

"Who?" Scully asked sleepily.

"Detective Patterson, the one who you are helping with the eye-ball serial killer case?"

Scully sat up. "Oh, of course. Forgive me Detective but it is rather late."

"I know and I apologize for the late hour but I assure you I wouldn't have called you if it weren't important."

"What is it, Detective?"

"Laurie Peterson's body was found tonight just outside Harpers Woods."

Scully took a swallow. "What's the condition of her body?"

"It's our serial killer all right. Cuts on various parts of the body and the eyeballs missing."

"Oh god." Scully whispered as she covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Agent Scully. I know she was one of your students. These are the kind of phone calls I don't like to make."

Scully closed her eyes. "No, I…I understand. Could you…please arrange to have her body send to Quantico as soon as possible?"

"I'll get on it right away."

"And Detective? Can I ask….just who found the body?"

"It was reported to the forest ranger by a man who was with her, a Ryan Sedrick."

"Laurie's boyfriend? He found her body?"

"That's what I'm being told. They are taking a statement and questioning him as we speak. Would you like me to have him contact you or.."

"No, that's all right. I'll just speak to him in class tomorrow. Thank you, Detective."

"You're welcome, Agent Scully."

Scully hung up her cell and stared straight ahead. She then felt Ethan's hands on her shoulders.

"What is it baby?" Ethan asked as he massaged her.

"My student…the one who asked me to come to her apartment, Laurie is dead."

"Dead?"

"She was found near Harpers Woods apparently by Ryan Sedrick who we were trying to contact earlier in regards to Laurie's whereabouts." She paused. "I've….I've never had a student of mine die before."

"Oh babe. Come here." Ethan replied before taking her into his arms. "No matter what you think, you weren't responsible." He caressed her hair with his fingers. "There is no possible way you could have known she would leave."

"It doesn't matter, Ethan. She called and asked me to protect her. And I failed to accomplish that."

Ethan pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Dana, don't do this to yourself, do you hear me? You were not responsible for what happened. You told Laurie to stay in her apartment didn't you?"

"Well…yes."

"And she chose to leave of her own free will so that leaves your responsibility out. I don't want you to dwell on it anymore ok?"

Scully pulled away from Ethan. "Yeah, well you aren't the one that is going to have to face a class this morning and have to explain what happened, are you?" She then rose from the bed and grabbed her robe from the side of the bed, wrapping it around her.

Ethan sighed as he sat up. "Dana, they aren't going to think you were responsible either. You need to get rid of these thoughts. You shouldn't feel.."

Scully looked back at him. "Do me a favor, Ethan and don't tell me how I should feel all right?" She then headed to the bathroom closing the door behind her.

Ethan fell back on the bed letting out another sigh. "We're going to catch the bastard that did this, Dana!" He shouted toward the bathroom door. "I promise we will!"


The entire morning for Scully had been a nightmare. It was like everyone knew that Laurie had been her student. That the newest victim of the eyeball serial killer was her own student. No one said a word to her and she didn't know what was worse the silence or the fact that they were just too afraid to say anything to her. She almost wished that someone would say something to her so she could break her own silence. And as she made her way to the lecture hall, the students she passed in the hallway just added to her misery. They made eye contact with her but didn't say a word. It was obvious to her now that the media had obviously kept their promise of letting everyone know who the latest victim of the eyeball serial killer was. This was the time when she hated the media. When they would release anything just to get the story. And that was when she despised Ethan's job. Although she knew that Ethan would not do anything purposefully to hurt her. She took a deep breath and opened the double doors, walking into the lecture hall. She could already feel the eyes on her as she walked down the steps and to the front of the class. She placed her briefcase on the table and then faced her students. "Good morning, everyone. I'm sure by now you all know about the unfortunate death of our fellow student, Laurie Peterson. I know this is a particularly difficult situation to deal with. And I wish you to know that I am here if anyone needs to talk. So, if you like we can open this up to discussion?" She paused to see if any hands were raised. To her surprise she found almost all of them go up. She surveyed the room and finally picked one. "Yes, Kevin?"

"Is it true that she wasn't in class yesterday because she was upset at finding the eyeballs in her apartment?"

"Yes, it is. She…contacted me around lunch time yesterday to inform me of that."

"Why did she call you?"

"I don't know the answer to that, Kevin. I guess she felt she could trust me. Next question? Yes, Brad."

"What exactly do they know about the serial killer?"

"Well, so far it's been determined that he is between 20-30 years of age. He…appears to have some knowledge of the anatomy of the eyes based on how they are cut out of his victims. At this time there is no physical description available of him but the police and FBI are working on it. Next question? Yes, Colin."

"Well, I just wanted to know why they have been calling this guy a serial killer since the first victim? I mean for someone to be a serial killer, shouldn't they have killed several times the same way?"

Scully smiled. "That's a good point and I must say brilliant deduction, Colin. You are correct in that, yes a serial killer is referred to as such when they have committed more than one murder using the same method. And in the case of the eyeball serial killer, there have been other cases turning up in another states, indicating that this is the same killer thus making him a serial. You'll be a great profiler, Colin. Anyone else? Yes, Nicole."

"Dr. Scully, I guess the question I want to ask is…who could do such a thing like this to a human being?"

Scully sighed. "Sadly, Nicole I wish that was a question I could answer you. No one can truly know why people commit crimes such as this. Why, someone like Laurie would be targeted over someone else. I honestly don't know." She paused. "I just don't know."


The rest of the class Scully had spent talking with the class about the forensics evidence that had been found so far for the victims. Without disclosing everything she had examined from the first victim, she gave them the basics regarding the cuts and what they appeared to be made with along with the anatomical theory on how the eyes were taken out. She had never expected to spend an entire class session talking about the eyeball serial killer who was responsible for a fellow student's death. But it was also good to not keep something like this bottled up either. Discussion also prompted thinking and could distinguish between fact and fiction as well. She was definitely glad when class was over though. And she was grateful she only had one class to deal with that situation. But she knew that all the other classes that Laurie had been a part of would be going through the exact same thing she had that morning. She made her way to her office and was surprised to see someone else who had been absent this morning besides Laurie. "Ryan?"

Ryan stood up from his chair. "Dr. Scully."

Scully closed her office door. "What…what are you doing here? I thought you were still dealing with the police for questioning about Laurie and how you found her body?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't in class Dr. Scully. I just….I didn't want to have to face the whole class with what happened to Laurie, you know?" He closed his eyes tightly. "I've….I've already dealt with so much since last night when I found her…her…."

Scully walked up and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Ryan, it's ok. I understand why you weren't in class this morning. No one even said anything, I assure you."

Ryan shivered slightly as he felt Scully's touch. "I…I still can't believe this happened to her." He quickly worked up some tears trying to think of something sad. Losing Dana. There that did it. "I'd…I'd planned a romantic night for us."

"Ryan, can you tell me…why did you take Laurie away from her apartment? Did…did she say anything to you about her and I speaking on the phone?"

"She called me and said she found some eyeballs in a box and that she was scared she was going to be the serial killer's next victim. She never said anything about speaking to you though. I only took her away from her apartment because I knew how scared she was. I wanted to try and make her feel safe you know? I swear I wouldn't have taken her away had I known that you told her not to go."

Scully looked at him questioningly. "Ryan, how do you know I told her not to leave? I never said anything about that."

Ok so it appears he slipped a little. But it was nothing he couldn't handle. He wasn't a serial killer for nothing. "Actually when I was at the police station, they told me you had and that you were heading over to her apartment." He had to get her back on his side and quickly. After all, he knew he was dealing with an FBI Agent here potential lover or not. "I'm…I'm really sorry, Dr. Scully. I…I screwed everything up."

Scully's face softened. "Oh Ryan, you didn't screw anything up."

"She…she insisted to run into the woods and me to chase after her. And then we…we got separated and by the time I found her.." He lowered his head and put his hand over his mouth.

Scully pulled Ryan to her hugging him tightly. "Ssssh, it's ok. You don't have to say anything else, Ryan. If I need to know anything else I can read your police statement."

Ryan sighed as his face was pressed so close to Scully's chest. His plan was working perfectly. The death of Laurie was pushing him right into Scully's arms. "I…I had such a nice evening planned tonight. I planned it ahead and everything." He paused. "I…I feel so lost now." He whispered.

Scully took a breath. "Ryan, would…would you mind some company tonight?"

Ryan had to try hard not to chuckle. Everything was falling into place now. "Comp…company?"

"Yes. Because of the stress you've suffered, I just don't think you should be alone. Being alone will only make you think more about what's happened to Laurie. You need…something to take your mind off of that."

"Well, I…I guess that's true."

Scully pulled away from him. "Why don't you come over to my apartment tonight?"

Ryan nearly choked at hearing Scully's offer. Was this too good to be true? "You're…you're apartment?"

"Yes. I can make you a nice dinner and maybe we could watch a movie or something? Or we could just talk? Whichever you want."

"Dr. Scully, I…I couldn't impose on you like that."

"You aren't imposing and I'm the one who invited you, Ryan. It's the least I can do to help you."

"I…I think that would be very nice Dr. Scully but…"

"But?"

"What about your boyfriend?"

"Ethan? Oh, he doesn't live with me. And besides, he will understand why I invited you over given the circumstances. It's just a simple teacher and student get together dealing with a crisis."

She lives alone?Oh this just keeps getting better! "Ok, I just don't want to cause any trouble."

"You won't cause any trouble, Ryan. How about you show up around say….7 o'clock?"

"That…that sounds perfect. Should I bring anything?"

"No, just bring yourself. And Ryan, not wanting to make it seem like I'm ashamed of this or anything but the Academy and FBI might not agree with how I'm handling this. So, I want this to just be between us ok?"

Ryan smiled. "My lips are sealed Dr. Scully. I wouldn't dream of saying anything to get you in trouble."

"Thank you, Ryan." Scully answered with a smile back. "So, see you at seven then?"

"You can count on it, Dr. Scully. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Right, well I'll see you tonight then."

"Til tonight." Ryan answered before backing up slowly from her and heading out the door. Oh trust me, Dana. It will be a night you will NEVER forget. He gave an evil smile before starting down the hallway.