Repeating myself; The X-Files, Scully and Mulder belong to Chris Carter, I've no claim on them whatsoever.
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Chapter six
Don't Give Up
Calgary, Canada
April, 21st 2008
"What do you know about the Blackfeet Indians, Scully?" Turning his head, he took his eyes of the road and glared at her instead.
It had been a peaceful and eventless morning, William anxious of getting in school on time, had paid little attention to their leaving. Scully had wanted to reassure her son that everything would be ok, instead it had been the other way around; William had looked her deeply in the eyes and told her he still would be there, when they came home. It had been a taste of his 'sense' which Molly had talked about. It hadn't scared Sully just sadden and worried her. There had been power behind her son's words, he believed them and strangely, she did too, at least for now. Now sitting in the rental car she focused on the man next to her.
"The Blackfeet Nation has never been at war with the Government, the army never dared to attack due to the savage reputation of the Blackfeet warriors. Therefore the tribe has some of their original land today. Addiction and abuse are servere problems for the Indians, most are poor but it's not the poorest tribe. A lot of teenage girls become pregnant before they reach the age of 18."
Reaching for the file on the backseat she gave him a quick glaze, "why?"
This time, keeping his eyes on the road, he answered. "It doesn't say why two Indian men left their Reserve to go to Europe"
"I'm sure you've a theory!" Opening the file, she looked at the photographs of the
seven young, deceased men, none had reached the age of 23.
"I think its religious murders. Think about it, seven young men, who had devoted themselves to their faith, died after participating in a ritual that the church considers heathen. Did they piss off someone within the church or someone outside? Was it someone who didn't think they were welcome in the sweat lodge? I have little doubt they died from religious grounds."
"How did they die, Mulder? The doors and windows were locked from inside. Maybe we should look at the possibility of mass suicide or an accident. There are numerous examples of cults choosing mass suicide, we've seen it before. I admit, it's change they did it in a rectory, but mass suicide in religious places are not unusual."
"You could be right, Scully, maybe it was a mass suicide but then it's still on religious grounds. And it doesn't answer my question of what two Indians men were doing in England"
"No it doesn't, but you know people do travel. People actually travel outside America; we are the only ones, who always run around the states, but never anywhere else." Sighing, she focused on the file again.
"Where would you like to travel, Scully?" He sounded surprised.
Breathing deeply, she hesitated, someday she wanted to slow down and forget all about conspiracy plans and aliens and just live a normal life, "well, I err, it would be nice to see London again. I've always liked the city"
"You do? When were you in London, Scully?"
"Years ago, before I met you." Feeling his hot glare on her, she continued, "Ethan and I spent two weeks in London a few months before I was assigned to the X-Files."
"I see"
Taken aback, she studied his profile; "see what, Mulder?"
"Your relationship was more serious than I thought."
"We were together for two years, the same as you and Diana were."
"Two years is a long time, Scully!"
"Yeah, well, then our relationship is ancient" She couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice. He wasn't making any sense, two years was nothing to the years they had spent together. For God sake; they had a seven year old son!
He didn't reply, following his example, she returned to the files case.
After a while he found his voice again, "do we know anything about the Blackfeet which cannot be found in simple statistics?"
"No not really. Albert Hosteen taught me a few things about their religion, but he wasn't Blackfoot, and he didn't call it their religion but their spirituality. He often spoke of the grandfathers, I never really thought about it.
"It doesn't help us much but my hunch is we are dealing with religious grounds here, Scully."
The Blood Reserve
April, 21st 2008
For a few hours they followed the Crowsnest Highway, Finally, the sign 'Coalhurst' came into sight, this very small town was located just 9 miles west of Lethbridge. Their map told them to turn right just before reaching Coalhurst, which Mulder did, it made Scully sighed deeply; they just missed their change of buying some cold drinks at the gas station located just after the town sign. It shouldn't surprise her that Mulder didn't even think about refreshments, when he was on to something he would forgo simple needs.
"Scully, something's wrong?"
"It would've been nice with something to drink, we don't know when we get the opportunity again."
Smiling he turned his head to her, "you could've told me, you know." He knew she got a little tense when she was hungry or thirsty.
Grabbing his hand in hers, she smiled back, "I know. "
Passing the sign 'Blood Reserve' they saw miles of flat land on each side of the road. On their right side they spotted a native gas station. Without hesitation Mulder turned right and slowly drove over the steel bars in the ground, they kept cattle and deer out of the gas station. It was a small and simple gas station, the shop was a wooden house and there was only one gas tank, which was placed above the ground.
A few locals were giving them the cold stare; it was obvious they weren't welcome. They were now on Indian land and were considered the wrong colour. Scully felt the hostility and distrust directed at them, the only two white people.
They were getting a taste of how it was to be a Native in a 'white' world, shivering slightly, Scully found confidence in her badge and weapon.
Mulder looked around, taking in their surroundings, it was depressing; the faces he briefly passed were lacking hope and directions in life, and the gas station was decaying.
She followed him into the shop, just inside large bottles of water were stored, they were covered in a thick layer of dust and some of them were leaking, she guessed there wasn't a big market for bottled water. Walking further into the shop, shelters with candy bars and chips came into view. Scanning the place, she found nothing but sucker filled products, nothing healthy seemed to find its way into this shop. On the right side of the shop a couple of refrigerators decorated the wall; it was freshly stored drinks, relieved she chose a coca cola and a bottle of still water. On her way to the counter, she decided for a peanuts bar and a Snickers bar.
The man behind the counter looked dully at her, making no attempt of serving her. She might as well have been thin air from the look he gave her. Exhaling, she cleared her voice, it had no effect. Mulder approached the counter and stood next to her, still there was no reaction from the man; they were being politely ignored. Clearing his voice, Mulder asked, "can to give us the directions to Standoff?"
When the man didn't make any attempt of replying the simple answer, Mulder reached into his pocket and found his badge. Flipping it open he waved it in front the man. "Agents Mulder and Scully! The way to Standoff and the bill, please."
Breaking his numbness, the man acknowledged their presences, reluctantly he offered, "follow the road and turn left. 8 dollars for it all."
Searching his pocket Mulder came up with a five dollar bill, "do you have any change, Scully?"
Finding some loose coins in her pocket she threw them on the counter, she felt no need to find her purse in here. "Thank you" she said before turning away, the mute man returned to ignoring them.
Buckling up, she gave the gas station a final look, "guess we're not welcome on the prairie."
"And we didn't even bring our cowboy boots and hats!"
Continuing on the main road they saw nothing but more flat land only broken by the many small oil wells spread across the land. Indeed, this was prairie land.
After a good drive, they came to Standoff, turning left they followed the road to a round building, it was beautiful decorated with Native patterns. It was clearly a newer building with a longer building added to it and a sign saying 'Kainai Tribe Reserve" It was obviously a centre for children and elder people.
Stepping out of the car, Scully stretched her body, it had been a long drive, close to five hours and she was hungry, the sucker products hadn't provided much help to that fact. Those car rides had been her life once, now, after a six years break, her body had forgotten the harshness of always running and infrequently meals. Only her sleeping habits hadn't changed over the years, often neither of them could sleep much. And well, honestly, she often had forgotten to eat at the hospital too.
"Let's see if we can find somebody who knows Two Feathers or Flying Eagle" Mulder had come up next to her, smiling she nodded.
Mulder chose the door to the centre of elderly, the door was open and muffled voices came from the inside. The corridor leaded to a large room with people sitting around a few round tables, all were staring down in front of them. In the top of the room a man called numbers out, they were playing bingo. In between the numbers were called lively talks could be heard.
When Mulder knocked on the open door all talking stopped and at least twenty pair of heads turned in their directions, a few friendly but most expressed sceptical and unwelcoming.
"Agents Scully and Mulder, we are with the FBI. May we come in?" Showing her badge, she raised her eyebrow in question.
"You can come in. Why are you here?"
Stepping into the room Scully directed her focus to the man who spoke, she assumed he was around 50 years, his hair was whitening, giving him a salt and pepper look. He wore a cowboy shirt and old jeans. His overweight was centred on his stomach. By his tone of voice, she could tell he was used to being heard when he spoke. But there wasn't anything demanding in his figure or tone of voice, more than anything he appeared… she couldn't find the word… humble was the closest she came.
"We would like to ask you about two men, Two Feathers and Flying Eagle. Do you know them?" She approached the table the elderly man sat at. Mulder followed behind her.
"You mean Jim Casey and Joe Taylor, sure I know them"
"And who would you be, Mr?" Mulder asked.
"I'm Joe Taylor, just call me Joe."
"Could we speak to you, Mr. Taylor?" Scully inquired.
"If you will let me finish this round I will speak to you."
Giving Scully a quick amusing glaze Mulder replied. "We will wait in the car, Mr. Taylor."
Outside in the spring sun Scully shrugged her shoulders, it was still chilly in the weather and there was some left over snow refusing to melt, making everything a bit muddy and depressing. Stretching her body again, she felt the soreness of her lower back; she was used to standing on her two feet for hours not sitting.
Slowly, she walked in the direction of the playground; it was partly visually through the fence that surrounded part of the centre, immediately her thoughts turned to William. Smiling softly, she found her cell phone and dialled their home number, after a few rings her mother answered. In the background she could hear the distant sounds of William's favourite movie Cars, whishing she could be with him right now, she relaxed, when her mother assured her, he was okay and didn't cry for them. He had accepted they would be away for a few days. Understanding her daughter, her mother called William to the phone. Scully was relieved, when she heard his small, happy voice telling her he was okay, in the same breath he asked if he please could watch his movie. Laughing, she told him that she would call him before his bedtime.
"Is he okay"
"Very fine, his movie is more interesting than his mother" She looked up at him.
Pushing a stray of hair away from her eyes he smiled down at her, "don't tell me, Cars?"
Enjoying his closeness she just nodded her head.
"Ah, it's hard to compete with a movie about cars, don't take it personally."
Giggling, she rolled her eyes, "thank you, I won't next time you watch it."
"Hey, this wasn't about me!"
"Mr. Mulder and Ms. Scully, I'm ready now. I will take you to my house." Without waiting for their reply, Joe Taylor crawled into his truck and turned the engine on. After a final glance at each other they headed for their car, within seconds they drove down the same road they had come from. Joe Taylor turned right at the main road, they were going back. After half an hour Joe Taylor blinked to the left, leaving the main road, they followed a dusty gravel road, which seemed to lead nowhere.
"Out here you can see who will visit you days before they show up at your doorstep." Mulder looked at Scully.
"Nothing is so bad that's it isn't good for something, I guess." Never taking her eyes of the road she first spotted the house in front of them, it was a prefabricated house of an older date, but it was well taken care of. It was painted light sky blue, on a field behind the house two horses were grassing.
To her right she saw something covered with blankets, not giving it much thoughts, she focused on Mulder, "guess the road stops here."
"Maybe they ran out of gravel. " He smirked
"It's beautiful and peaceful out here," she admitted.