Act VI – Breakup

While Scully waited for the results from the skin tests to come in, Dr. Harrington's hovering and his increasing interest in her wound annoyed her.

"Dana, let me look at it. I'm a doctor, like yourself. With all that is going on, a second opinion may not be so bad." Ben Harrington rubbed his neck. "I'll be frank. I'm worried that you are going to end up like these other girls. Colsyn Bane has his eye on you. That alone is enough for me to be concerned."

She sighed. "Ben, I appreciate it, but it is just a flesh wound." She briefly unwrapped it. "See? Nothing special." It was still bleeding, but not as bad as it was. What Scully didn't want to admit is that since this injury happed over 2 hours ago, it should have coagulated by now. The fact that it hasn't filled her with anxiety, but she wasn't giving the town gossip that information.

"Don't you think it should have stopped bleeding already? How did you get it?" Harrington looked at her suspiciously.

"It's fine, Ben. When the results come in…" Scully stopped as the devil, himself, walked through the door. Colsyn Bane approached her and Harrington rushed to stand in front of her.

"What do you want, Bane?" Ben put on a good show of bravery.

Cole was calm. "I want to talk to Dana. You don't have a problem with that—do you, Doctor?"

"Uh…" Harrington looked to Scully for guidance.

"It's okay, Ben." Scully said and waved Cole over to a corner of the office. "Why are you here?" she whispered in a hushed voice. "Dr. Harrington already suspects you of Cynthia's murder."

"I know." Cole ruffled his blond hair. "I didn't kill her, Dana. I swear. However, I am here to warn you that there are forces that are dangerous to you and your partner." He frowned. "What is this?" Cole lifted her injured hand. "How did you get this?"

"It was happenstance. No need to worry." Scully tried to shrug it off, but she didn't fool Cole.

"Tell me how you got it." It was a soft demand and with Cole's green eyes boring into her, Scully felt compelled to obey.

"A woman attacked me in the woods. She warned me to stay away."

"From what?"

"I don't know." Scully felt like she was reciting, unable to turn away from Cole's brilliant green eyes.

"Let me see."

Scully didn't know why she did, but she unwrapped the bandage and showed Cole the cut. His face immediately darkened and he unexpectedly kissed the still bleeding wound. "I'm sorry, Dana. I'll take care of this." Cole stared Harrington into lowering his head, then headed out the door. Scully re-wrapped the cut.

"That was odd." Ben said watching Scully carefully. "He seemed upset that you were hurt."

A courier arrived at the door. Scully couldn't have been more grateful. "Look! The test results have arrived!"

XXXXXXXX

Mulder went to see Captain Impala. He didn't expect the man to accept his take of vampires, seriously, but he did. Mari Pakak said he needed foot soldiers. The only ones around were local law enforcement. He hoped he was betting on the right horse.

"Agent Mulder, as I mentioned when we first met, the locals have their theory and I'm not 100% opposed to it, but that doesn't mean I swallow it whole either. I've done some checking on you and Agent Scully and your X-File Division specializes in this sort of thing. That's why they sent you—isn't it?"

"Dr. Harrington told Scully that you didn't call for us. Is that true?"

The trooper gave Mulder the full brunt of his black eyes. "Yeah, that's true. I don't like the Feds messing in local matters. Someone obviously felt differently. What I do find odd is that Dana Scully happens to be old friends with our suspect and not just old friends, but old GIRLfriends. How deeply is she involved in this?"

Mulder was honest. "She hasn't had prior contact with Colsyn Bane for 12 years, but someone—or something—brought her here and I think she is in danger." He sighed. "Okay, Captain. I'm going to lay it out because I need someone on my side right now and there are few options."

"Are you suggesting that I'm involved?"

"I'm not sure, but I have to trust someone. Can I trust you to protect Scully?"

Impala sized Mulder up again. "I'm the law around here. I protect everyone. If you have something to say—say it."

"I think Colsyn Bane is a vampire and those missing girls were turned into vampires—voluntarily—and that he is trying to turn Scully into one too."

The Captain leaned back. "Ah. So, the rumors about the X-Files Division are true."

"We also have an 85% solve rate, but, yeah—something like that." Mulder was defiant. Either this man helped or he didn't.

"Ok, let's assume I buy this scenario. What do you intend to do about it?"

Mulder was a little heartened by the trooper's behavior. Most times, he was instantly dismissed as a crackpot, but Impala was taking him seriously. "I want to find the women and Colsyn Bane is the key to that. I think we should set up a trap where they come to him."

Impala smirked. "Let's say we get them and they are vampires. Then what?"

"We have to destroy them."

"I'm not sure I can do that. Some might call that murder, Agent Mulder. Explaining to a Federal judge that we killed 4 women because they were suspected of being undead—isn't going to cut it."

"If they are vampires, their bodies would have technically died already. The infusion of blood gives them the appearance of life. When an autopsy is done, they will be decayed corpses."

The Captain chuckled. "Well, forgive me if I don't swallow that one. However, I've suspected that the women are living nearby for a while. I think they are waiting until after the breakup to leave."

"Breakup?" Mulder was curious.

"Breakup happens during springtime in Alaska. It's the time of year when the frozen rivers break apart and flow again. In town, the snow melts, leaving enormous puddles, dirty cars, and generally quite a mess. It's not a great time of year to travel in the backcountry because the snowpack is gone but the ground hasn't dried out yet. I don't think the women would have wandered far without transportation. Your partner confirmed there is at least one in the area."

Mulder didn't say anything. He knew that the lawman would figure out that Scully saw more than she told.

Impala rose and poured coffee that smelled like it was brewed from cow manure. "I know Dr. Harrington suspects Bane and you do too. I don't think he is innocent in this mess either." He sipped the vile brew. "I'm on board with using him as bait to bring the women out, but I won't let him kill anyone on my watch. When I marked the site where Ms. Scully got hurt, I saw a cave of sorts. They might be there. I'll arrest Colsyn Bane as a material witness and we'll take him out to that spot to see what happens. Most of the sightings have been at night, so we will do it then."

"Sightings?" Mulder was upset. "You knew that the women have been seen before?"

The lawman put his feet on his desk. "That kind of thing doesn't make good conversation—does it? People around here won't say it out loud in case it's true. That's also why I haven't asked for help on this case. Didn't need it. Whoever called you, forced my hand. Nothing wrong with grown women deciding for themselves what's right and what's not. I'm not too sure they are 'missing', if you get my drift."

Mulder was incensed. "You could have mentioned this before."

Vee was unaffected. "What would be the point? The Feds decided there was something to investigate—let them investigate. They only reason I'm concerned at all is what happened to Cynthia and now your partner." The giant stood. "We'll do it tonight. Meet me here about 8pm. I'll have Cole and we'll see what happens."

Being dismissed, Mulder walked out of the trooper post and headed for the doctor's office. Things just got a little weirder.