C019D9C090E03@comcast.net> 186dbdbf   
   Title - Decoding the Enigma   
   Authors - Amy Jonas and MagsRose   
   E-mail - adjonas2000@yahoo.com or magsrose@comcast.net   
   Rating - FRT-13 (PG - 13)   
   Category - AU/Gen/Het   
   Archive - Just let us know.   
   Feedback - Yes, please. Any kind is always welcome. We just like to know   
   someone is reading this stuff.   
   Disclaimer - Without Prejudice. The names of all characters contained here in   
   are the property of Chris Carter, et. al. No infringements of these copyrights   
   are intended, and are used here without permission. All original characters   
   are the sole property    
   of Mags or Amy and may not be used without the author's permission.   
   Summary - In 1940, Private Investigator, Melvin Frohike thought he was working   
   on a simple missing person case but he soon found himself embroiled in   
   something far more sinister.   
   Authors' notes - After seeing the Maltese Falcon, Amy presented Mags with an   
   idea for The X-Files characters in an Alternate Universe.  Intrigued by the   
   possibilities, Mags suggested a co-authoring effort.  The result is the story   
   you see here.  Thanks    
   to Erynn and Alison for betaing this for us.   
      
      
      
      
   Chapter 17   
      
   Frohike closed his eyes, rubbing the heels of his palms into them.  The few   
   hours of stolen sleep had done little to beat back his exhaustion. What he   
   wouldn't give for about twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep in his own bed.   
      
   “I’m going to track down Alex Krycek!”   
      
   Agent Doggett’s sudden determined growl pulled Frohike's attention back to the   
   discussion at hand.  He glanced around the room, seeing the intensity on   
   everyone’s faces.  They seemed no closer to agreement than when they started.   
      
   “Do you really think you'd be able to find him?" Jimmy asked. He was still   
   sitting on the edge of the autopsy table. "He's gotta be with that Fletcher   
   guy and the professor, wherever they're hiding."   
      
   Byers just shook his head.  "I firmly believe we need to wait until we hear   
   from them," he said, trying to be the voice of reason. "We don't want to take   
   a chance of them hurting or killing Professor Langly and if we actively search   
   for him, they may do    
   just that."   
      
    Frohike thought he saw Yves flinch at this statement.  Throughout the   
   discussion, he’d noticed that she watched and listened, but made no   
   suggestions nor offered any opinions. He didn't trust her silence and swore   
   he'd keep an eye on that situation.   
      
   He shifted in his chair causing a bolt of pain to shoot up his leg.  He   
   gritted his teeth until it subsided.  Dammit!  He was beginning to feel like   
   an invalid with this bum leg. He strongly suspected the trip down the stairs   
   from Jimmy's apartment had    
   ripped out a few of the stitches.  He had no intention of saying anything   
   about it, especially to Dana.   She had warned him to stay off his feet to   
   give the wound time to heal.  It would just make her worry.   
      
   At the thought of the red headed doctor, Mel glanced apprehensively at the   
   door to the hallway willing it to open. She had been gone far too long.  If   
   she didn't return in the next three minutes, he was going to go look for her.   
      
   To his relief, the door did open at that moment. Dana stepped inside holding   
   the door for the man behind her.   
      
   "Mulder?" Frohike said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"   
      
   "Where the hell have you been?" Mulder demanded.   
      
   Byers, Doggett, and Jimmy stopped talking and, along with Yves, turned to   
   stare at the newcomer.   
      
   "Mr. Mulder, please," Dr. Scully said standing in front of him, reaching out   
   to him. "You're not thinking straight. You need to calm down and carefully   
   consider what you're saying."   
      
   "What's the problem here?" Frohike asked Dana as he rose laboriously from his   
   chair.   
      
   "It's all your fault," Mulder declared shaking off Scully's restraining hand.   
   "You couldn't make a phone call, a simple phone call, to let us know where you   
   were!"   
      
   "I have no idea what you're talking about," Frohike said. This behavior was so   
   unlike the Mulder he knew. The man was usually slow to anger and, on most   
   occasions, shook it off quickly.   
      
   "I'm talking about Maggie," Mulder said sweeping his arm out in a wide arch   
   causing Dana to move away from him. "When I couldn't find you, I went to   
   Maggie's place to ask if she'd seen you." He moved closer to Frohike as he   
   ranted. "She got worried too    
   and went out to your office hoping you'd be there. Someone got to her: one of   
   your sleazy clients no doubt." He stopped in front of Frohike, towering over   
   him.   
      
   "She's hurt?" Frohike asked instantly concerned. "Where is she? Did you take   
   her to the hospital?"   
      
   "She's here!"   
      
   "What the hell did you bring her here for?" Frohike shouted, not quite   
   matching Mulder's volume.   
      
   The look of incredulity of Mulder's face quickly turned to one of rage. "How   
   can you be so goddamn thick?" He grabbed the front of Frohike's jacket. "She's   
   dead and it's all your fault!" Mulder shoved Frohike backwards. He staggered,   
   barely catching    
   himself on the edge of the counter.   
      
   Doggett moved quickly to get behind Mulder. The FBI agent grabbed him from   
   under his armpits, locking his hands behind the police officer's head. "Wha…"   
   Mulder squawked in surprise as he was pulled off balance when Doggett backed   
   him away from Frohike.   
      
   "You crossed the line there, Buddy," Doggett said right in his ear. "You need   
   to go somewhere and calm down." He released Mulder, spinning him around and,   
   with a strong grip on his upper arm, led him out the door.   
      
   Frohike felt everyone’s eyes on him.  He pushed himself away from the counter   
   not even registering the pain in his leg.   
      
   Dana moved toward him.  “Mel…”   
      
   “No!” he said, his voice a rough whisper. He stepped away from her. It wasn’t   
   true.  He wouldn’t accept it.  “No,” he said again louder as if denying it   
   would make it a lie but the sympathy in Dana’s eyes told him otherwise.  He   
   turned his back on her.     
   He couldn't accept her pity. He didn't want it nor did he deserve it. "Where   
   is she?" he finally asked.   
      
   "She's still in the admittance bay," said Dana softly "Do you want me to take   
   you to her?"   
      
   "No," he said. "I need do this alone."   
      
      
      
   * * * * *   
      
   Agent Doggett opened the first unlocked door he found and pushed Mulder   
   inside.  He stepped through the door himself, closing it behind him as other   
   man whirled around, his face tense and angry at the rough treatment.   
      
   “Who the hell do you think you are?” Mulder growled, shoving his hand inside   
   his coat to retrieve his badge.  Mulder went on without waiting for a reply.    
   “I’m a police officer." Belatedly, he remembered he’d been stripped of his   
   shield and his status    
   when he’d been suspended. The reminder of the loss fueled the turbulent anger   
   and grief inside him.  He withdrew his hand and glared at the other man who   
   stood in front of the door like a prison guard, watching him calmly.  “Who are   
   you?” he asked again,    
   sounding almost defensive.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)