From: Katvictory57@aol.com   
      
   TITLE: This Could Be Heaven Or This Could Be Hell Post 4 of 6   
   AUTHOR: Katvictory   
   RATING: I'd go NC17. Some nasty words. Violence.   
   CATEGORY: X-File, Angst, Alternate Universe, MT   
   SPOILERS: Clear up to "The Unnatural."   
   SUMMARY: Set in the "Into The Mystic" universe. Mulder's and Scully's   
   manhunt for a body swapping serial killer leads them to El Cajon,   
   California and a whole lotta trouble.   
   DISCLAIMERS: You know the drill -- Mr. Carter owns these people. He   
   owns the universe where they live. I expect no money. The song lyrics   
   quoted by Mulder ad nauseam are from "Hotel California" by Eagles   
   Frye and Henley. The lyrics Mulder sings to Scully are from "Only The   
   Good Die Young" by Billy Joel. I offer these artists the same   
   assurances I do Mr. Carter. I make no claim of ownership and expect   
   no money.   
   THANK YOU: So many to thank: Roda93, Idigomuse & Mori who rolled up   
   their sleeves and got their hands dirty doing the hard part, making   
   me a little less ignorant. And again, to Amy, Indi, Mori, Rae,   
   Laurie -- special people who encourage, badger, read, edit, burp me,   
   change me, and are my friends. Thank you!   
   This story is dedicated to Wong and Morgan, El Cajon Valley High   
   School Class of 1979. That's what hooked me on X-Files, learning that   
   we all attended ECVHS. The El Cajon, CA portrayed in this story is   
   pure fantasy, memories of a misspent youth. No relation to any town,   
   living or dead.   
   FEEDBACK: Please! Katvictory57@aol.com   
   Katvictory ECVHS Class of 1975   
   Go Braves!!!   
      
   "We Are All Just Prisoners Here Of Our Own Device"   
      
   Mulder overslept and Scully had to wake him. The monsignor was due to   
   arrive in 20 minutes. Through the open, connecting doorway between   
   their rooms, she could hear him singing in the shower along with VH1.   
   He was crooning, oddly enough, "Only the Good Die Young." She   
   remembered that song. She hated it.   
   "You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation   
   You got a brand new soul and a cross of gold   
   But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information   
   You didn't count on me   
   When you were counting on your rosary"   
   She barely had time to smother her smile when she heard the soft pad   
   of his feet on the carpet. Clad only in a towel, he was standing at   
   the door, a devilish gleam in his eye. Water dripped from his wet   
   hair, running in rivulets down his bare chest.   
   "They say there's a heaven for those who will wait.   
   Some say it's better but I say it ain't.   
   I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints,   
   Sinners are much more fun,   
   And only the good die young."   
   "Don't give up your day job," Scully retorted, keeping her face   
   impassive and trying to ignore the way the droplets clung to his   
   skin, making it glisten. "You need to get dressed; the monsignor will   
   be here any minute. This doesn't exactly look professional."   
   Mulder offered her his largest grin. "Okay, Virginia." He laughed and   
   closed the door behind him singing loud enough for her to hear,   
   "Come on Virginia show me a sign.   
   Send up a signal, I'll throw you a line.   
   The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind   
   Never lets in the sun.   
   And only the good die young."   
   Her muffled laugh was the sign he'd been looking for and he dressed   
   with a satisfied smile.   
      
   **************   
      
   The monsignor arrived promptly at 9 a.m. Scully's smile of greeting   
   was returned by the tall, gray-haired man. Monsignor Robert Kieran   
   was a tanned, fit 65-year-old; a transplanted Bostonian, who had   
   embraced California's warmth with his entire being.   
   "Fox Mulder!" Kieran exclaimed, pumping the agent's arm with   
   exuberance, "I can't believe I'm finally getting to meet you! I've   
   followed your work for years!"   
   Mulder cast an embarrassed eye at his partner and thought he   
   heard "Your work?" muttered softly under her breath, but he wasn't   
   sure.   
   "So, what have you discovered that makes you think it's Melvin Wolfe   
   that's killing these people?" the monsignor questioned bluntly.   
   Scully motioned for him to sit, surprised by the man's penchant for   
   getting right to the point.   
   "We don't really consider him a suspect," she began to explain.   
   "But something about him bothers you?" Kieran's blue gaze cut   
   intensely into her and she could only nod.   
   "Monsignor, Father Wolfe's response to questioning, his demeanor,   
   drew our concern," Mulder replied quickly. Scully nodded, agreeing   
   with his answer.   
   Kieran studied the partners, silently sizing up the situation. When   
   he spoke again his eyes had softened. "I'll take your word for it.   
   You believe something isn't right with Melvin? "   
   The two agents nodded in unison.   
   "Father Wolfe would be the last person I'd think capable of a crime   
   like this. St. Elizabeth's was my parish. I knew him for five years   
   before I left. Melvin is what you might call "a gentle giant." He's   
   one of the most soft-hearted people I've ever met."   
   Again the partners exchanged glances, remembering the surly,   
   belligerent man they'd encountered.   
   "I take it that wasn't the impression he left you with," The   
   monsignor smiled, reading the partners' expressions.   
   "Sir, his eyes never left my chest," Scully exclaimed quickly,   
   shocking both the priest and her partner. She seemed somewhat   
   embarrassed by her hastily uttered statement, and cast her eyes to   
   the floor, angry that her cheeks betrayed her feelings.   
   "Agent Scully, something is wrong then," Kieran agreed with a faint   
   smile. "The Father Wolfe I know never had a problem resisting the   
   sins of the flesh."   
   "He seemed very agitated, distracted during our talk," Scully   
   offered.   
   "Again, that's not Melvin," the priest chuckled. "Maybe I should go   
   see what I think."   
   "Monsignor, what are your views on possession?" Mulder interrupted.   
   The room grew quiet. At first, both pairs of eyes focused on Mulder.   
   He returned their gazes with a calm, if somewhat curious, stare.   
   Kieran glanced to Scully and she found herself looking at the floor,   
   wishing that suddenly a hole would appear and she would be swallowed   
   up. She could not believe Mulder had asked that of a priest. The rite   
   of exorcism, especially after the handling of the film industry, had   
   become an embarrassment for the Church.   
   The priest's shock turned to amusement. "Okay, what else would I   
   expect from Agent Fox Mulder of the X-Files? I can't believe I'm   
   sitting here talking to you. I can't wait to get on the Internet   
   tonight. No one's gonna believe this."   
   It was Mulder's turn to blush and look for a safe crevice to crawl   
   into. Before he was able to find one, however, the monsignor   
   continued. "So, you believe that Melvin Wolfe is possessed?"   
   Her partner's answer interested Scully greatly, though she now   
   realized what it was going to be. Scully silently prayed Mulder would   
   save her this shame and lie to Monsignor Kieran. That, of course, was   
   not going to happen.   
   "I don't know if this even would be classified as possession, Sir,"   
   Mulder admitted, totally oblivious to his partner's chagrin. "I just   
   know that the priest we met yesterday might look like Father Wolfe,   
   but there is somebody else inside."   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)