------------------------

Thursday, June 28, 2001, 6:26 pm
A trailhead at the edge of Grimm National Forest,
Northwestern US.

------------------------

Kyle and Adam live in a small town, and are students at the local high school. Tonight, they stand next to the car on the side of the road, looking into the thick, dense woods.

Kyle looks into the trees, a worried expression on his face. "Dude, I ain't going in there. You go in there."

Adam snickers. "I thought you said you didn't believe it?" A car passes by, the engine momentarily drowning out the singing of the birds.

"That nonsense about these woods being haunted? As if." Kyle shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "It's just, it's just, it's starting to get dark, you know?"

"I heard there's a witch and that the house is made of candy."

"Dude, that's a fairy tale, man. Wrong Grimm." Kyle rolls his eyes, says, "Gimme five minutes." Pointing his finger at Adam's chest, he adds, "And when I get back, you're snagging me a beer." He starts down the dirt path.

------------------------

Thursday, June 28, 2001, 10:45 pm
Same place

------------------------

It is dark. Standing next to the police tape, the sheriff and Adam are illuminated only by the rotating light on top of the cruiser. The sheriff says, "Don't worry, Adam. I called the FBI. They have people who deal with these sorts of things. We'll find Kyle."

"What sorts of things?"

"You know, the aliens that come to these woods."

Adam turns his gaze from the trail to the sheriff. "It's not aliens, it's a witch. Everybody knows that."

"Everybody's wrong. I've heard the stories all my life. Old Mrs. Phillips? Her son was abducted many years ago. Right in these very woods." He clicks his pen and starts writing. "I need to file a missing persons report. What was he wearing?"

"Uh, er…" Adam thinks for a moment. "Jeans and a black tee-shirt. The shirt said Creed on it. Oh, and he had on that stupid Mickey Mouse watch, like always."

The sheriff wrote on his little pad. "Now, I called his name and he didn't answer. He's probably already, uh, far away," he said, pointing at the dark night sky. "You want to tell his mother?"

"Dude, he didn't get abducted. He just went in there to look for the witch. I'm telling you, she's going to eat him."

"Son, witches don't eat people. Now, let's go. The FBI will deal with it."

Adam grabbed the sheriff's arm. "Dude! It's your job! Don't be chicken, go find him!"

But, taking one last look around the woods, the sheriff says, "Let's go. Now!"

<cue XF theme song>

------------------------

SummerSnows> Friday, June 29, 2001, 10:13 am

SummerSnows> The same trailhead as yesterday at the edge of Grimm National Forest.

Brandi> I'm back! sorry, they made me try on these HORRIBLE white jeans they found

Brandi> ugh

SummerSnows> easy way to get rid of them, spill something on them :)

SummerSnows> Anyway...

SummerSnows> Though the police tape is still tied to the trees at the trailhead, the only ones here are Mulder, Scully, and Skinner.

Brandi> Ok, I'm in character now... I'm Mulder and Scully right? Sorry to interrupt :-)

SummerSnows> Yes.

SummerSnows> Skinner has been telling them the details of the case, few as they are. The kid's name is Kyle Weisler. Seventeen years old. Last seen wearing a black shirt that says Creed, jeans, and a Mickey Mouse watch. A witness says he walked down this trail and never came out.

SummerSnows> Skinner: "This isn't so much a case that nobody can solve as a case that nobody wants. Ergo, an X-File."

Brandi> Mulder: "I know the feeling. Who was in charge here? I think we need to talk to the kid that was with him."

SummerSnows> Skinner: "The local sheriff was in charge." He shrugs. "It's a small town. There's only one officer. The kid gave a statement."

SummerSnows> You can hear sounds of birds from the forest.

Brandi> Scully: (flipping through notes) I think his name is Adam Wrent... long time friends since grammar school, he knew Kyle better than anyone.

Brandi> Mulder to Skinner: Let's get a transcript of Adam's statement before going to speak to him... how many men are in the woods?

Brandi> Scully to Mulder: Any theories I would take seriously? (arched eyebrow)

Brandi> (OT) LOL

SummerSnows> Skinner blinks through his glasses. "I'll go ask the sheriff for the transcript. In the meantime, why don't you look around?"

SummerSnows> Skinner gets in the car and leaves.

Brandi> Mulder and Scully walk off, away from the assorted police folk hanging about.

Brandi> Scully speaks first

SummerSnows> This is what you see as you enter the woods

SummerSnows> <image URL>

SummerSnows> BTW, there were no other cops around. There's only one sheriff in the nearby small town and he was too scared to come back out to the area. :)

Brandi> Scully: Let me guess, Mulder. Kyle is the unfortunate victim of an abduction. Right now Kyle is flying co-pilot with assorted little GRAY men, relishing the fact that he will miss his history final tomorrow.

Brandi> Scully ends condescending diction, Mulder smirks. Classic M/S banter ensues before going into woods

Brandi> Mulder: (appreciative laugh) I wish that were true, Scully. But I have reason to believe that it's not. Come on, I'll tell you why as we walk. (looks down at her tiny shoes)... Did you bring your hiking boots?

Brandi> They walk into the woods, precariously stepping over felled boughs and pine cones as large as cantaloupes.

Brandi> Scully ducks under a low slung branch: Ok Mulder, enlighten me.

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, the woods are filled with mystery. Since the beginning of time the forest has been synonymous with folk lore... trolls, demons, lost spirits finding shelter in the lush cover of nature. Totems, Scully, sought solace in the souls of trees before crossing over into the great hereafter.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, what do these bedtime stories have to do with anything?

Brandi> Mulder: Ha! Scully, now you're on to something...

Brandi> Scully: On to what (perplexed look, another eyebrow)

Brandi> Mulder: Bedtime stories, Scully. Ever hear of Hansel and Gretel?

SummerSnows> Speaking of Hansel & Gretel...

SummerSnows> There is a pile of shiny white pebbles by a bush just up the dirt trail.

Brandi> Scully skips over a small washed out trench, Mulder easily striding over it with his long gait.

Brandi> Scully begins: Mulder, I can't believe you're actually consi...

Brandi> Mulder?

Brandi> Mulder: Scully! Get over here...

Brandi> She looks to find him off to the side, examining something white.

Brandi> She goes over to take a look.

Brandi> Mulder looks up, eyes shining like a kid on Christmas morning.

Brandi> Mulder (excitedly): Scully, you know what this is?!!

Brandi> Scully: Rocks, Mulder. It appears to be rocks. A slingshot arsenal for a couple of playful kids?

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, these are not 'rocks', these are Pebbles.

Brandi> Scully: Ok, so they're "pebbles" (she mimics) What's the difference?

Brandi> Mulder: You read much as a kid Scully?

Brandi> Scully: Are you kidding Mulder? Of course I did. Not much else to do on a navy base, why do you ask?

Brandi> Mulder: Because if you'd read much at all, you would know that it was PEBBLES that Hansel and Gretel left on the trail in the story.

Brandi> Scully: (laughing) Mulder you're impossible. You don't mean to tell me this has anything to do with what's happening, do you?

Brandi> Mulder, picking through the pile: Just go with it, Scully (OT--name that ep, LOL)

SummerSnows> (OT - lemme think...)

Brandi> Scully: And IIRC Mulder wasn't it bread crumbs that Hansel and Gretel left?

SummerSnows> Can I cheat? ;)

Brandi> Of course you can, LOL... here's a hint... I've already quoted it today.

Brandi> Mulder: Only at first, Scully. Then they changed. I think. Anyway, petrified bread, white pebbles, it's all frighteningly familiar.

SummerSnows> Okay, well, I must have totally missed the first quote. HT Ghosts Stole Xmas?

Brandi> Scully walks away a few steps, hands on her hips: I don't believe this, Mulder. You think a witch with a sweet tooth ate Kyle Weisler?

Brandi> (OT)--Teso Dos Bichos, LOL... I quoted it on the msg board

SummerSnows> Arg, that's right. I just read that too. *is an airhead*

Brandi> Scully, continuing: Mulder, Kyle was probably intoxicated and went into these woods on a dare. He was poorly dressed and the nights are cool. He's probably curled up under a tree somewhere, hoarse from screaming for help. Weigh the logic, Mulder.

Brandi> Mulder: Sometimes logic doesn't apply.

Brandi> They face off, science against flightiness, each refusing to relent and finally reaching a silent truce.

Brandi> They'll work together for a common goal, how they get there is anyone's guess (and is yet to be seen, Hehe)

Brandi> Mulder: Let's go, Scully. In any event he's still out here. Dead, alive or baked in a batch of brownies.

Brandi> He smirks, she glares, and they continue on the path

Brandi> ~:-)

SummerSnows> brownies, LOL

Brandi> sounds good, doesn't it! *has sweet tooth* :-D

SummerSnows> Hmmm. *also has sweet tooth especially for chocolate*

Brandi> Scully: So let's just say you're right. How do you suppose a "witch" as you call it, has successfully coexisted with nature extremely entirely self sufficient without going unnoticed?

Brandi> And how did she sustain her lovely candy house? The summers are hot, you know.

Brandi> Scully walks ahead of Mulder as he considers his response.

SummerSnows> It is cool in the forest, more humid than on the road or in town. The trees are long, tall, thin. The dense foliage leaves the scrubs and the forest floor in shadow. Or is it getting dark?

SummerSnows> On the trail, there are footprints.

Brandi> They flick on flash lights, swinging back and forth in searchlight fashion.

Brandi> Before Mulder has time to formulate a come back, he spots something on the forest floor.

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, is that what I think it is?

Brandi> Scully: Well, it's definitely not a witch's boot.

SummerSnows> It looks like a sneaker.

Brandi> Mulder: No, but it might be the main course

Brandi> ~:-P

SummerSnows> Actually it would look like 2 sneakers, you know, a set of footprints.

SummerSnows> . :)

Brandi> Scully: look Mulder, they go off in this direction here...

Brandi> Scully, always pragmatic, thinks of turning back.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, I think we should call for help... It's getting late, the sheriff has resources available to us.

SummerSnows> And where they go off, well,

SummerSnows> it looks like he just stopped at the edge of the trail...

SummerSnows> Because the footprints get back on and continue down the path.

Brandi> Mulder: You're not thinking of throwing in the towel are you Scully? Just a little further. (he looks over his shoulder) BTW Scully, were you a Girl Scout by chance?

Brandi> (OT) Hey Nancy, let me run and get a snack. I'm suddenly attacked with a fit of hunger, LOL. I'll be right back!~ :-)

SummerSnows> K

SummerSnows> That reminds me - do M&S have any food or water? <eg>

Brandi> I'm back... sorry about that, LOL.

Brandi> Yeah, Scully has some power bars and Mulder some dried fruit. Between them they only have two water bottles.

SummerSnows> It's okay, I went and got a snack too. :)

Brandi> cool! :-)

Brandi> Ok, I'm getting freaked out now... am I doing this right?

SummerSnows> You're doing great. I'm having so much fun reading your stuff. :)

Brandi> You're good for the self esteem. I keep you. LOL

Brandi> ok, let me try to get back into it LOL

SummerSnows> LOL. Thanx, but it's true.

SummerSnows> After following the footprints for a little while, you come across an area where the footprints are a mess, as though there had been a scuffle.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, there seems to be signs of a struggle here. The dirt, the broken twigs... can you find another set of prints, maybe from another direction?

SummerSnows> After you pass this point, there are two sets of footprints, and one set is missing a shoe, is sprinkled with blood and seems to drag a little.

Brandi> Mulder jogs ahead, where he had been carefully surveying a turn in the footprint's angle. He chances a glance behind him, seeing a long thread of luminescent pebbles in his wake. Goood thing he put some in his pocket while Scully wasn't looking.

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, you're absolutely right.

Brandi> And look there!

Brandi> Scully: Two footprints Mulder. (she looks up at him, temporarily blinding him with her light)

SummerSnows> Quietly, silently, unknown to the agents, a hand with withered skin rises above the foliage at the forest floor and removes a white pebble.

Brandi> (his is pointing downward looking at the new prints)

Brandi> (OC) OMG!!! I'm going to have dreams about this, LOL

SummerSnows> Off to the edge of the trail you see a discarded sneaker. It's about the size a high school student would wear.

SummerSnows> OC-Fairy tales do that. :)

Brandi> Scully: Mulder did you jus--

Brandi> and before she can finish he's off to where the faint white glow receded into the foliage. A rabbit? He's not sure.

Brandi> Scully swings her light in the underbrush... dabs a little at the dark earth... a speck of blood... off to the side, near the underbrush is a sneaker.

Brandi> Scully approaches, afraid of what it might mean...

SummerSnows> One by one, the withered hand removes the pebbles with the silent stealth of a hunter.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder? (louder now) Mulder!

Brandi> Scully stands up, looks around, swinging the light into the dense forest. Mulder is nowhere to be seen.

SummerSnows> He's not? Do you think the witch got him?

Brandi> Meanwhile, Mulder is picking through the underbrush, thick ivy and low slung branches, watching helplessly as one by one the pebbles disappear.

SummerSnows> . *gulp*

Brandi> LOL, I certainly hope not. This witch is frightening, though :-D

Brandi> Scully grabs some latex out of her pocket, carefully turning the shoe over in her hands

Brandi> Size 10 Nikes. No doubt who the wearer is.

SummerSnows> Okay, then, the hand reaches out to grab Mulder...

SummerSnows> but misses. :)

Brandi> ~*whew*

Brandi> lol

Brandi> Mulder felt a brush of wind, by his feet, looked down and bounded in its direction, determined to find the source of this.

Brandi> His hands close around something warm...

Brandi> and furry

Brandi> and a little white bunny wiggles in his grasp.

SummerSnows> Awwww :)

Brandi> He chortles, sets it down gently and rubs his eyes. Must be the late hour... LOL

Brandi> (but little did he know :-P)

SummerSnows> Yes it is late...

SummerSnows> And dark...

SummerSnows> How long do those flashlights last?

SummerSnows> And it's cold too.

Brandi> Scully calls out once more: Mulder!

Brandi> (on the show, they last forever, LOL)

SummerSnows> You hear crickets in the late forest evening.

SummerSnows> LOL, yes they do.

Brandi> Mulder: I'm right here, Scully.

Brandi> Scully: Speak again (she's following the sound of his voice)

Brandi> Mulder: Marco!

Brandi> Scully laughs, despite the grim situation (grim, hehe)

SummerSnows> Hehe :)

Brandi> Scully: Polo! She answers, then quiets, remembering what lay in her grasp.

Brandi> Mulder has found his way back where the tennis show lay

Brandi> show not show, LOL

Brandi> crap, shoe

Brandi> ~:-)

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, look

Brandi> Mulder, characteristic stoicism on his face: you think it's Kyle's?

Brandi> Scully: (confused look) "Don't you?"

Brandi> Mulder: (pensive) I dunno. Scully this almost seems a little TOO perfect. It makes too much sense.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder what are you talking about?

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, I saw something back there, or at least I thought I did. It was a bunny, but that's not the point. This fits too neatly together. I think the shoe was planted.

Brandi> And then, Mulder's flashlight flickered.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, um, do you have batteries for your flashlight?

Brandi> Mulder: Are you afraid of the dark, Scully?

Brandi> They share an uncomfortable silence, considering the options

Brandi> Mulder remembers his missing pebbles, wondering what to do next.

SummerSnows> Make her start a fire with gunpowder again. :) See if she can get it this time. :)

Brandi> ~*gasp* that's mean! LOL!

SummerSnows> . *snort*

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, I think we should go back.

SummerSnows> I know, I'm sorry

Brandi> Scully, confused and more than a little surprised: What?

Brandi> Mulder, you're not serious?

Brandi> Mulder considers whether he is or he isn't.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, I don't think that's plausible, even if we turned back now, I mean, what if Kyle is still alive? What if he's just waiting for someone, us in this case, to come clean up this mess?

Brandi> He needs us Mulder.

Brandi> She crosses her arms, looks at him.

Brandi> Mulder: Let's go, Scully.

Brandi> Scully is shocked

Brandi> and more than a little upset.

SummerSnows> It is dark. You are, well, pretty much, well, lost in the woods.

SummerSnows> . :)

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, what the hell are you talking about! You're not just going to walk away! That's not you! That's not what you're about! What are you thinking?! (she's five seconds away from shaking some sense into him) She looks up to see an overwhelming sense of clarity, a look she recognizes well

Brandi> Mulder: Scully... he begins to speak, but her flashlight winks once, then twice, and much to their horror, blacks out their existence.

SummerSnows> So now you have *no* flashlight at all?

SummerSnows> Man, that's rough. :)

Brandi> LOL, yeah... Isn't that insane? I'm working myself into a corner here, and you get to watch me fall, LOL

Brandi> Mulder: Scully?

Brandi> Scully speaks, right in front of him but seemingly far away: Yes Mulder?

Brandi> Mulder: Do you know how to make a fire?

Brandi> ~:-P

SummerSnows> ~ :)

Brandi> Their eyes adjust... the moon, seemingly an ink blot earlier, has peeked out around the clouds.

Brandi> Begrudgingly they make themselves comfortable in the clearing with the shoe, LOL

SummerSnows> With the shoe, LOL, very good. :) It has an XF-style morbidity to it. :)

Brandi> Scully: The temp. is dropping, Mulder. We need to look for wood.

SummerSnows> You hear the night breeze moving gently through the tree foliage.

SummerSnows> You must be tired - you've been walking in the woods all day.

Brandi> He wants very badly to say something lewd, but considers it in too bad of taste, considering the situation, LOL

SummerSnows> Say it, say it ;-D

Brandi> Mulder and Scully part just to separate ends of the small clearing, Marco and Polo-ing to make sure each is not to far away from the other. They come back with a pitiful little pile of gnarled branches, looking very much like that "bunny's" fingers, LOL

SummerSnows> You are getting sleepy, very sleepy. |-)

Brandi> Scully pulls out the matches she carries with her ever since "detour," LOL, and they manage a small blaze that fizzled into a sMULDER (hehe) soon they are sound asleep on the cold damp earth.

SummerSnows> You are hungry.

SummerSnows> And cold and in the dark.

SummerSnows> Ah, you're asleep. :)

SummerSnows> LOL, sorry.

Brandi> LOL, that's ok :-)

SummerSnows> Quietly, silently, unknown to the agents, a hand with withered skin rises above the foliage at the forest floor and removes

SummerSnows> A couple power bars, the dried fruit and 2 bottles of water.

Brandi> (damn, you are harsh, LOL)

SummerSnows> Yeah. :) It gets worse. :)

SummerSnows> LOL

SummerSnows> Time passes...

SummerSnows> The sun rises...

SummerSnows> The birds are singing...

Brandi> Mulder awakes first, rising to stretch and "get acquainted with nature", and upon return notices Scully missing, as well as the power bars and other supplies

Brandi> Mulder panics.

Brandi> Mulder: Scully!!!.... Scully!

Brandi> Scully: Mulder stop screaming, I hear you already.

SummerSnows> . *whew* I thought she got eaten ;)

Brandi> She looks like she spent the night on the cold wet ground. Oh. LOL

SummerSnows> LOL

Brandi> (you never know! LOL)

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, I found something over here I think you should see.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, before you take me on another wild goose chase, did you happen to notice that our supplies are missing?

Brandi> Mulder: Yeah Scully, and I think I know why... follow me.

Brandi> Scully goes along begrudgingly... mumbling all the while that they should get going... either find Kyle or find the way out of here.

Brandi> Mulder comes to a clearing, the sun streaming through the overhead foliage... in the distance he can see...

Brandi> (fill in the blank, LOL)_

SummerSnows> Okay, hold on :)

Brandi> Sorry, I didn't give you much warning, did I?

SummerSnows> <image URL>

Brandi> before I go, I gotta say you put a lot of work into this! Very cool!

Brandi> before I go to the house jpeg, not "go"

Brandi> lol

SummerSnows> I really enjoyed putting it together. :)

Brandi> Eww... not the Ritz, that's for sure.

Brandi> LOL

SummerSnows> LOL

Brandi> Mulder: Scully... check it out

SummerSnows> That house goes for 200 thousand where I live

Brandi> Scully follows his finger to a dilapidated shack.

Brandi> LOL! ROTFLMAO

Brandi> They walk through the barely tread path together

Brandi> Scully reaches the clearing first.

SummerSnows> Wait

SummerSnows> What's that?

SummerSnows> You see fruit trees, peaches and plums, I think.

SummerSnows> And a vegetable garden...

SummerSnows> Tomatoes, cucumbers.

SummerSnows> Well, ya didn't think I was going to make you eat *that* house, didya? :)

Brandi> LOL! lots of fiber, LOL

Brandi> Scully: where's the candy Mulder?

Brandi> Mulder, looking around: Looks pretty close to me.

SummerSnows> The termites are probably high in protein ;)

SummerSnows> It looks better than that pizza?

Brandi> LOL! sure does

Brandi> lol

Brandi> the bbq pizza looked like the paint on that house

Brandi> ~:-)

SummerSnows> . :-)ooo

Brandi> They share a mischievous look, and hit the trees first, eating like starved animals.

Brandi> The omniscient presence will notice the symbolism here... Hansel and Gretel at the candy house, and Mulder and Scully are eating around this house

Brandi> just to point that out, for reasons not clear, LOL

SummerSnows> The fruits are sweet, very tasty.

Brandi> Mulder and Scully pause. Hearing something... a cackle? couldn't be... or could it be?

SummerSnows> Yes, a cackle. :) And behind you, you hear:

SummerSnows> "Nibble, nibble, little mouse

SummerSnows> Who's that just outside my house?"

Brandi> (OC) *cringe* I'm gonna need a night light, LOL

SummerSnows> LOL

Brandi> Scully looks up, plum juice trickling down her fingers: Mulder, did you hear that?

Brandi> Mulder doesn't have to say anything. She already knows he did.

Brandi> He bolts first, followed by Scully.

SummerSnows> Blaire Dahmer walks down that front step...

SummerSnows> She's just a little old lady, very sweet-looking actually...

Brandi> (OC) Dahmer? this is so wrong, LOL

SummerSnows> Her voice sounds just like everyone's grandmother...

SummerSnows> She says, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."...

SummerSnows> She shades her eyes against the sunlight looking in the trees for you.

Brandi> They freeze, turn around expecting to find a wart-nosed green faced old troll. Well, she's not green, LOL

SummerSnows> Nope, not green. :)

SummerSnows> "I was just going to fix some breakfast. Would you like some coffee?"

SummerSnows> "No need to steal my unripe things. My, you two look in bad shape."

Brandi> Scully and Mulder share a look, embarrassed. They take her up on her offer.

Brandi> Hey Nancy, Hold on I'll brb

Brandi> lol

Brandi> Ok, I'm back :-)

SummerSnows> Inside, the house is rustic. She appears to live very simply, without electricity. There are antique tools, handmade quilts, a few b&w photos of an old man. The brick fireplace doubles as her oven. She adds another log to the fire so the visitors will be warm.

Brandi> Scully begins first... red-faced and embarrassed: Ma'am, we're the ones that should be sorry. We're agents Scully and Mulder from the FBI. We were out on a case last night when we got lost... Maybe you can help us.

Brandi> They settle in around the fire. Mulder doesn't like it, though... always skeptical, he's not so fast to trust the old woman.

Brandi> Mulder: Do you know a boy by the name of Kyle Weisler?

SummerSnows> Kyle? Hmmm. I don't think so.

SummerSnows> Is this about those aliens?

Brandi> Mulder: What aliens would that be?

Brandi> Scully shifts her weight from one foot to the other, impatient... just another old bat, she thinks.

SummerSnows> I don't get into town much, but I've heard stories about alien abductions.

SummerSnows> I've never seen anything though.

Brandi> Scully: Well ma'am, I can assure you this is entirely unrelated.

Brandi> Mulder gives her a sideways glance at her surety.

SummerSnows> The house is small. The kitchen, the fireplace/oven and the small table and chairs are all in this room.

Brandi> Mulder starts walking around... it appears the old woman is becoming nervous... he picks up a porcelain cat, turning it over in his hands. "do you live alone, Mrs. Dahmer?"

SummerSnows> To the left there is a door, and near the back there are 2 other doors.

SummerSnows> Yes, I do. My husband died years ago *picks up a b&w photo* Rest his soul.

SummerSnows> She puts the photo down, and serves coffee.

Brandi> Scully hears something and walks over to the side door, peering out... must be the wind, she thinks.

Brandi> Mulder isn't convinced. A profiler's instinct never dulls... he remains quiet and receives the coffee.

Brandi> Scully takes it gratefully, thanking Mrs. Dahmer as she settles in a creaky ladder back chair.

SummerSnows> "You're welcome dear." She continues cooking.

SummerSnows> She serves them a breakfast of milk, pancakes...

SummerSnows> honey, apples, and nuts.

SummerSnows> And extra butter.

SummerSnows> She sits to eat with them.

Brandi> Mulder pauses, his hand half way to his mouth, spotting something in the corner. "Mrs. Dahmer, do you own a pair of tennis shoes?"

Brandi> Scully is stacking little wedges of pancake on her fork, swirling it in syrup. She seems oblivious to Mulder's paranoia.

SummerSnows> Well, uh, yes. Yes I do. What is this about?

Brandi> Mulder: Nothing ma'am... I just need to see the other one. His long finger indicates a discarded shoe, turned on its side near the doorway.

To Be Continued...