This here is a kinder, gentler Dragon story... really, believe me... and no handcuffs...yet... All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really... The character of Jackie St. George belongs to me though... Dragons in The Night by Sheryl Martin sheryl_martin@daystorm.com "No, no, no..." Dana Scully crossed her arms, staring at her determinedly. "I told her already that you and Mulder were coming." "No, no, no..." Fox Mulder grinned, shaking his head. "It's not going to be that bad. Besides, you need to get out of this office. You've been stuck here for a week just doing reports." "And whose fault is that?" Jackie St. George grumbled. "Dana, I just don't do that family thing. And I've got way too much work..." "I already cleared it with Rosie. You can come back tomorrow night and pick up a package to work on at home -- after dinner." Scully said. "Now get your coat. We're going to be late." "No, no, no..." ********************************** "I could have sworn I said something to the negative about this trip." Jackie sighed. Mulder smiled as he sat in the passenger seat. "Who's going to be at this thing again?" "It's called a dinner. And it's only Melissa, my sister, and Margaret - my mother. Who is very nice and has been interested in meeting you for a while." Scully looked at her in the rear view mirror. "It's not going to be that bad..." "Says you..." *********************************** "Fox! How wonderful to see you again!" She kissed him on the cheek, wiping her hands on the apron. He embraced Margaret fondly, relaxing with the familiar smells and sounds of the Scully kitchen. "And this must be Jaclyn..." She hugged Jackie, putting an arm around her to guide her away from the pair and back into the kitchen. "I've heard so much about you..." Mulder looked over at Scully. "I don't think I've ever seen her more terrified." Dana nodded, looking at the retreating pair. "Well, Mom can be a little overwhelming. But when you don't have a family of your own..." She paused, remembering Fox's own problems. "Mulder!" Melissa Scully burst into the room from outside, tossing her coat on the couch before hugging him tightly. "Great that you both could make it." She winked at Dana. "And now you have two women in your life, I hear." "And twice the number of problems." He shot back, hanging up his trench coat in the closet. Dana shook her head. Melissa stroked the crystal necklace around her neck, smiling. "I've been reading some great new books on the Tarot. Maybe I can do a reading for you and Dana after dinner." Dana sighed. That was all she needed -- more of this New Age silliness that her sister subscribed to. ************************************ "... and there was Dana, covered in mud and dirt, holding up this dead rabbit with her brothers, proud as could be..." Margaret continued, passing the potatoes to Jackie. Dana looked down at her plate, smiling. Every time she brought someone new over, that story just had to be told. Jackie chuckled at the image of Dana Scully on a hunting trip. "I guess it could have worse. It could have been a fox." Mulder deadpanned. The Scully women looked at him, then all three laughed. "So, what do you do at the consulate?" Melissa asked St. George. "Oh, mostly that PR stuff. We have a lot of dinners, security details for visiting dignitaries, that sort of nice stuff." She cut up her meatloaf deftly, stopping to scratch her left palm. The new skin itched like mad. "I sense an aura of... violence around you. Have you been in a lot of fights in the past?" Melissa took on that dreamy look that Dana recognised as her seer gaze. Jackie almost choked on her milk, shooting a look at Fox. He shook his head quickly, confirming that he hadn't said a thing about her past. "Oh, a bit here and there. I'm really a pacifist." Dana swallowed a mouthful of green beans, trying not to burst out laughing. Given St. George's psi ability to go into a berserk rage and kill people when she was in a stressful situation and her blood drawn, that comment was priceless. "Now, don't bother Jaclyn with that sort of talk at dinner." Margaret admonished her daughter. "Her and Fox are here to relax with us, and Dana." "Mom, it's Mulder and Jackie." Dana tried unsuccessfully. "It's Fox and Jaclyn. Mulder is a last name and Jackie is a man's name." She pointed out. Mulder grinned at Dana, enjoying the argument. Jackie kept eating, figuring that was the safest way to handle this. The Scully family could be a bit... overwhelming. *********************************** Melissa passed a plate to Dana, shaking her head. "She's nice. I just get a feeling of... I don't know, pain..." "Jackie's had a few problems." Drying it with the towel, she snapped it at her sister. "And don't think I wasn't watching you making eyes at Mulder." She teased. "Hey, he's a lot more open to suggestions than most men you bring over." She retorted, flicking a handful of bubbles at the redhead. They both looked back towards the dining room. "So you're an orphan?" "Yep." Jackie twirled the teacup, avoiding Margaret's eyes. "But that doesn't make a difference." "Of course it does, dear. A family gives you the support you need to get through the hard times." Reaching over, she gently petted Fox's hand. He softly smiled, remembering how they had all suffered together during Dana's disappearance. "Your last name... is it true Scottish?" Jackie laughed. "A direct descendant, according to what I've been told." Melissa and Dana took their places at the table, passing around the teapot for another refill. "A true poet." Melissa's eyes sparkled. "Do you know any poetry?" "Ah... Mulder here's the expert, having gone to Oxford." St. George blushed, shocking both Fox and Dana. "I just know family poems." "Well, Fox, you deliver one and then we'll listen to Jaclyn." Margaret pronounced. Mulder's eyes widened, then he took a deep breath. "The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley -- Forged in the fires of the Devil himself Cursed by all below and above Beware the man that carries the Dagger The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley It's aim is pure and true No armour can resist it No prayer can stop it The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley A blade so sharp It'll cut your heart out Faster than a woman's tongue The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley If you take a life with it You must give one of your own to it Within a year and a day The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley I heard of a man who took it to war Plunging it into the hilt into his foes Took twelve men and lost his whole kin The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley Throw it into the deepest seas Thrust it into the hardest rocks It'll return to the man who wants it the most The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley Manys the man who has sought to tame it Manys the woman who has cursed it But no one can control it The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley Let the winds blow you down onto the rocks Let the fires take you into their burning arms Before you are tempted to try and master The Black Dagger of Killydurn Valley." They all applauded, Dana loudest of all. She raised an eyebrow towards him, as if to wonder at this softer side of him. He looked at her once, then dropped his gaze to his lap, feeling suddenly vulnerable. "Your turn, Jaclyn." Margaret said. "Ah..." She rubbed her hands together. "It's not as good... it's called The Piper's Tune." Flipping her long black ponytail back over one shoulder, the young woman licked her lips and started. He hears the pipes She hears the pipes and his blood runs hot and her blood runs cold the white stag is loose in the forest the black crow flies over the forest leaping through the frothy streams flapping madly through the clouds tearing through the thick brush straining through the thickness ripping through the mist and fog aching through the night He sees the lines drawn up She sees the boys in a group yelling for blood and glory twisting their fingers in their hair swirling banners overhead mumbling prayers from the priest swords clanging on shields tokens from mothers held fast the smell of sweat the smell of fear the tunes of promised glory the tunes of a mother's wailing He touches the whiskey glass She touches his hand the knowing smile the tears of knowledge the smoothness of time the wounds healed the wisdom of old age the memories put far away the candle burns low the flame burns brightly the sun has set the moon rises slowly The piper has finished." The table was silent for a second. Margaret was the first to speak. "That was just lovely, Jaclyn." Dana nodded, speechless. Fox looked across the table in amusement. It took a lot to silence the Scully women. Melissa nodded. "You come from a family of poets; I can tell. A family of... dragon slayers?" She murmured the last part softly, as if she were afraid to say it out loud. "Ah... I think it's time I should be going..." Jackie stumbled to her feet, heading for the front hallway. Margaret followed, leaving the three of them at the table. "Did I miss something?" Fox asked quietly. Dana shook her head. "Well, I don't know where she's going without us to drive her. And at this time of night, we might as well stay." She grinned at Mulder. "You can sleep in the basement next to the old coal bin." "You're fulfilling one of my biggest dreams, Scully. Spending the night with four women at the same time." "And two of them are sisters." Melissa chirped. Dana glanced at her, shooting daggers from her eyes. Like he needed to be encouraged... Suddenly a scream came from the front room. Jumping up from the table, they ran towards the sound. Margaret Scully stood there, her trembling finger pointing towards the old chair -- Captain Scully's old chair. Jackie stood beside her, her face pale. "He... he was just here... Dana, I saw your father..." She put her hand to her mouth, shaking. "He was warning us about something..." ****************************************** St. George took a large sip of the Scotch, sitting at the dining table. Dana had put her mother to bed, tucking her in with promises of staying awake all night and reassuring her. She was in the bathroom at the moment, checking out the supplies. "You alright?" Fox came in, sitting beside Jackie. "Oh, fine. I really enjoy seeing dead people after dinner." She shivered. "It was... scary." Melissa entered the room, shaking her head. "It must have been some sort of warning... ghosts only return in the most dire of circumstances to their family dwelling, and this is a foreshadowing of something..." Jackie looked up, the skepticism showing on her face. "Hey, I'm as much a believer as the next person, but let's not go crazy over this one." Melissa shrugged, as if used to the argument. "Mulder." Dana entered the room, a slip of paper in her hand. "I need you to go to the all-night pharmacy and pick up this prescription." She looked at Melissa. "Mom needs something to help her sleep. The doctor prescribed this a year ago... I'm just renewing it for this week." Mulder nodded, looking down at the scrip. As usual, it was totally illegible, except for the scrawled signature on the bottom of D. Scully. "Back in thirty." Stopping by Dana, he put his hand on her shoulder. "You going to be alright?" He whispered softly. She nodded, squeezing his hand in reply. Quickly he went to the closet, slipping out into the darkness. "Here." Jackie passed Dana the bottle. "I think we all need a bit of this." Dana poured out three healthy shots, refreshing St. George's drink. Melissa sat by them, her face a picture of confusion. "It must have been a warning of some kind... did he say anything?" Dana rolled her eyes upward. "Melissa, it was just a hallucination on Mom's part. It's been only a year, and she's still prone to having problems..." The excuse sounded lame to her own ears. "You had the same thing happen to you when he died." She retorted, her long red hair falling over her shoulders. "Why can't you accept things for what they are?" "I would if you could prove them to be real." Dana snapped. "These things are all explained somehow..." The front door opened. Frowning, Dana got to her feet. "Mulder, how fast did you drive?" The tall scruffy man grinned, holding the shotgun level with her chest. His partner, a thin lanky man in a filthy jean jacket, entered beside him. "We've come to borrow a cup of sugar." He chortled, the barrel of the weapon never wavering. ***************************************** "I like this." The tall one said, tying the last of the knots around Melissa Scully's wrists. Beside her, Dana glared at him, trying to dominate him with her eyes. St. George stood silently to one side, the shorter man holding the shotgun on her as she waited for her turn. "Look, if it's money you want..." Dana started, terrified that her mother would wake up and try to come downstairs. "Lady, you aren't in a position to decide anything. We'll take what we want..." He leered at her. "And then we'll go, in our own time." The phone rang, startling them all. "You get it." He snapped at Jackie. She walked over to it, keenly aware of the weapon now pointing at the Scully sisters. "Remember... I can shoot faster than you can talk." She silently cursed Fox for insisting they leave their weapons locked in the trunk. Of all the times to be without her .38... "Hello?" "Jackie? It's Mulder... I wanted to know if Scully wanted anything else.." "Fox!" She smiled at the intruder, her voice cheerful. "I'll get Dana for you!" Taking a few strides towards the bound women, she found her path blocked by the gunman. "Who is it?" "Her fiancee." Jackie stared at Dana, hoping she would catch on. Holding the receiver to her ear, Dana nodded. The shotgun pointed at her face. "Fox, darling..." Mulder stared at the receiver. How much had they been drinking? "Hello? Scully?" "Yes, dear, I love you too." Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the burglars. "Don't bother to come over now. Mom's in bed asleep and your sister's having too good a time to go home right away." "Hello? Hello?" Mulder was sure they had been drinking... "Scully, what the hell..." He suddenly snapped into the picture. "Are you in trouble?" "Yes Fox, I'd say so." "I'm coming back. I'll get the police on my way." Lowering his voice, he whispered. "Be careful. I'll be there as fast as I can." "Love you too. See you tomorrow." She listened to the dial tone with a sinking feeling in her gut. The police force wouldn't be able to deal with this... the toughest thing they had to deal with was Old Man McGregor's shooting of the squirrels in the middle of Memorial Park on the weekends. "That sounded funny." The scruff one snarled. "You better not have said anything." The barrel swerved to face Melissa. "I'm not kidding." "Let's tie this one up." The shorter crook said, motioning to Jackie. "I don't like the way she's looking at me." Rubbing his chin, the leader shook his head. "I think we should have some fun -- before we kill them." Melissa's eyes grew wide. He passed the shotgun to his comrade, who proceeded to keep it pointed at them. Dragging Dana to her feet, he untied her hands, pulling her towards the dining room table. "You sonofabitch!" Jackie brought her arm up to her face, her mouth open. Suddenly the stock smashed into the side of her head, dropping her to the ground where she writhed, unable to think of anything but the pain in her skull. The leader grinned, holding Dana. "Hey, at least she won't be fighting." He laughed. "I kinda like them when they don't bite..." The static filled the room, bursting the silence like a sonic boom. Melissa screamed as the ghostly form of her father appeared at the front door, his hands clenched in rage. "What the..." The short man brought up the shotgun, blasting at the door. The pellets flew through the transparent image, smashing into the wood. The image faded, leaving a impression in their minds. Dana drove her heel into her attacker's shin, breaking free. Lunging forward, she grabbed the shotgun from the thin companion. They fell to the floor, wrestling for control of the weapon. The scruffy leader got to his feet, limping. "In the name of St. George..." A whisper came from underneath him. "I don't think so..." Jackie threw up her fists, smashing them into his chin. He flew back, crashing into the dining room chairs. She followed, her eyes blazing as she grabbed his lapel. "You wanna play?" Her head pounded. "Man, you're lucky I'm in a good mood tonight..." A thin trickle of blood ran down the left side of her cheek, where the blow had landed. "If she gets hurt -- you die." Jackie whispered, her voice low and raspy. Holding him up against the wall, she turned to see Dana. Her other hand rested on the wall, pressing tightly against it as she tried to channel her power. It was a lot easier right now... but she didn't know why... Dana pulled the shotgun free, stomping on his stomach. Getting up quickly, she pointed it at him, gasping for air. "FBI..." He stared at her in disbelief as the door flew open. "FBI!" Mulder charged in, his pistol at the ready. Behind him the four policemen stopped and stared at the two women, obviously in charge of the situation. "Honey, you're home." Scully quipped. Behind her, St. George laughed. ******************************* "So your father came to help you?" Mulder shook his head. They had carted the burglars off, listing all the charges as they walked out the door. He had convinced the police to leave the taking of statements until the morning, a suggestion gratefully accepted by the yawning officers. Dana shrugged, gently applying the alcohol swab to the cut on Jackie's temple. "I don't know what to think. They just went nuts and gave us the chance to take control." She ignored Jackie's knowing smile. Melissa came down the stairs. "Mom's still sound asleep. Probably slept through the whole thing." The younger redhead giggled. "She won't believe this. It's totally fantastic." "Melissa, let's not go off the deep end on this." Dana took a deep breath. "Those men were probably on some sort of drug or something. Let's not get Mom all upset with stories of Daddy coming back to help her, hmm?" She taped the gauze pad to Jackie's skin. She flinched, then spoke. "Dana, you have to admit that it was perfect timing." Her voice dropped, low enough for only the two of them and Fox to hear. "And I've never had that much control ever before. And it's gone now -- I know it." "Well, you believe what you want..." Dana shrugged. "And what do you believe?" Fox's eyes twinkled. "I'm not sure yet." She avoided his eyes. "But I do know that my father would have been here to protect us if he could." "I think he would have been proud of you." Fox pointed out. Melissa nodded in agreement, letting the point drop. "Besides, you had just told him we were engaged..." Laughing, he ducked as she swiped at him with the first aid kit. "That was Jackie's idea..." She started. "Yah, but you were the one on the phone..." The first aid kit flew over his head again, barely missing this time. "Yo, Melissa. Let's go get some tea started and leave the lovebirds alone to fight this one out." St. George chuckled as she walked towards the kitchen. "I put my money on Dana killing him in ten minutes if he keeps that line of questioning up." Melissa laughed. "True love never runs smooth..." "And this one's still under construction." Jackie whispered as they entered the kitchen, leaving behind two red-faced FBI agents. *************************************** All poems copyright to me, myself and I...