::  Les dames de la Vieux Carré  ::

Chapter Nine

Four cars filled with FBI, NCIS and state troopers left downtown New Orleans in the late afternoon and headed west and south along US 90 toward the bayou country. Agent Wilcox of NCIS arranged for helicopters to be on the ready and Thibedeaux arranged for more state and parish police to meet them.

Skinner drove with studied ease, Scully beside him, O’Malley and Chegwidden in the back seat. Skinner kept checking the rearview mirror, looking back at O’Malley who hadn’t said a word since they left the conference room, except to direct him to turn where needed.

They arrived in Gibson at 4:00 PM and converged on the small marina. Thibedeaux was already talking to an old man in flannel, his suspenders barely keeping up his worn pants.

Skinner got out of the car and walked over to confer with Thibedeaux – they would need no less than four boats to transport them. Thibedeaux didn’t look very happy as Skinner approached the two men. "Mr. Skinner. This here is Mr. Thomas Murphy. He has enough boats, but he doesn’t want to let us use them tonight."

Skinner went into full AD mode and stood glaring down at the squat little man. "What’s the problem?" He bit out. "You think won’t pay for them?" He reached into his back pocket to pull out his Bureau credit card.

Murphy raised his hand. "Now hol’ on thar, boy. Ain’ no reason to get’cha shorts in a knot. I didn’ say I wouldn’t rent them to ya’ll. I just said not tonight. Twon’ do ya no good. It’s gettin’ too late."

Skinner blew up. "Aren’t there lights on the damn things?"

Murphy shook his head. "Course there are. It’s just…"

Skinner jerked his head back to find O’Malley but she wasn’t behind him. Instead she was standing by the dock, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun, now very low in the sky. Orange and red shot through with grey clouds colored the sunset. Skinner called her name. She turned back and walked up to him. Her dejected air was beginning to get on his nerves and he snapped out with a vehemence that he normally reserved for Mulder’s 302s and expense reports. "With lights, can you get us there tonight?"

She sighed and looked back over her shoulder. "Normally, but not tonight, I don’t think."

Bring his hands to his hips he growled out. "Why not?"

"The fog. Mists." Her voice was low and Skinner was unsure if he had heard her correctly.

"Mists? What mists. It is perfectly clear out there."

Murphy finally spat out a stream of tobacco into the open gutter next to them. "No tain’t." He pointed out to the south. "You can see it startin’ over yonder."

Skinner crossed his arms angrily and then let them fall to his sides. "How bad can it get? How long will it take for us to get there? Damn it, we might be too late." He looked down when he felt the small hand on his arm. Scully didn’t say anything, but her look beseeched him to calm down. He took a shuddering breath but still his voice was full of frustration and anger. "How long will it take to get there, O’Malley?"

She had eaten nothing all day but a donut that morning, the lack of sleep and the realization that Mulder and Rabb were probably dead finally crashed down on her. She had always prided herself in keeping a tight grip on her emotions – she couldn’t remember the last time she had lost control. But it roiled to the surface and she got right in Skinner’s face. "Listen to me, damn you! Turtle Bayou has got twists and turns and eddies and quicksand. You want to get out there and ride up that curvy little line straight up the map, but it isn’t like that. Hell, half of it isn’t even on the map, damn it. I’ve been there ONCE. Can I find it? Yeah I think I can with a good map and IN THE DAYLIGHT. You got 4 or 5 GPS units? Not the ones they put in cars but the good ones. Then maybe we could find it. But I’m not sure exactly which finger of the bayou the damn house is on, so how are we really going to pinpoint it? I mean, can you program those things to find the third finger down from the run down boat dock with the hanging Pepsi sign? But that fog rolling in out there." She jabbed her arm toward the water, "That’ll get you lost quicker than this." She snapped her fingers. "You want to lose men out there, have everybody shouting back and forth to each other? What if somebody falls in, Skinner? There are gators out there you know." Her argument petered out, her chest heaving painfully, her face splotchy with emotion.

The troopers and agents who had gathered in groups waiting to begin exchanged startled glances. Skinner stared at her and wondered if she was going to make it and if not, how in the hell would they find the place. AJ stood back and watched, his arms folded across his chest trying hard to come to terms with change in the woman he had spent all day yesterday with. Only Scully looked almost pleased with the outburst. Hoping to deflect some of the anger away from Skinner, she asked gently, "When do you think we can get started in the morning?"

Although he had been enjoying the show, Mr. Murphy had a feeling that if he didn’t step in the big man would figure another way of getting out to the place and then he, Tom Murphy would be out a pretty nice rental fee. "No, lookee here. Almanac say the sun come up 5:44 tomorrow, the fog’ll be heavy for ‘bout two hour, but you can start and follow the shore line for a good ways till you gets to the main bayou. Then you gots ta wait till you can read them markers ‘n such.

Skinner didn’t look happy, but he did take note of the fact that in the time that they had been arguing, less than 20 minutes, the fog was heavier and rolling in faster than he could imagine. "Terrific. Dan?" The state policeman appeared at his side. "We are going to need rooms for everybody. What does Gibson have in the way of accommodations?"

Thibedeaux conferred with the local parish cops. One went off and the rest of the force milled around the dock, eyeing the townies who had begun to gather to watch the show. Cass went back to her spot on the dock to watch the fog begin to consume the outer markers. She rubbed her cheek and sighed. She knew what she had to do – she just wasn’t sure that they would let her get away with it. She glanced back and sighed again. Chegwidden was five feet away, his stare boring a hole into her very soul.

She heard the running feet and turned to see the Terrebonne Parrish cop run up to Skinner and Thibedeaux. She walked back in time to hear. "They’ve got only 4 rooms, but each room has got double beds. That’s room for 16, if everybody is real chummy and all. I live up the road bout 2 miles and I got one of them pull-out beds."

Skinner looked over the group of 18 men, not counting Chegwidden, himself and Scully and Cass. He started to say something, when he heard a very subdued O’Malley say something. He turned and saw her punching a number into her phone and wait. <<<Crap, she’s going to pass out any minute.>>> He wasn’t sure what he expected to hear, but by the time she was finished he was shocked speechless.

When the cop had mapped out their sleeping choices, the last silky thread holding her firmly in the present gave way. <<<Well, why the fuck not. Let’s just finish this fucking walk down memory lane.>>> "Fuck." She waited while the phone rang and rang. She knew that it would be answered eventually; it wasn’t like she had anywhere to go, at least not at this time of night. Finally, after the eighth ring, she heard the phone rattle off its rest.

"Hello?" The weedy voice asked petulantly.

Cass took in a huge lung full of air. "Hello, momma."

"Cassilda?" The voice was tinny and weak. "Baby, is that you?"

Cass sighed. "Yes, momma its me. Uhm…how are you feeling?"

Cass heard her sigh mirrored on the other end. "Well, not so well. Mrs. Newsome is going to run me up to Baton Rouge tomorrow to see Dr. Franklin. You remember Dr. Franklin don’t you dear? He’s the one that fixed up Mrs.…"

"Momma." Cass cut in. "Momma, I need a favor. I can’t explain, but I need to use the spare bedrooms." The pause on the other end of the line was so long that Cass thought her mother might have dozed off.

"Well, I don’t know about that?" Cass felt her blood pressure begin to rise but she forced herself to breathe deeply. "You’ll have to talk to Mrs. Newsome about that dear. I just don’t know." The next thing Cass heard was the brisk northern accent of her mother’s next door neighbor, the only person Cass had ever know that could stand to be around her mother for more than 10 minutes at a time. Mrs. Newsome also broke the record for length of friendship. For the past five years, ever since her husband had moved them down to the bayou from Cleveland and then promptly died, the two women had been almost inseparable, something that never ceased to amaze Cass.

"Cassilda dear. How are you?" The voice was strong and rich and kind – so very different from her mother’s.

"I’m fine, Mrs. Newsome."

"Now dear, how many times to I have to tell you, Judi is just fine. I know you southern belles have a thing about your parents friends, but please, dear."

Cass gritted her teeth. "Fine, Judi. But, I have a problem."

"Oh dear. There’s nothing wrong I hope. What…"

"Judi, I’m down here with a group of people -- twenty actually and there are only enough beds in town for 16, that leaves my boss, me and uhm…two others. I thought we could come out and use the two extra rooms. We have to get an early start so we could just come out, maybe eat something…don’t worry about that, we’ll pick something up and then crash. Don’t worry about the rooms, we’ll take care of the linens…"

"Now dear, I have just the answer. You and your friends – or should I call them colleagues come out and just take over the house. I’ll pack your mother a bag and take her next door with me. That way we can get an early start for the doctors tomorrow and not get in your way." Her voice got dimmer as she turned away from the phone. "Millie, won’t that be fun, just like when we were kids? What? Oh now Millie, don’t be silly, we’ll have a grand time."

Cass was nearly speechless. "Uhm…are you sure Mrs. -- I mean Judi. You know how momma gets. I don’t want --"

"Now Cassilda! It will be just fine. What time will you be out here?"

Cass looked over at Skinner who was looking at her like she had two heads. "Oh, about an hour or so."

"Well, don’t you worry. We’ll wait for you before we go across the yard. I know you want to visit for a while. Goodbye, dear."

Before Cass could say anything else Mrs. Newsome hung up. She smiled wanly over at Skinner. "I…uhm…took care of the rest of the rooms, sir. Whenever you’re ready."

::  Chapter 10  ::

Cass stood at the edge of the tumble-down dock watching the mist swirl around her. She felt a little better after eating a po' boy in town. Once Skinner had made sure that everyone knew the plan for tomorrow, the drive out on the narrow gravel road had been silent except for Cass' infrequent directions. Her mother had been perfunctory in her greeting, almost petulant in giving over her house, a complete contrast to the brisk efficient greeting of Mrs. Newsome. Fortunately, the two older women had left soon after, not even bothering to show them the house.

O'Malley had led them up the six stairs to the wrap-around porch of the neat freshly painted, single story, white, house with the tin roof. She led them through the pristine kitchen down the hall to the four bedrooms. She blushed slightly, "I'll sleep in mom's room. You can each pick whatever rooms you want." She wasn't surprised to find that Mrs. Newsome had obviously put on fresh sheets, towels stacked neatly on each bed. "The bathroom is right over there."

She left them to it and walked back through the house and down the neat lawn to the run-down dock. The cold mist felt clammy and uncomfortable on her skin and she started to hug herself, wishing for a jacket when heavy warmth enveloped her. He wrapped a plaid around her shoulders and she felt his deep rumble close to her ear. "I found this hanging on a hook. You looked like you could use it."

She knew he couldn't have seen her through the mists and was somewhat surprised that he had managed to find her down the slope without falling on his ass at least once. "Thank you, Admiral."

His tone was amused. "I think after all we've been through together these past two days, AJ would be acceptable."

She hugged the heavy shirt around her. "Yeah, I guess with all the crap we've seen, Admiral and Agent seem a little formal. You find everything all right in there?"

He was standing so close behind her that she could feel the warmth of his breath. "It's not that big of house, Cass. Very nice though. It looks like it's been completely redone recently."

He could feel the tension return. "Yeah. After my father died six years ago, mom wanted to sell the house in town and move out here. Why? I have no idea, because it wasn't really habitable then." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Not by decent people anyway."

He brought his hands up to her shoulders and began to massage her neck. "Who owned it before?"

She wanted to let the sensation wash over her but she couldn't talk about this and still bear his touch. She started to move away, but he grabbed her hand pulled her close so she could see the concern in his eyes. "Talk to me Cass. I'm here and I'll listen."

She shuddered, her need for confession overpowering the hold of long buried secrets. She had never talked about this to anyone, certainly not Jack, not even Tina Marie. Only Jezz knew the secrets of this house. And compared to Jezz's own, this house must have seemed a paradise. She took a gulp of the cold air, smelling the spring growth all around her. There were lilac bushes down here, strong, almost overpowering, invoking long buried memories that she didn't normally associate with this hated place.

He only heard her because he was so close his hand still in hers. "The house has been in my family for over a hundred years; this and the place in town. If they had sold it we could have fixed up the house in town, but my father wouldn't hear of it. This was his place to come. This is where he brought his…"

Her voice gave out and AJ tried to finish for her. "He brought his girlfriends here?"

Her laugh was sharp and bitter. "No, AJ. His boyfriends. " She waited for him to pull back in embarrassment for her, but instead he gently squeezed her hand, allowing her to continue. "They would come out here, while mom and I stared at each other every weekend. There was never enough money for anything like movies or dinner out or…hell, AJ! There were times we didn't have power because he didn't bring home enough money. But he always had gas money to get out here. He always had a nice car to come out here when mom and I couldn't scrape together streetcar fare. I wish to hell he had run off, like Jezz's daddy did. But no! The son-of-a-bitch stuck it out until the bitter end. And mom, the stupid cow, stayed with him. The last time I begged her to leave him in a hospice, she slapped me and had the nerve to tell me she had `raised me better than that'." Cass couldn't believe she was relating this in such a calm voice. She knew she should be ranting and raving, but the lilacs and his gentle touch let her tell the story almost dispassionately.

"Right before he died of AIDS, she called me. Told me he wanted to see me. I didn't want to come, but my boyfriend at the time told me I would regret it if I didn't. Frankly, I thought he was full of shit then and there are nights when I still do. But, I flew down and went to see him. Mom had insisted on keeping him there in the house on Prytania. God! What a mess! I remember climbing those stairs and standing at the foot of his bed. He was so emaciated. I realized then, he didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody does. I just wished to hell he had left us, made a choice and tried to be happy. Instead he just made everybody so damn miserable. People who knew her in college said that my mother was a happy person, always laughing. You know I've never heard her laugh. Really, I've tried several times to remember even one time and never once did my mother or father have a joyous moment when I was present. How's that for a wonderful life."

His arms snaked around her and hugged her tightly, resting his chin lightly on her head. "Now tell me about Jezz Morris and Cass O'Malley." He had anticipated her struggle to flee and held her tighter until she calmed down.

He heard the fear and anger in her voice. "You go right for the jugular don't you, Admiral?"

He waited. He knew she had to get this out – not only for tomorrow's rescue mission, but also for her own rescue.

She wondered for a moment what he would do if she kissed him, if seduced him. Would he drop the subject? But she knew that it was a sleazy, cheap way out. And there was one thing she had prided herself on all these years – she had never fallen that far.

Cass forced herself to relax before beginning. "There never has been a Jezz Morris and Cass O'Malley. O'Malley's my married name. I never took back my maiden name. Jack O'Malley saved Cassilda Devereaux from hell and when he married me, then when he died in a plane crash, it was the only way I could think of to show my respect. Lord knows I didn't love him. But I owed him."

AJ pulled her close and embraced her to him. She rested her head against his shoulder, as the heavy mist swirled around them, the yard light casting an eerie glow. Nocturnal sounds began to invade their senses, the lapping of the water against the wood pilings, the scurrying of night creatures through the cattails.

Suddenly she wanted nothing more to lay it all before her and study it, tell someone who might actually care this time what had happened. "Jezz and I grew up together. Her folks had an old antebellum house a few streets above ours. One street makes all the difference down there. Jezz's momma was always so sweet and nice when we were little. Then, I don't know. Maybe she found out? Maybe she was nuts, but she went into a "convalescent" home down in Houma when we were about 10, I think, and she never came out. Jezz’s daddy always had a bunch of different nurses in to look after Jezz but once her momma went into the asylum she really changed. Anyway, none of the nurses or au pairs or whoever ever stayed very long. Finally, it was just her, her daddy and the maid who was so old that nothing ever got done. She'd come over to my house just to sit in the big old magnolia tree we had. We were about 11 when the stories she started telling me kind of scared me. But she never seemed afraid -- thought it was all a grand joke or something. Then the summer I turned 13 my mother had her own bout with insanity. She drank too much and had to get dried out quick. I don't know where daddy got the money, but the bastard put her in a rehab hospital for six weeks."

Cass stopped and turned in AJ's embrace. He brought his arms around her and together they studied the light playing in the swirling grey mists. She luxuriated for a moment in a totally alien feeling – one of warmth and safety. "He tried to leave me in the house in town, but we didn't have maid to look after me and when they had to drag his ass back to town after I had gotten myself arrested for shoplifting he had no choice but to spend some time with me. That was when he started hitting me. He used to beat the shit out of momma, but until then he had never laid a hand on me. The next weekend came and he brought me out here. It was so much fun, AJ. I remember it was summer and I swam right off this boat dock. Jezz's father brought her down that weekend too and the four of us had a great time. There was a boat and the four of us spent the whole day on it. It was the one time I can remember having a good time with my father.

"The next week he brought me out again, but he was moody and withdrawn. Then this guy came out to the house and dad started to relax – until he realized I was still here. The next thing I know he's asking me if I wanted to spend the night with Jezz. For some reason I really didn't want to, but he didn't leave me a whole lot of choice in the matter. He made a phone call and an hour or so later Jezz and her father showed up in the speedboat. Daddy practically dumped me into the boat and then we're going back up the waterway. I've always had this weird sense of direction. I never get lost which is why I know we'll find the place again tomorrow. But that day, I was so pissed and pissy about leaving my dad I just sat in the back of the boat noticing all the houses and fishing shacks along the way."

"It took us about an hour to get there. The house is up near the end of one of the creeks that feed the main bayou. It was spooky even to a smart-assed 12 year-old. The house was pretty run down; the tin roof rusty and the outbuildings tumbling down – all expect the old smoke house." She pulled gently out of his embrace and turned to face him. The fog was so heavy now he looked like a Monet painting, the huge yard light barely haloing his silhouette. "We fooled around the place, exploring the shack and tormenting a turtle till dinner time. I remember we had cold cheese sandwiches and root beer for dinner." Her voice dropped to a whisper – the cold miasma giving it a strange resonance. "He made us go to bed just after dark. My room was in back, the window was right up against the forest and I lay there for…it seemed like all night…I kept hearing rustling outside the window. Jezz and taken great delight that afternoon in telling me every ghost and horror story supposedly connected to the place." Cass took a deep breath and her voice grew a little stronger. "Finally something hit the house. Hell, AJ, it was probably one of the feral cats chasing dinner. Anyway, that was it for me. I got out of the bed and made my way to Jezz's room. I heard noises coming from inside her room so I figured she was awake."

Cass covered her face with her hands. A sob tore through her. AJ took one long step toward the sound and pulled her back into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head and murmured. "You can tell me, Cass. What did you see when you opened the door?"

Cass's sobs finally stopped and she grew very still and calm. She looked up into his eyes and poured out the end of the story. AJ felt his gut wrench in horror and shame and sorrow for 12 year-old Cassilda. She sniffled. "He just laid there on top of her and grinned over at me and asked me if I wanted some too. I ran out of the house and into the swamp. I was lost for two days before some old Cajun found me. I should have died out there; I was wet and scared but mad as hell. When my dad got to the ranger's station, I tried to tell him what happened. But Jezz's old man had already concocted a story about finding me and Jezz in her room, touching each other." Cass sighed and broke away from AJ's embrace. "Jezz backed him up, said we had been fooling around together for the past year. My dad just kinda of looked at me real sad and took me home. When my mom came home and I tried to tell her, but she just started drinking again. I never tried to tell anyone else until now. Jezz never talked to me again, except one time. It was about six months later and she and I were on some damn field trip and she sat next to me on the bus. She accused me of trying to steal her daddy's love from her because my daddy was a faggot. Jesus, AJ! Just saying it out loud makes me sick and sorry for her and …"

"And none of it was your fault. Just like none of this is your fault." His voice was soft but very firm. "You have to stop blaming yourself for something that you had no control over then or now. We will find them – together, Cass. You know that's the only way it can be. I know you're planning something tomorrow and I suspect that Skinner thinks so, too."

"That's right, Agent O'Malley. I think you need to come inside now and tell us just what that plan is." Skinners deep rumble cut through the fog. Cass stood rigid and only AJ's quick grab at her arm kept her from running into the night.

Cass forced herself to face the house and called out. "How long have you been standing there, Skinner? How much did you hear?"

Skinner's deep sigh penetrated the mist like a foghorn. "Come inside, Agent." She listened carefully but couldn't hear his footsteps or the door close. They made their way toward the glow, AJ's grip still firm on her arm. When they reached the steps she looked up and saw Skinner's dark form. He stood there waiting for them to join him on the porch.

Cass managed to jerk her arm out of Chegwidden's grasp and marched the steps. As she passed Skinner she asked snidely, "You always eavesdrop on your agents, AD Skinner?"

"Hardly ever, Agent O'Malley," he replied dryly.

The light in the kitchen was so bright Cass had to blink to see. Scully was sitting at the white pine kitchen table, a pot of coffee in front of her, studying maps that covered the table. Skinner Chegwidden came in behind Cass and waited.

Cass tried retreat first. "Well, I'll say goodnight now. If you will excuse me."

Dana tiredly shook her head. "It's no use, Cass. We all know you're going to try and get out there by yourself tomorrow. Hell, Cass – you need to take more lessons from Mulder on how to ditch your partners."

Scully smiled up at Skinner who had come around and taken a chair next to her. Skinner continued. "What do you have in mind, Agent? Slip out and go up some back way?" He looked around and reached for one of her mother's white coffee mugs. "Were you planning on making this a personal vendetta?"

Cass replied shakily. "It is personal, sir. You heard what I said out there."

Skinner growled out, "Agent O'Malley, what I heard or didn't hear has no bearing on this." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What's your plan, Agent? I can't allow you to go off half cocked and further jeopardize Mulder and Rabb's lives. Tell me or by God, I will handcuff you to the steering wheel of the car right now if I have to."

Cass felt AJ stiffen next to her and finally made her decision. She looked over at Scully and smiled wanly, "Could I have some of that please?" Scully nodded and poured a mug of coffee and pushed it over to her. "Okay. Mrs. Newsome keeps her late husband's fishing boat in a covered dock. Her sons-in-law come down here all the time to see her and they like to go out on the bayou to fish. There's a 50 HP engine that gets them around just fine. The last time I was down here to make sure the final repairs were done on the house, Mrs. Newsome told me to use it whenever I was down." She shrugged. "I planned on heading out early in the morning. I was going to follow the shoreline around to the main bayou. I would get enough of a head start on you and the others that I might have a chance of getting up there and sneaking in."

Cass sighed deeply and took a long drink of coffee. "Look, Skinner. I know those guys back here. Sixteen men! Do you honestly think that we can sneak in there? It ain't gonna happen. One of them will alert her."

AJ asked quietly. "What makes you so sure that she will kill Rabb and Mulder?"

Cass rubbed her head. "I don't know? Gut instinct. Whispers of fear whenever someone I know mentions her name?" Cass practically begged. "Skinner, please. I know the bayou and I know that, if they are still alive, I can get in and stop her. But not if the troops are blundering in behind me. I have to go alone."

Skinner shook his head. "I can't, O'Malley. It's against policy and, " he held his hand up as she began to protest, "let me finish…it's against everything that makes sense. Besides how are the rest of us going to get up there if you aren't there to guide us?"

Sullenly she responded, "Murphy can lead you guys up there."

"I'll go with her." AJ's declaration was flat and somehow final. "You think you can trust a former SeAL to watch your six?"

Cass considered his offer. It made sense and the thought of him with her tomorrow eased the churning in her gut.

Skinner rubbed his hands together and then over his mouth. "Can I trust you Agent O'Malley? Or, are you going to still try and sneak out tomorrow?"

Cass pushed the chair back and stood. She looked down at Skinner and AJ and responded with as much dignity as she could scrounge up. "You have my word, AD Skinner. Admiral, can you be ready at 6:00 am?"

AJ smiled. "I'll have the coffee ready."

Cass nodded and turned to walk down the hall toward her room.

AJ said good night and left Scully and Skinner at the table. Scully looked over at her lover. "You heard more out there than you admitted."

Skinner sighed. "Yeah. But you won't hear it from me, Dana."

Scully smiled. "Good." She stood up and bent down and kissed him on top of his head. "Good night, Walter. Tomorrow morning is going to come early."

Skinner watched her retreating form. He ached to join her in the small double bed but an innate sense of propriety prevented him from taking advantage of Mrs. Devereaux's hospitality. He stood and stretched and turned out the lights before heading down the hall, very glad she had come in yesterday and given him that `back rub'.

:: Chapter 11 ::

AJ was good as his word and when Cass came out of her mother's room, in blue jeans and tee, her FBI windbreaker folded neatly over her arm, she was met by the smell of rich chicory coffee. She also smelled frying eggs and her stomach turned.

Chegwidden stood at her mother's stove frying eggs in the old cast iron skillet. He smiled as she rumbled `morning' and reached for the coffeepot. "How do you like your eggs?"

"In a nice quiche around lunchtime! Coffee is fine."

AJ glared at her. "We are going to be out a very long time. You need to eat something!"

Cass glared right back at him. "Don't push it, Chegwidden. I'm the queen of Power Bars. There must be five or six in my backpack."

Scully came into the kitchen and declared. "Stop arguing you two. Lord! A man who cooks! Wonderful!"

AJ, still glaring at Cass growled. "How do you like them, Agent Scully?"

"Over easy." Two voices answered in unison. Skinner came down the hall. He walked over to where AJ had a pile of bread slices next to the toaster and began feeding the bread in two slices at a time.

Cass walked out the door and stood on the porch. The fog was already burning off in the early morning sun. She could see part way down the yard and could make out the path leading between the two houses. She started down but turned when she heard the screen door bang behind her. She told Chegwidden, "I'm just going to check the boat house, make sure the key is still where it is supposed to be and check the gas tank."

She was rather surprised when he answered, "Okay. I'm going to the car and grab your backpack. I found a couple of bottles of water in the cabinet, you think your mom will mind?"

"No. I brought them the last time I was down here. They're old but I don't think water gets stale."

Scully, Skinner and Chegwidden were waiting for her as she trudged back up the path. She thought she saw a look of surprise on Skinner's face at the fact that she had actually returned. She looked over at Chegwidden, but his expression was unreadable. He waited patiently with the backpack at his side. When she reached them, he slung it over his broad shoulders, causing his pecs to ripple underneath his knit shirt and Cass bit her lip to keep from smiling appreciatively. "AD Skinner, sir. If you leave now, you will get to the marina before 6:30. Trust me, they haven't left yet."

Skinner held up his cell phone. "I already checked. Scully and I are leaving now. Lieutenant Thibedeaux says Murphy has got all the boats ready and he thinks we can make good time – the fog is clearing faster than he thought. You leaving now?"

"Yes, sir. We should get to Matt's Boat `n Bait in a little over an hour." She held up her cell phone. "We'll check in with you then. If everything goes well, you should be about an hour behind us."

As they approached the boat dock, Mrs. Newsome came out to meet them in the yard. "Oh good, dear. Your mom and I are just getting ready to head up to Baton Rouge. Will you be here when we get back tonight?"

Cass watched as her mother glared at her from the porch steps behind Mrs. Newsome. "I'm not sure…uhm…Judi. Momma. I…Uhm…" She looked over at Chegwidden and then quickly rushed up to her mother, pecked her on the cheek and turned back toward the boat dock. Only AJ saw the startled pleased look on the other woman's face. Cass yelled back over her shoulder. "Don't wait up, Judi. We will probably just bring back the boat and find a ride back into town. But don't worry about the boat, I promise I'll get it back in one piece."

"Oh, Cassilda, I'm not worried at all."

AJ pulled a baseball cap out of his back pocket. "Good day, ladies." And followed Cass down the slippery bank and into the small floating metal boathouse.

Cass jumped into the shiny red `Ranger' fishing boat. AJ whistled appreciatively and moved to take the wheel. Cass narrowed her eyes, but pushed off from the boathouse. AJ maneuvered the boat so she could secure the doors and then pulled them out into the channel. Cass stood beside him and asked sweetly. "You sure you can handle this?"

AJ glared back at her and then laughed. "Yeah, O'Malley, I think I can handle a 50 HP engine. Just make sure I know about any hazards coming up."

They made good speed as they traversed the main part of Turtle Bayou. The sun coming up behind them cast an almost unreal glow, highlighting the remaining fog in a dull orange. Egrets, startled by the early morning engine skimmed the water and alighted atop dead cypress trees.

They made it to Mike's Boat `n Bait in the allotted time and AJ pulled in so they could fill up the tank and the spare, too. Cass saw AJ eyeing her and she sighed and pulled out her cell phone and checked in with Skinner. "They're on their way and Murphy told Skinner they'll be here in about 45 minutes."

As they pulled back into the main waterway, she came to stand next to him. "Stay at least 10 feet off shore and even a lawyer like yourself should be able to spot any cypress knees and avoid them." He snorted and steered the boat smoothly. The engine ran smoothly and he secretly wished they were really exactly what they appeared to be, two early morning sightseers in some of the prettiest country he had seen in a while. They passed a hunting blind perched on timbers high above the water line, blue jays flitting out of the uncovered window. Cass placed one hand on his shoulder and pointed at what, at first appeared to be a log floating in the river. AJ nodded. "Big sucker, isn't he?"

She smiled down at him. "Nah, that's just a baby, momma is probably off in one of the coves eating a cow."

His chuckle sent sparks from his shoulder to her arm to the pit of her stomach. She wondered again what was happening between them. As he watched the gator lazily float by, she sat next to him and studied his profile. The morning breeze invaded her senses --- the sharp tang of the Gulf, the hint of spring and a smell that she had come to associate with him -- a unique blend of clean perspiration and a light after-shave that she has come to recognize as him. She let her senses overrule her analysis of the coming foray. She closed her eyes for a moment and wondered what he would do if she suddenly leaned over and kissed him.

His voice so close to her ear hummed through her. "What are you thinking about?"

She opened her eyes and found that his lips were so close to hers that dream could become reality. Instead she pulled back slightly so she could focus on something not quite so dangerous, but his eyes were piercing and she knew he was thinking along the same lines. Hoping to maintain some semblance of control she thought quickly. "I just wanted to tell you… thank you."

His response was so soft that she saw rather and heard. "For what?"

She looked to the front of the boat and continued clearly. "For last night. For letting me…no, making me get it all out." She looked back at him and realized that it was true not just a dodge to avoid telling what she was really thinking at that particular moment. "I've never told anyone about that time. I've let it color my entire life. I guess that's why I'm so lousy with men."

AJ reached out and touched her chin, running his finger down along her jaw line. "Why do you say you're so lousy with men?"

She threw back her head and laughed. "Look at me AJ. I was married once! To a man that I fought with all the time. Whose father tried…Oh hell, AJ, I'll be calling you doctor pretty soon." She looked away and started to get up. Keeping one hand on the wheel he reached out to her with the other. He pulled her back until she sat next to him again.

AJ sighed. "Whatever happened between you and your father-in-law, was it your fault?"

Cass' eyes widened and she sputtered. "NO!"

Patiently AJ continued. "Did you tell your husband what his father tried?"

"No." Her tone turned sullen. She wasn't sure she liked this new man in her life sticking up for her late husband.

"Then what does that have to do with what you felt for your husband?"

She looked away and after fifteen years tears still pooled in her eyes. "We never had a chance to work it out or to end it right; he just died."

AJ leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry. I know how it feels to lose someone."

Lifting her head slightly, she brought her lips to his, letting them linger for just a moment; wanting more, but knowing now was not the time.

He pulled back and smiled at her before returning his attention to the narrowing waterway. "So, you think that because you never remarried you're lousy with men? I was married, fathered a beautiful daughter and divorced by the time I was in my early thirties and I never remarried. Maybe you just haven't met the right man yet."

Cass leaned back and considered for a long while and whispered back. "Maybe I hadn't."

They rode in silence until Cass suddenly gripped AJ's arm and pointed. Up head just off the bank was a tumbled down rust eaten, corrugated metal building. The only evidence there had ever been a dock was one leaning pylon, a pelican standing silent sentinel atop it.

AJ cut the engine and Cass hit the speed dial on her cell phone. She could barely hear Skinner over the engine noise coming from his end, but he must have moved forward in the boat because she could finally make out what he was telling her. She listening intently for a few moments then in a quiet voice announced. "We're at the final check-point… You can't miss it. The Pepsi sign is still there, but it is hanging by one nail. We've cut the engine and will go the rest of the way using the trolling motor. If you are at full throttle you should make it up here in thirty minutes… We should get to the spot in about 15 minutes. That will give us time to reconnoiter and decide what to do." She listened again and then scowled into the phone before handing it over to AJ, who listened intently before responding.

Cass expected to hear him give some soothing platitude along the lines of "She'll be fine" or "I'll watch out for her." Instead she was surprised by the pained and somewhat angry look that rested upon his features. His response was even more surprising.

"Damn it! Is she with you?" Cass saw the look of annoyance replaced by one of resigned aggravation. "Hell, Skinner, I couldn't keep her from going into Chechnya after him, I don't know what made me think she would stay in Washington. I forgot to order her not to come, I suppose… No, you won't have to worry about her. Give her a rifle and get out of her way… Yeah, 30 minutes." His look grew solemn as he considered the task ahead. "Yeah, good luck to you too. Are the helos ready? Good."

He flipped the cover over the phone and handed it back to Cass. She raised her eyebrow in question.

AJ's sigh reminded her of Skinner. "Colonel MacKenzie met them at the boat dock this morning. She's decided to help."

"Can a Colonel just do that? Don't they have to get permission or something?"

AJ laughed softly. "Not this one. Not where Commander Rabb is concerned."

Cass turned her face so he couldn't see the huge grin of relief on her face.

:: Chapter 12  ::

As he turned the boat into the cove, AJ hugged as close to the bank as he could. He had raised the motor out of the water and was using the electric trolling motor, which made little noise. They had gone over the hand signals to use and even though AJ noticed a small blush of excitement tinge her cheeks, he believed she would keep her word and follow what little plan they had. He nosed the boat into the bank by a huge willow tree and Cass secured the line to a sturdy root that hung into the water. She jumped out onto the bank and waited nervously while AJ climbed forward and joined her on the sloping, slippery patch of forest.

They pushed through the lush greenery and discovered a small path that Cass remembered stumbling down all those years ago. The path led them to a clearing containing the rotting shell of the house, the roof collapsed by a large tree branch. Most all of the outbuildings had tumbled except for one ancient structure that AJ assumed was the smokehouse that Cass had mentioned.

They had decided beforehand to check the main house first, but its condition and shout of pain and anger coming from the smokehouse changed their minds

They crept along until AJ was next to the partially ajar door and Cass the open window. They looked at each other in horror at the scene in the house. Shackled to an ancient post by a leg manacle, Mulder leaned against the back wall, blood dripping down a deep gash in his cheek. His shirt was torn and bloody. But at least he was standing and conscious. Harmon Rabb, one leg also shackled was sprawled across the floor and only the very slight rise and fall of his chest gave any indication his was alive. His face was battered and bruised and tied around his unfettered leg was one of Mulder’s more hideous ties.

Cass could only see Jezz from the back, but it was obvious she was holding a gun on Mulder. Swaying back in forth she began to chant.

"Why won’t you? Why won’t you? Why won’t you? You could. You like boys -- I know you do. Cass is so stupid; she doesn’t know but I know." She kicked out at Rabb’s shackled leg, "Doesn’t he, daddy? You told me that he likes boys."

Chegwidden looked questioningly at Cass, but she could only shrug her shoulders in bewilderment.

Jezz voice rose in timbre until it was nearly a shriek. "You could hurt him, like he used to hurt me. Why won’t you, why won’t you, why won’t you?" Suddenly the tone turned menacing. "If you don’t, I’ll shoot him again."

Mulder resignedly looked up and fought to keep his face blank when he saw Cass O’Malley and a man staring in at him through the window behind the tormentor who had held him and Rabb for more days than he could remember. Fighting for control, he realized he had to distract the insane woman if they had any hope of taking her out without killing her outright. He knew that Rabb wouldn’t make it much longer. Seizing upon the only plan his exhausted brain could come up with he fell forward and began to yank on the heavy chain causing it to rattle loudly. "You stupid bitch! What do you want from me? I’m not whoever you think I am," pointing down at Rabb, "and he’s not your father!" He saw the two at the window exchange looks and then drop from sight. "Look at me! I’m a Federal Agent for Christ sake!" He yanked again at the chain and was surprised when the screw in the wall screeched loose. Jezz brought her gun up and aimed it at Rabb, but AJ’s roar as he crashed low through the door brought her aim around and Jezz found herself face to face with Cass.

"You!" Jezz screamed and fired, but AJ hit her low and his momentum carried them across the room and the bullet buried itself in the ceiling. The gun careened into a corner.

The Admiral and the madwoman wrestled on the floor. Cass stood there trying to figure out a way to help but could only keep her weapon ready in case she got a clean shot. Mulder bent down and pulled the unconscious lawyer out of the way, shielding him as best he could. Jezz kicked and screamed and scratched and AJ was having a hard time gaining purchase. Finally, Jezz screeched and pulled away from him and Cass took aim, but AJ’s right hook sent Jezz across the dirty smokehouse floor to crash into the solid wooden beam in the center of the room. She slowly sank to the floor, out cold. Cass, keeping her gun trained on her childhood friend yelled over at Chegwidden. "You okay?"

Panting heavily, Chegwidden nodded as he got to his feet. He staggered over to Rabb and Mulder and reached out to check Rabb’s pulse

Mulder croaked. "He’s lost a lot of blood and he passed out a couple of hours ago. He needs a doctor and now."

AJ nodded and yanked out his cell and got Skinner. "We’ve got them." He yelled over the noise coming from the other end. "Send in the chopper. Rabb’s hurt bad."

Cass reached behind her and pulled out her cuffs and handed them over to AJ who went and cuffed Jezz’s hands behind her back. He dragged her outside and laid her down on the ground against a castoff truck tire. When he came back in, Cass had just retrieved a key hanging by door. She knelt and unlocked the manacle from Mulder’s ankle, but Mulder still held Rabb in his arms. She patted her partner’s shoulder and gently pleaded. "Mulder, please, come out. We’ll get him." Mulder looked up at her as if he didn’t really see her. "Mulder, please, partner. Come on out." She kept her voice level and calm but didn’t touch him again. She couldn’t imagine what the two of them had been through, but she could see the pain and anguish etched on his face.

She stood up and reached out her hand. After a moment Mulder took it and leveraged himself up. As he made his way past her, just before he let go of her hand, he paused and finally made eye contact, "Thanks, O’Malley." He nearly tripped then and she grabbed him, threw his arm around his waist and walked him out into the yard and sat him far away from Jezz. "You’re gonna be okay. Scully is on her way with Skinner." She reached down to her ankle and pulled out her backup piece and handed it to him, but he wearily waved it off.

"I’ll be okay; get back in there and see what you can do." He gestured to the bound and unconscious Morris. "She’s not going anywhere."

Cass squeezed his shoulder and returned to the smokehouse where Chegwidden was kneeling beside his officer.

"How is he?" Cass asked softly.

AJ looked up at her and started to speak when they heard the loud roar of the boats fill the secluded cove. Helicopter rotors added to the discord so he raised his shoulders in uncertainty and returned his attention to the injured lawyer. Cass noted how grey and sickly Rabb’s color was. She turned as shouts and pounding feet approached and stepped back just as Scully ran through the door. Cass was surprised to see her, but figured that Mulder had refused her help and sent her in to minister to the more damaged man. AJ moved out of the way and was standing beside Cass when another woman came charging in. Dressed in Marine fatigues and boots, her short-cropped hair clinging to her sweaty, fear-filled face. She immediately zeroed in on Rabb, stopped dead still and brought her fingers to her lips.

Cass looked over at Chegwidden with a question in her eyes and he nodded. "Colonel MacKenzie."

The woman looked over at him for just a minute and then walked slowly to her partner. Chegwidden shook his head in amazement and then walked out of now stifling room. Cass followed and paused for a second watching the mayhem of agents and state cops begin their sweep of the place. She mimicked Chegwidden’s amazement and went to find her boss.

Skinner was standing in front of the house gazing at the activity around him. The men, who arrived pumped for action, found they really had nothing to do. With indifference, they overturned barrels and rusted washtubs, looking for God knew what. Skinner, who couldn’t be heard over the beating of the helo overhead started to wave for them to come and assemble around him, when suddenly Agent Cramer stumbled out of the dilapidated house, his face blanched and sweat covered. He pulled on Skinner’s sleeve with the intensity of a small child wanting his mother’s immediate attention. Skinner looked at him in annoyance but followed the man back into the building. Cass started to follow but Chegwidden’s hand on her shoulder held her back. She met his concerned gaze and smiled but continued into the building.

Decades of debris littered the weather-ruined interior. Leaves twigs and moss fought with old newspapers, magazines and other house detritus for dominance. Cass walked gingerly, placing her weight carefully until she realized who had preceded her down the long narrow hallway. She wished the helicopter would go away, just down the stream a little, but she knew that they would need to use it to get Rabb to the hospital. She saw Skinner at the end of the house, standing in the doorway to the room where she had tried to sleep that night nearly 30 years ago. She approached her boss and poked her head past his shoulder and gasped.

Cramer and Trumbell stood staring in horror at the bed, the foot of which had collapsed years ago. The remains there were very old but still frightening. The skeleton with weathered flesh still clinging to it lay in a heap on the bed. Animals and decades of decay had eaten at the flesh and gnawed at the bones. She looked dispassionately on the tableau and found herself wondering why no one had ever looked for Justaine Morris out here all those years ago. A strange calm descended up her and she turned and walked out of the building and shaded her eyes to watch the process of the stretcher carrying Commander Rabb being winched up into the bay of the copter.

As the copter rose and started back to base, Cass let her attention settle on the scene before her. Scully was examining Mulder who had a resigned but patient look. She smiled and thought <<<well they’ve been down this road before>>> and walked up to her errant partner. "Hey. How you doin’?"

He smiled over Scully’s shoulder. "I’m hungry and tired, but Dr. Scully here says…"

Scully straightened after examining the gash on the side of Mulder’s head. "Dr. Scully says you’re on the next copter out of here."

Colonel MacKenzie, who had wandered over to stare down at the now prone Jezz Morris, turned when she heard Scully’s voice and walked over to join them. "Another helo is coming? Do you think I can hitch a ride to the hospital? I want to be there when he wakes up."

Just then they heard the loud ‘whacking’ return. As they looked up, they saw it was a smaller helicopter, but this one was fitted with floats and it slowly descended out of sight. An agent came running up to them. "They landed just outside the cove. They can take two of you back. Who’s going with Mulder?"

Mulder tried to protest but Scully and O’Malley cut him off in unison. "You’re going!"

Scully smiled over at MacKenzie. "Go ahead. But you got to promise me that you will make sure the doctors at the base check this one out thoroughly. I want a COMPLETE exam. Deal?"

The lady Marine eyed the petulant Mulder and smiled evilly. "No problem, ma’am. I think I can handle him. Come on, Agent Mulder. You can tell me your theory on why she did this."

Realizing he had a captive audience for his theories, Mulder followed MacKenzie to the waiting boat. As they were pulling away, Cass noticed that one of the state troopers was pulling up in Mrs. Newsome’s boat and was thankful that she wouldn’t have to trek back through the overgrown riverbank to retrieve it. She turned her attention back to Scully. "You best get in the house. I’m pretty sure we found Jezz’s daddy after all."

Scully’s eyebrow shot up, but understanding overcame astonishment. Together they looked over at Morris, who was now conscious and struggling to get up and away from two of the agents. Scully shook her head and ran up to the house, just as Skinner came out the door, his heavy gait caused the last hinge to give way on the door and it crashed to the rotted porch. He looked up and inspected the roof before settling his attention on Scully. "I’m not real happy about you going in there. The damn place is about to collapse. I’m surprised I made it out without going through any of the floorboards."

"Well, you stay out here then. Have someone bring in one of the body bags we brought." Together, they realized what she had said and the professional masks they had worn all morning slipped for a moment and they gazed at each other for a moment, sharing a private look of relief. It was only a second and Skinner’s brusque cough broke the spell and as she turned to enter the house, he yelled out for one of the officers to bring the necessary equipment she would need from the boat.

Leaving her and the forensics tech to it, Skinner turned back and watched Cass O’Malley study Jezz Morris. He started to join her but movement off to his left claimed his attention and he watched as Chegwidden and Wilcox trudged up from the back of the house.

With a resigned sigh he asked, "What did you find back there?"

Chegwidden shrugged. "I’m no expert, but we couldn’t see any evidence to suggest that the ground back there had been disturbed in over a 100 years, if ever. After you interrogate Morris, you may want to send in a team but I didn’t see any thing to warrant digging for more bodies."

Skinner was relieved that they might get off fairly easy this time. He remembered all the bodies they had finally dug up last November in the pumpkin patch and he hoped that he would never have to do that again. He jerked his head to where Jezz was huddled against the large truck tire and the three of them walked over to the prone woman.

Cass saw them approach and together they formed a circle around Morris. Skinner crouched down to help her to her feet, but the policewoman kicked out at him and began to screech incoherently. Cass touched Skinner’s shoulder and bent down.

"Jezz! Jezz! Knock it off, damn it. We aren’t going to hurt you. Stand up."

At Cass’ stern voice, Morris grew silent but pulled back until her back was against the tire again. A confused look crossed her face as she looked up at Cass. Her whisper was so low that her audience had to strain to hear her. "He wasn’t supposed to come back, Cass. I was so happy when he ran off. But, he came back. Why didn’t he just stay away?"

Rage suddenly replaced confusion and Jezz struggled first to her knees and then to her feet, her bound hands hampering her progress. The men kept a close eye on her, but made no move to aid her. She finally stood before Cass and began to scream. "It’s your fault. It’s all your fault. If you had told them what he did -- why didn’t you ever tell them what he did to me?"

Cass gasped as thirty years of guilt washed away from her soul. Chegwidden’s words of the night before whispered in her mind.

<<<It’s not your fault – now or then.>>>

Cass stared at the woman whose betrayal thirty years ago had cost Cass so dearly. "I did tell, Jezz, remember?"

Jezz sunk back to her knees and wept. "He should have stayed away. I sent him away once. He should have stayed away." Jezz looked around and another lightning change transformed her features and she locked stares with Skinner. A sultry, seductive countenance softened her features and she cooed, "You believe me don’t you, Mr. Skinner? I just wanted him to go away again. I wouldn’t have hurt him. The other man was going to hurt him. I would never have hurt him."

She tried to stand again and Skinner rubbed his face with one hand before reaching down to pull her up. "Come on, Lieutenant. Let’s get you back to town." She smiled coyly at him and allowed him to lead her down to the landing. He handed her into the boat and motioned for Agents Loman and Strugg of NCIS to join her. When she realized that Skinner wasn’t getting in she began to get agitated, but Strugg began to speak softly to her, pulling her attention away from the AD. One of the LSP officers jumped in to handle the wheel, as Skinner called down to them. "Get her back to New Orleans. And watch her." The three men nodded and the driver revved the engine and slowly backed out till he could turn the boat around. Skinner picked six more men to get into the next boat and follow them back.

Once the boats were out of sight, Skinner turned and saw Scully come out onto the porch, pulling off her rubber gloves. Cramer and Trumbell were right behind her carrying a body bag between them, though either could have managed it alone, but with less dignity. Bringing up the rear was Bobby Beacom and the forensics tech carrying the evidence kit and camera.

Skinner and the remaining members of the team gathered around the porch. "What did you find?" Skinner asked gruffly.

Scully expelled a long breath through her pursed lips. "Well, from what we can make out, he was stabbed. There was a knife among the bones, and he was apparently handcuffed to the bed naked. We found what was left of a pile of clothes and one end of the handcuff still attached to the bed frame – though none of the bones of the forearm or hand were attached, they were scattered behind the headboard and on the floor. There was long-term decay of course, so we won’t be able to glean much from the scene at all. We’ve got everything that we can and took pictures from every angle."

Skinner looked around at the men and then back at Scully. "Any reason I should post a couple of guards?"

Chegwidden noticed most of the men looked at Skinner in horror. As a group they breathed a sigh of relief when Scully shook her head. "No. After all this time, the pictures and the evidence will suffice."

Skinner nodded and then checked his watch. He had noticed that Mr. Murphy, who had patiently waited for them at the dock, showing no interest in the proceedings, had started to get a little antsy. "Okay, people. Let’s wrap this up. Loman!"

"Yo!"

Pointing to the smokehouse he asked, "You guys done in there?"

"All done. Not much to inventory but got two rolls of pictures and some blood samples from the floor. Dug out that bullet from the ceiling just in case, too. You want the chains?" At Skinner’s emphatic nod, Loman sighed and went back in.

Skinner waited patiently; as the early afternoon sun blazed down on them, he was suddenly very hungry and knew his men must be too. Finally Loman and another agent came out carry all their gear and several evidence bags. They had used an old washtub to hold the chains in.

"Let’s head out then." Skinner led the group down to the remaining boats. Scully jumped in and Cramer and Trumbell gingerly climbed across the rocking boat and secured the body bag in the back. Skinner double checked as the rest of the group boarded the other boats.

Thibedeaux walked over to him. "I’ll ride back with you if I can. We need to talk."

Wilcox piped up. "I’ll come too. There room?"

Skinner nodded. "Yeah." He then looked over and saw that Cass and AJ were standing off to one side surveying the exodus. "You gonna take the boat back to Mrs. Newsome?"

Cass crossed her arms, her eyes not meeting her boss’. "Yeah, I promised. Uhm…when you get back, could someone drop off a car at my mother’s place? That way they don’t have to wait."

Skinner eyed his agent closely but saw that Chegwidden had no intention of going anywhere without her so he agreed. "Yeah. That’ll work. We’ll see you back in town. Let’s move it people."

Cass turned to AJ. "You can go back with Skinner. There’s room and you probably want to be in on what they’re discussing."

Chegwidden noted the studied casualness of her offer, but saw the underlying anxiety. "Not my case, O’Malley." He folded his arms and watched as the boats left the small cove. When they were out of sight he started down to the boat, but realized she wasn’t behind him. He quickly checked the smokehouse, the entrance now covered in yellow police tape that would probably be there until the next gale struck and tore it away.

He climbed the rotting steps to the house and found her standing at the foot of the bed. He waited patiently while she worked through the problem herself.

Cass tried to evoke the memories of that night. She closed her eyes willing the terrible night back. But, it had fled to the recesses of her soul. It was part of her, but with the guilt gone, she could view it dispassionately now. She had been the victim, but she had finally grown past it. She wasn’t a drunk or abuser or anything at all like that poor shell of a woman who Cass was sure would never leave whatever institute they put her in. And, there was someone waiting patiently for her and she decided it was high time to focus on her future. She turned and smiled at him. "You drivin’?"

He smiled back and held out his hand. "Let’s shove off, darlin’."

They had reached the main waterway, AJ behind the wheel and Cass next to him on the bench seat. She looked up at the sky and then out to the southwest. She closed her eyes and did a rough calculation and exclaimed. "Shit!"

AJ heard her over the engine. "What?" he shouted back.

She put her mouth to his ear. "We aren’t going to make it."

AJ scanned the water ahead of him wisps of steam had begun to rise off the warmer water into the cooling air. He leaned over, keeping his eyes on the route ahead and the throttle full out. "We’ve only got another hour at the most. We can make it at least to the Boat ‘n Bait shop, we can call Skinner and…"

Cass put her hand on his shoulder and pointed to where she was intently staring. "Wait for it." He eased up on the throttle to turn to see what she was pointing at.

As they passed a break in the closely packed cypress trees, down a widening offshoot of water, AJ show what had her concerned. In the distance, a thunderhead was massing. Explosions of lightning brightened the interior of the black clouds rolling right toward them. "Damn! Be looking for someplace…maybe someone will take us in."

Cass shook her head. "Not at this end. Not that I can remember."

AJ tried to coax more speed, but the 50HP engine was already straining and when they entered the narrow passage at the other end of the bayou, he’d have to slow down.

Cass saw the first lightning bolt and started counting till the thunder echoed across the bayou. She looked at AJ, but he was concentrating on the heavy vegetation on either side of them. Just as the first fat drop of cold rain struck the hand clutching the throttle, he found what he had been searching for. Then Cass saw the hunting shack and climbed to the front of the boat to grab the tie-off ropes.

They had just secured the boat under the pylon-raised structure, next to the ladder leading up through the floor, when the dark skies opened and the rain flooded down in sheets. The lightning had moved on but the thunder rolled across them repeatedly. Quickly they grabbed Cass’ backpack, as well as a canvas bag marked "emergency" that they had found earlier and climbed up the sturdy ladder leading up into the shack.

Once inside AJ shined their flashlight over the room and chuckled, "Well it’s not the Ritz, but it looks dry enough. Actually, for what it is, it’s probably pretty plush."

She catalogued their furnishings and had to agree. Someone had built overlarge chairs, roomy enough for the biggest ‘Bubba’ butt; so heavy looking that Cass figured the carpenter had built them on site. There was a large table obviously built from the same material against the back wall. And that was it except for the wooden hooks on the wall and the one decoration that graced the premises. A large moose head glared down at them. Cass laughed. "I guess the wife won one battle."

AJ grinned back at her. "Let’s see what we’ve got here." Indicating the canvas bag. "I hope Mrs. Newsome packed a picnic. I’m starved."

"Mrs. Newsome is a dear, but if you’re lucky, there’s beef jerky and some candy bars."

AJ carried the bag to the table and dumped the contents out. He held up each item and sighed. "Three Hershey bars, a bag of salted nuts, two small bottles of water, a first aid kit, a Tulane football stadium blanket, and this thing." He examined the largish yellow cylinder in his hand and finally figured it out. A warm light suffused the room. "And a lantern."

Cass brought her small backpack to the table. "Well, I’ve got three Power Bars left. A full bottle of water, a penlight, a wad of napkins from I’m not sure where, two tea bags and a pack of gum. Oh, and my ID and wallet."

Grabbing the pile of napkins, AJ walked over to the porch and reached out in the rain. He let the rain wash the grime of the day from his hands and then cupped his hands and splashed water over his sweaty face.

"Sounds like a great idea." Cass stood beside him and mimicked his earlier actions. "Now that we’re all clean, how about some fine dining?" They walked back to the table and Cass reached for and held out one of the Power Bars. "Have one."

Chegwidden scowled and grabbed up a Hershey Bar. "Can’t stand those things."

Cass shrugged. "Suit yourself." She grabbed a bottle of water and walked back over to the window. "At least it isn’t blowing in."

He was so close behind her she jumped when he responded. "That overhang is pretty deep. I think we’ll be fine." She looked up and from the glow of the lantern saw into his dark eyes. She finished her Power Bar and took a deep drink from the water bottle. She turned to him and folded her arms across her chest. "You finished already?" She asked softly.

He pulled her to him and her arms dropped to her side. "It’s a candy bar, Cass. Just a nice sweet taste." Then his lips descended to hers, a touch of surprisingly soft lips against hers. Tentatively he increased the pressure and she brought her hands up to caress his shoulder blades, urging him closer.

His tongue leisurely traced her lips, glazing along her teeth until she welcomed him in. Her tongue met his and they danced across each other until neither was sure who groaned first. AJ was the one to break the kiss. He pulled in a lung full of air and then kissed her on the forehead. "Shame there’s not a nice bed in here."

She smiled rather wickedly back at him. "Oh, we’ll manage."

He laughed. "Now, darlin’. I want to make love to you on a nice soft mattress and take my time with you."

She pushed him back and asked archly. "And what pray tell do you plan on doing until we can find us a nice soft mattress, AJ?"

Even in the dim light he could make out the determined glint in her eye. "Well, we could sleep in the chairs. You can have the blanket. I’ll be fine."

She took a step toward him. "Sleep? It’s barely 7:00 o’clock, AJ. You really feel like sleeping?" She grinned as she remembered Scully relating how they had gotten the initial information from Bud Roberts. "Of course, we could always play a game."

He gulped and took one step back. "What kind of game?"

She matched his step and put her hands on his shoulders, letting her fingers caress his neck. "Oh, how about 20 questions?"

"Twe-Twenty questions?" He wondered when it had gotten so warm in here and when he had lost control of the situation. And then, he thought <<<why not? Let’s see just how far you are willing to take this, Agent O’Malley.>>> Keeping just a trace of nervousness in his voice he asked, "All right, Cass. Who starts?"

Sliding her hands along the outline of his collar, she chuckled. "Oh, I’ve already got something in mind, Admiral. You guess." She opened the two buttons of his knit shirt and then brushed her hand across the tightly outlined nipples.

He licked his lips and started. "Animal, vegetable or mineral?"

"Oh, definitely animal." Her hands traced down his firm abs and tugged on the fabric until it pulled free from his pants. She began to work his shirt up his chest.

Letting some humor color his tone he brushed his hand along her arms. "Uhm…is it bigger than a bread box?"

That stopped her progress and she considered him through narrowed eyes before snorting. "Christ, I hope not."

He bit hard on his tongue to keep from laughing.

She had gone as far with his shirt as she could and demanded petulantly, "A little help here, please."

He stepped back and quickly shed the garment and then pulled her into his embrace. He reached up and loosed the band holding her hair, letting it spill down to drape her shoulders. His kiss this time was possessive, claiming her mouth with his tongue, her lips with soft nipping bites. His fingers combed and smoothed her thick unruly hair, holding her head close to him.

This time it was Cass who pulled away, panting, trying to remember the rules of this game they were playing. She looked behind him, quirked a small smile and brought both hands to his chest and pushed.

He fought for balance, unsure what was behind him, until his calves met the front of the chair. He sat down clutching at her shoulders, but she deftly stepped back just out of his reach. She stood and began to tap her foot, waiting for him to continue.

He took a deep shuddering breath, thought quickly and then leaned back. "Is this… uhm…the item we are referring to…is it used exclusively by men or by women?"

He watched as the slow appreciative smile claimed her face. She knelt down between his feet and gently tugged first at one boot and then the other. "Oh, men use it more, I guess, but women do have their uses for it too." She tickled the socks down his ankles and carefully tucked them into one of the boots. She ran her hands up the inside of his legs, inching forward as she did. She paused and slowly petted and caressed his inner thighs, her eyes locked on to his, but knowing that if she looked down she would see the marvelous proof of their game. He reached for her, but she brushed his hands away.

He ceased breathing all together as her hands came up and undid his belt and slowly unzipped the fly to his khakis, trailing her nail over the bulge pushing hard against its confinement. She brought her hands back up to his waistband and tugged. He gripped the chair arms and raised his hips as she pulled his pants down and off, moving back to survey her work.

He finally gulped another lung full of air. "Uhm…Cass…one of us is a little overdressed here. Don’t you think?"

She smiled down at her prize. His erection stood out perfect. Not overly huge, it was thick and she licked her lips. She started to kneel back down, but stopped herself. As he watched in the dim lantern light she quickly stood and shed her shoes and jeans. She slowly pulled off her shirt and stood before him in rather pedestrian bra and cotton briefs. She pulled the shoulder straps off and then reached behind her to free her breasts for his view. Finally, she pulled down the panties and threw them on the table. She stood still for a moment allowing him to scrutinize and assess, her concerns about her aging body impinging on her confidence.

"Beautiful. Just… beautiful. Come here."

She shook her fears out of her head and knelt back down between his legs. He groaned as she reached out and caressed his shaft, pulling it toward her. She ran her nail along the pulsing vein on the bottom and then brought her mouth down and began to lick the head as if it were an ice cream cone, swirling her tongue around it then covering with her lips. She finally took as much of him into her mouth as she could, sucking and pulling back as she did so. What she couldn’t engulf she soothed with her hand, using the other to gently squeeze his heavy balls, a finger occasionally tickling the patch of soft skin behind them.

Still gripping the chair arms, he tried desperately not to buck in her mouth, letting her set the pace. "So good. God! Cass, feels so good." She smiled and pulled back releasing him with a slight pop. At his groan, she bent forward and blew across his head and bent back down and claimed him again. "Sweet Jesus, Cass. Baby, you gotta stop now. I’m almost…" She felt his balls tighten, but instead of pulling back again, she grabbed his hips and gave one last long suck and he cried out her name and emptied himself into her mouth. She swallowed everything he had to give her and then slowly licked him clean. She sat back on her heels and watched as he came down from his orgasm.

He leaned forward and gripped the back of her head and brought her lips to his. The taste of him on her lips, the smell of her, the feel of her smooth skin under his fingers fascinated him. The kiss was brief but passionate and when he pulled away and stood up she whimpered. But he smiled at her and kissed her nose. "Oh, I’m just getting something, darlin’. It’s your turn now." He walked over to the table and pulled the stadium blanket from its carrier and walked back to the center of the room. The rain was just starting to let up and a chill had begun to slowly steal over the swamp, but here in this place, their passion still warmed them. He took his windbreaker from the floor and rolled it tightly and then held out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her down to sit next to him on the rough wool. He laid her back, her head resting on the makeshift pillow and he leaned over her and kissed her forehead, then her eyes, progressing slowly until he captured her lips again.

She thought she would faint from the sensation. Before she had been in control but now he towered over her, his very presence overpowering all of her senses. He brought his lips over to suckle on her earlobe, the breath from his nose driving out any other sound in the room. He rested on his side next to her, his weight on his elbow, his head on his hand. He gazed upon her heaving chest and reached out and traced a path from her throat, through the valley of her breasts down to explore her navel before coming to rest on her mound. She arched up into his hand but he began the slow journey back up, this time claiming the breast farthest from him, tracing the aureole lightly with his blunt nail, causing both of them to pucker, the nipples tightening to hard pebbles. He bent over and took the other one between his teeth and began to worry and tug on it.

Cass kept her eyes open and watched and felt as waves and shivers ran up and down her body. She reached up and caressed his head but let him have his way. His hand traced back down her stomach and finally found her moist core. He caressed and then parted her lips and began a slow exploration of her sex. She groaned and arched her back, searching, begging for more contact when he released her nipple and rolled over to kneel between her parted legs. He bent down and kissed her belly, nipping at her navel before letting his tongue replace his fingers at her labia. He took his time exploring her, teasing her, finally driving her over the edge as he pulled her clit into his mouth and imitated her torture of his cock earlier. She lay back panting and watched languidly as he positioned himself above her opening, pleased and rather surprised that he was hard again so soon. She reached up and pulled him down into her.

His filling of her completed a circuit that had begun when they had first met. He stretched her and she reveled in it. She brought her legs up and locked her feet together around his back, holding him tight. He looked down into her lust-filled eyes and began to slowly pump in and out of her. Suddenly mindful of the hard floor under her he pulled out just enough to break her hold and then gently rolled them over until he was under her and she straddled him, still impaled upon his shaft. He grinned at her and began to buck. She pulled up and then surged down and his hands gently gripped her hips and began to help. Neither of them lasted long and as he shifted his position just enough so that he was rubbing her clit on each down thrust; he felt her muscles clinch and they came, one last time together.

Sweat streamed down her face, her hair matted against her moist skin. Still buried inside her, he brought her head down to his chest. He pulled one half of the blanket over as much of them as he could and they lay there listening finally to the rain patter on the roof above and the bayou below them. She nuzzled into the spot just below his ear and whispered huskily. "That was the most intense, wonderful experience of my life…and you wanted to wait for a bed." She snorted daintily.

His chuckle finally dislodged him from her warmth and they both groaned. "Darlin’ remind me to finish that game of twenty questions when we get back into town."

"You’re on." And she drifted off to sleep.

Sometime in the night he shifted her into the envelope of the blanket and got up and stretched, padding over to look out into the night. The rain had cooled the swamp and there was little fog; in fact, walking out onto the ‘balcony’ of the structure he could look up and see the stars shining bright above him, with only wisps of clouds tracking the deep blue sky. The moon, a perfect quarter sliver, lit the bayou with an intensity he seldom saw in Washington. He felt her soft hand on his back and reached around to pull her into a tight hug. "Sorry I woke you."

"S’kay." She replied sleepily. "I got cold. Damn, Chegwidden, you produce a lot of heat." She felt free and wanton standing there completely naked, but somehow it felt so very right. She swallowed and then asked, "Hand me that water bottle, will you?"

He looked back and found the half-empty bottle still sitting on the windowsill and reached around and gave it to her. She took a deep gulp but left him a swallow. He finished it and then laughed outright as her stomach growled. She slapped playfully at his chest but he pulled her face up to his and kissed her resoundingly. "It looks pretty clear. You want to head back? There’s a light on that boat, you know. We could get some breakfast on our way back into town, or maybe even get a room!"

She sighed. She like being here with him, but knew they had to get back. In fact she was kind of surprised that – The tinny chirp of a cell phone from within the cabin broke into her thoughts and she scurried back in to find it. Deftly avoiding the hole in the floor, she found her phone on the table and on the third ring snapped. "O’Malley!" Chegwidden came in and began to pick up the clothes that had been tossed. He watched her carefully as she listened without speaking for a few moments. "No sir, we found a shack to hole up in…No, it looks pretty clear now. Chegwidden thinks we can make it back with the running lights…Tomorrow morning at 11:00 o’clock? Yes, sir. I’m sure we can be back by then… Thank you, sir. Yes, Mr. Skinner, I’ll let him know."

She clicked her phone shut and tossed it into her backpack. She rummaged about the table and found the pack of gum lying there, opened it and took a piece. "You want one?" She handed over the pack and began to organize her thoughts. "Skinner’s called one last debriefing at 11:00 tomorrow."

All the while she was talking she was throwing her clothes on, suddenly shy around the man she had just made passionate love with. He finished pulling on his boots and reached down to grab the blanket, but he had sensed her nervousness and was at momentary loss at what to do. She started to pick up the backpack and move out of his way when he threw the blanket upon the table and pulled her to him. He gazed into her eyes. "What’s the matter, Cass?"

She started to pull away and realized that was what she always did. Every time a man got close or made her feel good she felt instantly unworthy and backed off. And, after all they had been through together these past days, she knew he deserved better – they both did. She embraced him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Sorry. Just nervous I guess."

He kissed her hair. "About what?"

"About us. About what just happened. About what will happen when we get back to New Orleans and then D.C."

His chuckle sent butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. "I guess life happens, Cass, and you know what?"

She pulled back to gaze into his eyes and shook her head. "What?"

"I want you in my life. One day at a time, darlin’. Okay?"

She sighed deeply and nodded. "Okay. One day at a time."

Part 13 - 14

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