Part Four Showdowns
For Disclaimers See Part One
Cascade PD Major Crimes
8:00 AM
Thursday
Jim and Blair walked into the bullpen after their early morning visit to the morgue to look at the bodies of the previous victims. Jim was unable to determine how Davison was able to know that there was more than one killer.
"Jim, we'll have to ask her." Blair said "Look you want me to do it?"
"Maybe you should Chief, if she gave you those files as signal for help you should be the one to broach the topic to her. I'll listen in and make sure she doesn't kill you." Jim said.
"Why do I feel like I'm being sent to brave a murderous horde?" Blair said and walked over to the desk that Simon had given to Megan, which was near Jim's desk. She was involved in a discussion on her cell phone. It didn't look good for whomever she was talking to.
Megan sighed, "Look Mulder, I only called you because Frohike threatened that he would call if I didn't. I don't need my hand held through this case." Megan rolled her eyes and then noticed Blair, "Look Mulder, I've got to go I'll call you like we planned, you try to talk Skinner out of what he is planning to do. Give my best to Scully, bye."
Blair decided to chat her up a bit and use his charm to find out what was going on. "So Megan, talking to one of your friends back in DC?"
Megan took one look at the young man, he had worn his hair loose, his blue eyes were shining with the same soulful innocence she sensed earlier, "Friend, yes, in DC no. Don't waste the charm on me it doesn't work. Just ask straight out."
Blair looked at her in surprise, he then asked in a lowered voice, "How many enhanced senses do you have?"
Megan looked at him in disbelief, "What the hell are you saying." She also looked up and saw that Ellison was looking straight at them. Trying to keep her voice down and expression neutral so she wouldn't draw any attention from the other detectives. "What, Ellison failed last night so you're here to find out for him." Megan decided to let Blair know what she suspected of Ellison, "Blair how well do you really know Ellison? When I found out where I was going and who I would be working with I used a few unofficial sources to find out more about you guys. On you I found everything you did from the time, you were 10. Every little prank you've pulled. You are not a threat to me. Ellison on the other hand, I know you know he's worked in Covert Ops do you know what he may have done in that time? I've come across a lot of them in the last year alone. Most of the time I was on the business end of their weapons. I have a hard time trusting anyone who has a history with Covert Ops."
Blair couldn't believe what Megan was saying he felt that he had to try to correct her view of Jim. "Megan, what ever Jim has done in the past is just that the past. You haven't shared an apartment with him. The Jim Ellison that _I_ know is not like that."
"That is just it Blair you don't know him you only know the Jim Ellison that he has showed you. Do you really think that he tells you every thing. Sometimes the past can come out and grab you. I may have misjudged someone, you. I'll be at the crime scene." Megan then handed Blair a key and a small piece of paper. "Here is the key for the apartment across the hall and the frequency of my tracker. Give it to whoever is going to be watching me. One thing no one and I repeat no one goes into my place. Understand?"
Blair took the key and paper, "Understood." He said watching her leave. Then he walked over to Jim and handed him the items. "Well I guess you heard that. She really doesn't like you does she."
"No, she doesn't. Blair I didn't want to do this but I think we have to. I want you to go to Jack Kelso, he still has some contacts that may know about her. I'll go to the crime scenes and keep an eye on her meet me there OK? One more thing try and find something out about her parents too." Jim handed Blair the file Simon had given him yesterday.
Blair nodded and then asked, "Why do you want to know about her folks?"
"Just a hunch, Chief. Now I'd better go to the crime scenes."
"Jim," Blair said concerned, "don't go overboard on the senses. If you find anything unusual remember it and we'll go back later. OK?"
"Yeah, see you later."
Fourth Crime Scene
3:00pm
Jim saw Blair's car pull up and walked over to him, "So what did you find out, Chief?"
Blair got out of the car, looked at his friend, and wondered how the news was going to go down, "Man, you would not believe what I've been looking at No wonder she doesn't trust you yet."
"Spit it out Sandburg, I've just spent most of the day aimlessly wondering around four crime scenes finding nothing useful not even something that the women had bought recently that they may have had in common."
"OK, first there was a problem with the investigation into Megan parents death. It appears that six officers were involved in it. The first two were reassigned after declaring possible foul play. They were local cops. The second set of officers said it was natural causes. Those were the state police. The third set brought in said that they couldn't determine either way. Those were the Feds. The weird thing is that at the start of the investigation Megan phoned the sheriff almost daily but after the second set of officers were brought in she stayed quiet. With the third set, she was missing from her college for four weeks. That was during the summer break. She was 18 at the time. She spent two more years in college collecting degrees and applied for the FBI at the age of 20, normally she would have been refused. Somehow, she was granted a one of a kind waiver that allowed her to go to Quantico. She finished top of her class. Then she went to Violent Crimes Section, where she was passed around to the various crimes. Jim, she has profiled more killers in her first two years then most profilers do in ten. After that incident 18 months ago she was under investigation but after three months the investigation stopped. Three months after that she was transferred to The X-Files division. Get this they deal with unexplained phenomenon, you know like UFO's, the occult, mutants, and even the paranormal, stuff like that. I read some of the case files, scary stuff. I see why she said she wanted more time to explain them."
"What about her parent's before their deaths?" Jim asked keeping an eye on the front door of the house that Megan was looking at.
"Well, that is one more of the inconsistencies of this whole thing. Only two references are made in the FBI records about them. One that they worked there and another around the time that Megan would have been seven. Someone tried to break into her parent's house but her parent's found the robber dead of natural causes. Jim that was all that Jack Kelso could find out. Anything else was restricted." Blair leaned against his car and looked up at Jim, when it hit him. Something was wrong nearby Blair dismissed it attributing it to all of the stories he heard from Jack today, the only outer sign of what he felt was a shudder.
"What's wrong Chief?" Jim asked noticing Blair's shudder.
"Nothing just that 'someone walking over my grave' feeling. It's really weird." Blair replied.
Jim smiled, "With all the women you see I'm surprised that doesn't happen more often."
Blair laughed with him, then noticed that Megan was walking out of the house looking around intently. Her gaze settled on one direction then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and shook her head, then walked to join them.
Megan saw the files that Blair had and smiled, "I see you must have been checking up on me. Fair's fair. Come on I couldn't find out anything useful in any of the houses. I have some samples I want tested, but I can do that tomorrow. Just have to wait for the next victim. If I'm right the killers have one now, and are searching for the sixth, hopefully it will be me. Ellison, want to call it a day now, you or Blair still have to get set up at my building, and as long as you don't ask me any personal questions I'll even cook dinner."
"Davison, I thought you didn't trust Blair or I?" Jim questioned her.
Megan shrugged out of her FBI windbreaker that she had worn all day, "Remember the saying 'Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.' I plan to do just that. I know that you are hiding something from me but as long as it has no bearing on the investigation, I don't care right now. I'll find out later, I always do. Both of you know that I'm hiding something from you. Lets just call it even right now."
"Sort of an agree to disagree type thing?" Blair asked trying to shake the feeling that they were being watched. It wasn't a strong feeling just a nagging one. Blair would like to think that over the time he had been working with Jim that some of the older man's instincts were beginning to rub off onto him, but right now Blair wasn't sure. He looked at Megan and again, for lack of a better expression, he saw her aura the dark outside and light inside. She was wearing neutral colors once more and instead of the ponytail, she wore yesterday. Her hair was up in an intricate twist. When she removed her windbreaker to put on a normal jacket, he noticed that she carried a weapon in a shoulder holster. Somehow, with her it seemed out of place, like the children forced to fight a war they didn't understand.
"Yeah, something like that, Blair. I'll start for the store and pick up some food. Anyone have objections to lemon chicken, with steamed wild rice and salad?" Megan asked looking at each man.
"No." "Sounds good." Were the responses that greeted her.
"OK, Ellison, you know the way. Take
your time." Megan said as she got in her Jeep.
Dinner passed quietly with Blair asking general questions about DC and the FBI. Megan knew he was trying to restrain himself from asking the personal questions. As she finished, loading the dishwasher Lace decided to voice her opinion.
--Megan, you need to tell them.-Lace told her
Megan gave a mental sigh *I know I've known since I met them, that they will know everything about me. Lace I'm scared, what if I'm wrong?*
--Then don't tell them about your powers. Just tell them about your childhood. Megan you know that Blair felt the killers watching you.-
*Yes, I saw it in his eyes. Lace I have a backup plan if I can't beat the killers here. I'm leaving you behind have Blair help you to find me, OK.*
--He will be very skeptical how do I make him believe me.-
*Lace you taught me how to use my powers. If I remember correctly, I wasn't the easiest pupil. I guess I'd better answer their questions.*
--Good luck.-
~~~~~~~~~~
Megan bought in some coffee, "Here," she took her cup, walked over to the window, and looked out. "I'm going to take a chance here and trust you two a bit," She turned and looked a both of them, "Betray me and hell will look like a vacation spot." Megan sat down facing the two men, and waited.
Blair spoke first, "Megan, you can trust us."
Then Jim reminded her, "You trusted me a bit last night."
"Yeah I guess I did, OK here it goes. All I really know about my parents is that Dad worked in the FBI as an agent and Mom was in the lab. They both left just after Mom got pregnant with me and moved to Alaska. My earliest memories of my dad were that he really wasn't there a lot of the time. Most of my childhood was normal."
"What happened when you were seven." Blair asked, noticing Megan pause in her memories.
"The break-in, a lot of that time is still a blur even today. I remember finding the robber, he was just standing there. Then all of a sudden he dropped and died. I must have freaked out because the next thing I remember is walking along the beach in Long Beach, WA. Mom and Dad had moved there after the break-in. I lost myself for about a month, and had regular nightmares until I was 13." Megan paused again. Both Blair and Jim noticed that she was holding and stroking the necklace.
"That was what you meant about Blair yesterday wasn't it. What exactly did you see? What do you see in me?" Jim asked remembering the earlier comments Megan had made.
"Yes, I found out some harsh truths when I was 13 and that made my childhood a lie. As for what I saw all I really did was profile each one of you. Ellison, I know you feel that I'm under your command, and that's why you've moved in next door but remember that this is my plan, my risk. I don't want you to put yourself on a guilt trip if it fails." Megan gave both men a serious look. She started to talk again but was interrupted by the telephone.
"Excuse me." Megan said and picked up the telephone.
"Davison."
["Hi Davison, it's me."]
"Hi, Mulder. Checking up on me."
["Of course, Skinner most likely will be out there Saturday morning to observe the 'experiment'"]
"Oh goody."
["How are _you_ doing?"]
"I'm fine, I couldn't find anything at the crime scenes." Megan then laughed, " I even checked the air vents, just in case. Look I'm going to put you on the speaker so you can talk to my new partners as well. Why don't you drag Scully over too? How you two enjoying another quarantine?" Megan switched from handset to speakerphone.
"Mulder, I'd like to introduce you to Detective James Ellison and Blair Sandburg my new partners. Ellison, Blair, Agents Mulder and Scully," Megan began to smile shyly, "Currently in quarantine in Connecticut."
They each exchanged greetings over the phone, "Megan to answer your question Skinner is loving the fact that we are contained for a month, said that we can catch up on our paper work now." Scully answered.
Then Mulder piped in, "He even went as far as to have it all sent up to us. Believe me Davison, being a sounding board for you right now is a good thing."
Megan laughed, "Yeah I'm sure about that, I know how you get Scully to do the paperwork now. What did you bribe her with this time?"
Mulder didn't rise to the bait, "Not telling you. You're too innocent for that type of topic."
Megan countered, "I'll tell Frohike where your collection is."
"Davison, you wouldn't."
"Try me, you're still in quarantine for three more weeks."
Mulder growled, "OK I don't go off and leave her behind, or I give a good reason. Better, now tell me about the crime scene."
Blair and Jim were sitting back watching the expressions on Megan's face change as she bantered with the two agents. Megan looked the most relaxed they had seen her being since they had met her.
Megan played with her necklace again, "I couldn't find anything. I really don't have my hopes up with the air vent samples so I'm thinking about hanging out at the station until the fifth victim is found so I can be the first one at the scene. I think the victim will be found in a couple of days."
"Davison, no. Don't do that, wait until Skinner shows up," Mulder said in a raised voice.
Megan stood up and started to pace, "Mulder, I'm a big girl now, you've trained me well this last year. I don't think I would've thought to look in the air vents before. Can you think of anything to add to the profile, given that we could be dealing with more than one killer."
Scully asked, "Megan, why do you think there is more than one killer?"
Megan sighed, while Scully would accept the source of her information. It would cause too many questions from the two men currently in her apartment. "I just do, Scully. The bruising on the bodies seems to either indicate an extended period between the beatings or more than one person doing the beatings. Possibly even both seeing how the women are taken during their vacation and are not missed until they don't show up for work."
Blair decided to speak up, hoping he could get some information out of someone, "Megan, what happened when you looked at the body in the morgue? You looked, strange, almost internally focused."
Megan grimaced as she heard Mulder over the phone, "What happened, Davison." He said very calmly.
"Nothing, Mulder, I just tried to get inside the head of the killer that's all." Megan said shooting Blair with an irritated look.
"Megan it doesn't sound like nothing, why didn't you tell us that happened." Scully said, Megan could imagine the look Scully would've given her had she been there most likely one reserved for when Mulder kept or hid information from her.
"I didn't think it was important." Megan's tone said she didn't want to say anymore on the subject.
"OK Davison, we've got to go right now. The doctors want to use us as pincushions again. I'll talk to you later tonight."
"All right Mulder, bye."
Good-byes were exchanged all around.
"Later tonight?" Jim questioned.
"Yes, he said he'd phone me around midnight my time." Megan said "Blair, why did you have to mention that."
Blair answered, "I don't know, maybe it could have a bearing on the case, and it resembled what happened to you 18 months ago."
"It was nothing like what happened then, look why don't we just call it a night. We'll get a fresh start in the morning. I'll take the samples to the lab and see if there is any results back from the other tests."
"Davison, why do I get the feeling that you're not telling us everything." Jim asked concerned that what she wasn't telling could be very important.
"Probably, because I'm not. If you're expecting me to lie to you and say, I'm not holding anything back. You're very wrong. I don't lie except in cases of life and death. Even then, I try not to lie. That doesn't mean I tell everything." Megan explained hoping that this would ease some things.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Megan gasped as she opened it and saw the three bedraggled figures in front of her.
"What the hell happened to you three?" Megan exclaimed
"Not much Meg, we just need to hide out for a bit." Explained Byers who was taking a limping Frohike to the bathroom. Langly was closing blinds.
"Um look Ellison, Blair why don't you guys go to the other apartment and I'll see you tomorrow." Megan said silently urging the two men to leave before things got anymore difficult.
Both men looked confused but left the apartment for their temporary home across the hall. Megan watched them and then closed the door. Jim looked from the closed door to Blair and asked his partner, "I wonder why she wanted us to leave so quickly?"
Blair shrugged and looked a little lost, "I don't know Jim, maybe you should listen in. I mean according to her plan she is a target for this killer."
"Killers." Jim corrected absently while walking to the kitchen to get a beer.
"Jim, I thought you didn't believe that. We found no evidence in the morgue." Blair went over to the couch that was left by the landlord, 'to make things a little more comfortable,' he had said.
"Well, Chief, it's the way that she is sure of some stuff. Like when I have to wait on the lab to confirm something that I notice. She is positive that there is more than one killer she says three or four of them but she believes that there are four of them. It's as if she doesn't want too much attention on herself. I think the reason she shies away from the spotlight on her cases is because she doesn't want a lot of people to focus on the how of her solving the cases." Jim said then he suddenly grabbed his ears. "Ow, damn Blair you've got to help me out here."
Blair leapt to Jim's side and started speaking in the calming tones that worked with Jim before, "What is it Jim? What do you hear?"
Jim's voice sounded pained, "A....screeching.......changing......frequencies all the time........ can't filter........ help me."
Thoughts on how to help Jim flashed through Blair's head his mind settled on two of them one was discarded immediately Blair didn't think he live if he knocked out Jim. So he settled on the other looking around in his backpack he dug out the white noise generator that he still had after Jim's physical last month Blair quickly flipped it on. "Okay Jim how is that? Just don't try to filter through the generator."
Jim relaxed and sighed, "Much better, thanks." he ran a hand over his face, "I never knew that those things sounded like that guess that's why they work."
"What Jim?" Blair asked keeping the generator close to Jim.
"Countermeasures." Jim explained further noticing Blair's lost look. "For listening devices, you know bugs."
"Oh you were listening in on her apartment then?"
"Yes, she was bitching out the short guy, he's called Frohike. Looks like he sprained his ankle and wrenched his knee in a gopher hole. Then one of the others I can't remember which one suggested that they turn on the countermeasures then boom all the static and changing frequencies started to hit me."
"Whoa, Jim you'd better keep this with you while we are here then." Blair said as he handed the generator to Jim to keep with him. "We don't want Megan bitching at us for listening in on her and then her finding out that we didn't place any bugs in her place."
"Yeah, you're right. Let's turn in,
she'll be up early tomorrow."
Friday 6:30AM
Jim woke up to the sound of light knocking on the door. Then he heard Megan's whispered voice, "There I knocked like I promised Frohike before they left. They didn't answer now I can go jogging and if they want to yell at me I can say that I knocked and they must have slept too deeply."
Jim quickly put on some running clothes,
scribbled a note for Blair, and followed her to the park making sure that he stayed out of
her sight, Jim had jogged at this park before and knew his way around well. While Jim was
tailing her he noticed that she had vanished only Jim couldn't sense anyone else in the
park just him and Megan. Jim figured that Megan must have found the clearing near the
north end of the park. They were close to it anyway so Jim sneaked up to the edge of the
trees that make the clearing, and hid himself so he could see what Megan was doing and
Megan couldn't see him. What he saw was eye opening to say the least. Jim rubbed his eyes
to make sure that they weren't playing tricks on him. Here was this diminutive and young
FBI agent displaying a skill in some sort of martial arts he wasn't familiar with. In
fact, it looked as if she took a little of every skill and rolled it into a distinctive
unique one. While Megan looked totally focused on the practice she suddenly stopped and
looked around. 'Just like yesterday at that last crime scene.' Jim thought when Megan's
gaze settled down she was looking directly at Jim. Megan then shook her head and left the
clearing to continue her jog back towards the apartment, Jim followed behind her still
hiding from her sight.
Major Crimes Bullpen
Noon
The morning had passed quietly, Megan had given the air vent samples to forensics to test. Megan had Jim going over each of the four victims' histories. Blair was at the University until later in the day. To Jim it seemed that the short fuse Megan had during the first day she was here had returned somehow. "Davison, what's wrong? You've been on edge all morning."
"I don't know Ellison I just feel like time is running out, for us."
"Ellison, Davison get in here." Barked Simon.
As they entered Simon told them, "Don't bother sitting down you both will be out in a couple of minutes. Dispatch got a call that matches your victim profile. Here's the address go check it out."
Megan took the paper looked at the address then asked Jim, "Is Blair done with his classes? I want him at the scene. As an anthropologist he'd be valuable in casing the bystanders, the killers could be watching in that crowd. We can take my Jeep, let's go." With that, they both left.
Later at the Crime Scene
As Megan, Jim and Blair pulled up they, all saw that the M.E. hadn't removed the body yet. Both men looked at Megan apprehensively. Megan could 'feel' their tension and it made her more determined to go in there and try to figure out what happened to the victim and hopefully where it had happened at. Megan reached under her seat and pulled out her FBI jacket. There were few bystanders around watching the activity.
"Blair, I would like you to keep an eye out on everyone here, OK? Get an idea of what sort of person they are. Ellison, could you also help Blair by questioning the people? I can tell that the two of you work well together, regardless of my personal opinion. Remember also that the killers may only send one person to look. I'm going inside to take a look." Megan gave her instructions to the two men as she put on her jacket, she was also able to sense the concern from Blair about her going into the house alone. Not that she needed to use her abilities, his face was an open book. She smiled at him, "Blair I will be ok in the house. If I'm not out in ten minutes then come in and get me. I have the biggest problems when the murder is committed at the same place that's not the case here." Megan turned and walked up to the house. Not even that was the same, out of the five only two lived in houses, those were numbers 3 and 5. Victims 1 and 4 lived in apartments, and the second lived in a duplex. The only clues were the lack of clues. 'Well, now that's changed.' Megan thought, 'I'm here now I'll just find the last memories of the victim and relive them and try to link to the killers.'
Lace noticed her charges thoughts, --Megan, be careful. What you propose almost cost you your mind the last time.--
Megan closed her eyes before entering the house to focus better on Lace. *Yes, but the last time the killing had happened at the same place we found the body.*
--Yes, Megan but if anything happens here you will tell both of them everything or I will. The young one will be able to hear me. I am not kidding around this time, your infantile behavior may cost you your life. Why are you reluctant to tell them? Don't give me that line either about being paranoid that Ellison works for Cancerman. If you tell them, what you are and what you can do. Just trust them that much they may let you see that you can trust them.-- Lace berated the young woman.
*Yeah Lace, and just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you either.* Megan thought back to the spirit.
As Megan entered the house, she felt the presence of Lace in her mind trying to act as a buffer between Megan's mind and any images that may have been left. Slowly Megan relaxed her mind. The M.E. was going to remove the body soon, so Megan decided to go to the victim's bedroom where the body was placed and try to delve into the dead mind hoping that the body would be able to give her some information. Megan walked into the bedroom of the fifth victim and stood to the left of the doorframe, from this position she was looking directly at the victim. She allowed herself to see the last images of the young woman's life to run through her head.
At first, the images were blurred and hazy concealed in shadows. Then as the woman was taken into a larger room by two men and forced to the floor another man stood before her he said something, which with this type of link was impossible to make out. Still no clearer about the location Megan tried to delve deeper into the image. Suddenly Megan found herself looking out of the killer's eyes reliving the bloodlust. Too late, she realized her mistake the man beginning to deliver the killing blows had a very powerful personality and Megan was being carried away by it. Soon the bloodlust and passions of the killer would also be within Megan. As soon as that realization was made, other impressions entered her mind. A humid jungle, with a sense of duty and goodness, and the emerald eyes of a Black Panther, Suddenly Megan snapped back to awareness of her own mind, thoughts and body. She found that Blair and Jim were on each side of her trying to bring her out of her trance she noticed that each man was touching her shoulder lightly shaking her. As soon as she was able to Megan wrenched herself free wondering what the significance of the image was unsure if it came from Blair or both of them. Megan reached out to each of their minds, Blair first, carefully entering his mind to check on the bloodlust that may have lingered she found none.
--Of course, not I protected him.--
*Lace, we are inside his mind he can hear us*
--I told you if it happened again that I'd start talking. --
Megan not wanting Blair to hear anymore of the telepathic conversation quickly intruded further into his mind, placed him in a light trance, and turned her thoughts to Ellison. 'How to get past his natural shielding,' Megan mused.
--Try using his concern for the young one.-- Lace advised.
*What?*
--There has been one thing in common with each time you've been able to sense something from him. His concern for Blair, now you must use it, his shielding is weaker now due to the bloodlust but I think you must hurry.--
Before Megan could act on this bit of information Ellison grabbed her upper arm and turned her around to look at him.
"What was that and what did you do to Blair?" Ellison's tone left no chance to evade or bend the truth as she normally would Megan realized that truth time was now.
Sighing Megan broke the trance that Blair was in and before the young man could begin to ask any questions Megan spoke. "Look guys, I'm not sure I can trust you, but I have no choice now." Megan gave Ellison a through look and decided that he wouldn't keep anything in check as he was for very long. "Ellison, I need you to do something for me right now." Megan asked meeting the cold icy blue gaze that Jim had leveled at her. Megan recognized that look and knew things would be difficult from here on for a while. Ellison was used to the bloodlust rage that filled him now. Megan reasoned that there was two ways to handle this, one was to put him into a very deep trance and then let him work his way out on his own. That one Megan didn't like. The more favored one right now was to touch him again and draw the rage back into her and then release it herself. Megan began to reach out her hand to touch the side of Ellison's face. While she did this, she spoke in a soft, gentle tone with the words absently echoing inside her mind to increase the feeling of healing. [Yes, this is supposed to be Megan unknowingly echoing Blair's guide tones.]
"Ellison," Megan began never looking away from Ellison. Megan's own gaze becoming firm, "Jim, listen to my voice. I know you are feeling very angry right now, but this isn't your anger. It's the bastard that has been killing these women. This is his hatred. Now listen very carefully. I need you to take up all of that hate and rage and picture it going back to me so I can get rid of it."
Jim's gaze got protective and puzzled, as he tried to take charge and convince Megan that he could handle this, although he could begin to feel it increasing within him, "You can't deal with it. You're a kid. I've dealt with rage before. I can control it."
Megan's eyes had began to spark with anger at Ellison's words, "Jim, listen to me right now. I stopped being a kid when I was 13. Now you do what I told you or I will go inside your head and remove it from you. I guarantee that you'll feel like you have a ten year hangover when I'm done with you."
Megan began to sense that Jim was complying with her. He mentally packaged the emotions but was still reluctant to release them to the young woman before him. Jim decided to try to voice his doubts. "Megan, how are you able deal with this? I've got it under control right now."
"You just think you've got it under control. Right now, it will lay dormant until it can flare up and that will be soon. Look I'm not going to bury it deep inside myself or anything. I'll just release it out. You know just 'let it go' type thing. I can deal with this sort of stuff Ellison. I'm not sure this helps but, I'm a telepath I know what I'm doing OK?"
Jim looked at Megan with some disbelief, "What a psychic?"
Megan met his gaze, "Only in the dictionary sense of the word, meaning supernatural yes. If you mean someone who foretells the future then no. Unlike some people who call themselves psychics, they can only see the here and now or the future. I can do that somewhat but my strength is seeing the past or the how of something. Add in my empathic abilities and give me a fresh crime scene and I can get a general idea of what happened, it does tend to degrade over time. I can get idea of what happened better than a normal investigation can. Now does that help Jim?"
"No, not really. Look Megan." Jim began.
'Time to pull out the big guns' Megan thought, "Ellison, do _want_ this rage to flare up. I'm not going to be around you or Blair all the time, and I may not be able to help if it kicks in. Do want that to happen at some time when you may lose control and hurt other people or even Blair?"
'Bingo' Megan thought as she felt Jim's mind relax enough to reach in and grab the rage and bloodlust and pull it into her. Unlike what she had told Jim, Megan was gentle as she barreled past his barriers to where the rage lay within him. Megan had a difficult time trying to find the rage; Jim's past made Megan cautious that she not remove Jim's natural emotions. Just when she was about to pull out and go for her first idea she saw the panther again. So the image had come from Jim or through a dawning link between him and Blair. Megan wasn't too sure anymore The Panther circled around Megan before sitting down about two feet in front of her.
*Hello?* Megan asked, *can you help me?*
The Panther looked at Megan, /\You have come to claim that which you allowed to enter my charge?/\
Megan grimaced, *Well, if you want to put it that way, yes. I didn't mean for it to happen though.*
The Panther barred its teeth, /\Do not try my patience, Child. I know your path now as well as I know that of my charges. For now, we may be allies. That will depend on what you tell my charges. I would advise the truth./\
*Look, Panther. I really don't have time for all of this negation stuff. The longer I let the rage and bloodlust stay inside Jim the harder it will be to remove it. Do you know where it is so I can release it?*
/\Of course, Child./\ The Panther caused a small orb that glowed with a black light to float towards Megan. /\Heed my words, Child, what you allowed to enter my charge has increased prepare yourself for that. I will not allow my charge to touch you until you rid the emotions from yourself./\
*Yeah, sure.* Megan replied to the Panther a bit lost that it could show more understanding about herself but Ellison or Blair could not. *You're separate from them right?* She asked before reaching out to take the small orb into herself.
/\Yes, separate but still one. My charges don't know how entwined I am with their existence. You will keep that secret for me, you may tell them that you saw me but no more, understand?/\
*Yes, I can do that. If you ever need my assistance please ask for it.* Megan told the Panther.
As Megan touched the orb and absorbed it into herself, she retreated into her mind, her hand dropping from Jim's face. A telekinetic field surrounded her.
Blair had felt some sort of emotions try to enter his mind as he touched Megan's shoulder, but they went away as soon as he began to feel them. As he saw that Megan was coming out of whatever trance she was in Blair saw that Jim's eyes had clouded over. Blair began to muse the reasons and causes of Jim's reaction when Megan quickly turned to him, for some reason he kept his mouth shut. Megan's eyes glazed over somewhat and he clearly heard two voices inside his head. One sounded like Megan's, the other sounded older, and more formal. They were talking about something entering his mind and how the older voice had protected Blair. Megan seemed upset that the older voice was talking inside his head, and the older voice seemed mad that Megan had allowed this all to happen.
Then everything went fuzzy and Blair found himself deep inside his own mind. Blair couldn't really see too much. Then his vision cleared and he was in the hallway outside his office at the University. Only now, the hallway extended past his range of vision, with doors lining each side. A small cloud of mist appeared in front of him. The mist cleared and he saw a woman, she looked as if she could've been Megan's mother the resemblance between them uncanny, except that the woman in front of him had silver hair and eyes. She was wearing a long sleeved midnight blue dress that fitted to her bodice with the help of silver crossed-laced cords. The skirt flared out and extended to the floor.
--Hello Young One, we do not have much time to talk. For now, it is enough that you know me and that I'm not a threat. Do not tell your friend about me. We will be spending more time together later.-- The voice told him.
Then Blair's awareness returned to the here and now. Puzzled by the vision that he had and that mysterious apparition. He saw Megan and Jim arguing about a rage that was inside Jim. Jim as usual wanted to deal with this himself. Then Blair started to pay attention to Megan's words. A telepath? That would explain a lot if it were true.
--It is how I am able to talk to you and protect you from the emotions that are within Jim right now. You need to learn how to control your thoughts though.-- The voice told him.
*Megan? Is that you?* Blair asked the voice within his mind, noting that he wasn't within his mind but was talking to this voice mentally.
The voice laughed, --No, but a friend of hers. We must allow Megan and Jim to work this out themselves, all right?--
*Sure. They aren't going hurt each other are they?* Blair was wondering as the argument between Megan and Jim was getting more intense.
--No matter what Megan says about barging inside Jim's head and making it hurt, she never will. She knows of one way to get past Jim's shields. She will use it, and go in as gently as possible.-- The voice told him.
*What does Megan call you?* Blair asked since it looked like the voice was going to be around him for awhile. Blair noticed that Megan and Jim were both silent and unmoving. Megan must have gotten around Jim's shields. Whatever that meant. *and how are you inside my head? Can't I shield you out?*
--Well Young One, your mind is open to both of us since it is untrained. I feel, now that I'm in your mind, that you use some sort of innate empathy on a regular basis. Since you are not trained to direct it, you use it all the time. This assists you on your path but can be draining to yourself. You should be more careful.-- The voice explained concerned for his well being.
*Draining to me, how?* Blair asked concerned that whatever it was could hurt him.
--It varies, you could just drain yourself to the point that you couldn't use your empathy until you rested yourself or worst case scenario, you could drain yourself so far that you could die. I don't see that happening though. Empaths that sensitive wind up dying from the emotional overload at a very young age.--
*Well I guess that explains finals week. You still haven't told me what Megan calls you.* Blair reminded the voice.
--Clever boy, Megan named me Lace.-- Lace told Blair her tone light with laughter.
*OK Lace, why are you with Megan?* Blair asked, wondering again how he was able to talk to Lace, how he just _knew_ how to speak mentally. Wondering as well why he seemed to be taking this turn of events so calmly
--I'm sorry. I cannot reveal that. Megan must be the one to tell you _that_ story. Right now, all I can tell you is that Megan is beginning to have problems keeping her own mind from these killers. This is only the second time she has touched their minds and the second time she has almost lost herself to them. The leader of this little killing group is the apex of the focus and is leaving a very powerful mental trace. That is the only explanation I can think of. When you three leave here you _must_ make Megan talk to you. Her life and both of yours may depend on how much you all know about each other. Megan and Jim are coming to. I will not be able to speak with you again. Mention my name to Megan and she will talk.-- Lace told him before leaving his mind.
Blair felt Lace leave his mind and refocused his attention on Megan and Jim. While he was talking to Lace Megan's hand had fallen from Jim's face and now he 'felt' some force surrounding Megan. Blair noticed that Jim was beginning to come out of the trance.
"Sandburg, what the hell is going on?" Jim asked still a little dazed from the trance. He moved to take Megan's arm to try and get the answers from her but discovered that he couldn't touch her. Jim's hand stopped about six inches from her body.
"I don't know Jim. All I'm sure about is that Megan has to talk to us now, before it's too late." Blair's focus shifted as he began to notice a small orb appearing in front of Megan but still with in her shield. "What is that?" Blair exclaimed. Noticing when it fully appeared it began to shrink into nothingness.
Megan's eyes snapped open when the orb finished disappearing. Then she started to slump to the floor, Jim and Blair both reached out to steady her unsure if they could touch her. At their touch Megan began to straighten up and shrugged out of their grasp.
"I'm fine, guys. Just give me a few seconds, OK?" Megan asked her voice a little shaky.
"Not this time Megan. Lace says that you _have_ to talk to us now. So you might as well get started." Blair said his tone soft but firm.
"Who's Lace." Asked Jim.
Megan shook her head, "Ok then let's go somewhere quiet. Dr. Oliver can get along with out us for a while and can phone us if he finds something we need."
Jim suggested they all head to the loft to
talk. So after making sure Dr. Oliver and the officer in charge didn't need them for
anything they got in Megan's Jeep, with Jim driving because Megan still seemed to shaky to
drive.