From: Mynace@aol.com Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 00:19:54 EDT Subject: xfc: "????" (1\?) Source: xfc From: Mynace@aol.com Author: Nialani Feedback: Mynace@aol.com Classification: MSR, married Rating: PG-13, NC-17 (in upcoming parts for bad language and all around misbehaving) Spoilers: none Archive: Anywhere you want just ask first! Disclaimer: Hey it aint my voice at the very end of X-files saying "I did that!" Summary: Mulder and Scully have to deal with the aftermath of their daughter's sexual assualt and their son's arrest. Notes: This is my first X-files fan fic ever. It's set waaay in the future. Scully and Mulder have 17 year old twins, Kadyn and Kennedy. BTW, this story is nameless at the moment. Suggestions are welcome. ____________________________________ (1\?) 2:01am The Mulder Residence It was late. I knew the kids should be home by now, I paced the hardwood floor of my bedroom waiting for a call, a sign, anything. My wife, Dana, sits on the edge of the bed staring at the phone as if she's willing it to ring. I bite my lip and chastise myself for letting them go out until so late. When my son, Kadyn, told me he was going to perform at this new juice bar, I thought nothing of it. He and his band had played at kiddie bars and community centers before. Besides he was 17 years old, and very responsible for his age, that's one reason why I didn't question letting his twin sister, Kennedy, go with him. The clock changes to 2:05. Now I'm really worried. If Kadyn knew he would be late he would have called. He knows how we are when it comes to their where abouts. I made sure they knew all about my sister's disappearance, and the importance of watching each others back and sticking together. Dana stands up and grabs my hands. "I can't wait anymore." she says putting on a pair of pants and one of my sweat shirts. I watch her slip on her shoes and I begin to dress myself. "Someone has to stay here in case they call." I say to her, "I'll go out." I kiss her on her cheek and leave. ~~~~~~~~~ I watch Fox leave and the panick I was trying not to show comes out full force. I had a bad feeling about this from the start. I'm caught in conflicting emotions ranging from anger to petrifying fear. My babies are missing. Babies that I once thought I would never_ ever_ have, and by some miracle of God and science was gifted to me. I didn't makes sense. My maternal instinct is telling me that they are hurt. Maybe lying dead somewhere, just wanting to come home and be with their parents, one last time. I yelled at myself. I pace the room just like my husband did earlier and I check the clock and then the phone continuously. "Ring dammit!" I demand it. It remains silent. I sit back down and check the clock again: 2:35. " God please help Fox find our babies." I pray by my bed, on my knees, my hands clasping together. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2:35a.m. MIdway Beats, the local juice bar. It's been awhile since I felt this scared. My car screeches to a halt in front of two police cars, an ambulance and a large crowd. I get out of my car and feel through the crowd. I see my son, he's okay, alive a breathing, but in handcuffs. I say a quick prayer to whatever god is listening and I run over to him. A large police officer stops me. "Who are you?" he asks with his hand in my chest. I back up a bit "My name is Fox Mulder I'm an Assistant director of the FBI, I'm this boy's father. I'm going to reach for my badge now." I say while slowly reach for my badge. "That isn't necessary sir." A different officer said. "Where's Kennedy?" I ask Kadyn, he looks at me, then at the floor which makes me look down. His hands are handcuffed behind his back, his bottom lip is busted and his eye is swollen. "Take my son out of those handcuffs please." I tell the officer and he reluctantly complies. Just as the cuffs release Kadyn brings his arms forward and I gasp at the sight his bloodied bruised hands. "Who were you fighting? Why were you fighting?And where the hell is your sister?" I ask sounding a bit too much like my father for my taste. I tilt his chin up with my hand until he looks me in the eye. "Kennedy.. I tinking she was raped." He whispers. My eyes widen and I grab my cell phone and hit the speed dial. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3:20 The Mulder Residence I jumped as the phone finally rang. I quickly stumble over my bed to answer it. "Scully?" Fox said, which isn't a good sign since the only time he reverts to using my maiden surname now is when something is very_very_ wrong. "Fox? What's wrong?" I say my heart is beating so hard I can hardly speak. "Kennedy, she's_well they think she's__ she might have been raped, Dana. She's at Jonestown Memorial Hospital." he stammered, his voice reflecting his anguish. "Oh my god. I'll be right there." I say as I hang up the phone and run hastily down the stairs and with no hesitation, out my front door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Paternal Instincts Author: Nialani Feedback: Mynace@aol.com Classification: MSR, married Rating: PG-13, NC-17 (in upcoming parts for bad language and all around misbehaving) Spoilers: none Archive: Anywhere you want just ask first! Disclaimer: Hey it aint my voice at the very end of X-files saying "I did that!" Summary: Mulder and Scully have to deal with the aftermath of their daughter's sexual assault and their son's arrest. Notes: This is my first X-files fan fic ever. It's set waaay in the future. Scully and Mulder have 17 year old twins, Kadyn and Kennedy. Thank to those of you who gave me your suggestions and feedback! :o) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (2\?) 3:50 am Jonestown Memorial Hospital Dana came flying into the E.R.. I intersected her before she ran into every room in the ward looking for our daughter. "Where is she?" she yelled squirming out of my arms, tears rolling from eye down her cheeks. "She's in room fourteen, but they're doing an exam." I say rubbing her shoulders trying to calm her down. She pushes me away. "Mulder! I want to see my daughter now!" I watch her storm past me, into room fourteen, right into the doctor. "Dr. Mulder, I presume." the doctor attending to Kennedy said. "My name is Dr. Phillips. Your husband informed me that you might be storming in here." She smiled. Dana glared at me briefly. "I'm doctor Mulder. What's my daughter's prognosis?" Dana asked, regaining her composer, in a professional tone that reminded me of the good ole days when we were partners. "Well she was assualted, but there was no penetration. Her hymen is still intact. She has nasty bruises between her thighs, on her breast, and a few bite marks on her collarbone and shoulder. If you want to see her I'm all fin--." before she even got to finish the sentence Dana was at our daughter's side. Dana put her arms around Kennedy and held her tight. I stood a safe distance away. Before Dana got here I went to hold her and she freaked. Which is understandable due to the trama she suffered, my rational mind thought, but it tore me up inside. It brought back bad memories from a lifetime ago. "Sweetie, mommy's here and daddy's here." Dana whispered kissing the top of her head. "I just wanted to know where the restrooms were." Kennedy sobbed. Dana stroked her hair and I felt completely useless. And then she called for me. "Daddy?" I felt the tears begin to form and run down my face. "Yeah baby doll." I said slowly walking to her. I slowly take her hand a stroke it. "I'm here. We're both here. And we love you." "Is Kadyn going to jail?" she asked. "I don't know, Ken." I looked at Dana. "We have to talk." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We lost track of the time. We held Kennedy for what seems like hours. Then we were interrupted by a police officer. I look up at Fox quizzically. "Sweetie we have to go talk to the police now, you think you'll be alright for a few moments." Kennedy nods into his shirt and we leave the room. I look back to make sure she's alright. "Where's Kadyn?" I ask as soon as the room doors close. "At the county jail, Dana. The police wouldn't let me take him." I gasp at this news. My little boy in a grimy cell with all different types of ne'er-do- wells. "Why not!?" I practically yell, drawing stares from strangers. "He was charged with aggravated assault. Kadyn walked in on Kennedy's assualt. From what I was told by a few spectators, he beat the hell out of her attacker." I can't help but think 'that's my boy' as Fox continues. "The bastard pressed charges saying it was an unwarranted attack." "Unwarranted attack? Jesus. What an asshole!" I yell. Fox takes my hand and squeezes it. "So he's at the lock up. They're not requesting bail or anything. They're just keeping him until they finish the paper work." he finished. "Is he done?" "Yes sir. We drove him here since the suspect was coming from the hospital to the jail. We don't want anymore incidences." He said signaling to his partner to bring him in. They brought Kadyn inside without handcuffs, thank god. I would have definitely lost it if they had him shackled down like some petty thug. When all he did was protect his sister. Kadyn ran to me his tall lanky form reminding me so much like his father's. I got on my tippy toes and hugged him tight. He and I haven't been the same height since he was 13. "I'm sorry mom. i just losted it." he said over and over. "It's okay baby." I say < He deserved what he got.> "How's Kendy?" he siad using his kiddie pet name for her. "She could be better." I say as we break away. "You stopped that bastard just in time. Any later and he would have raped her." Fox whispers and rubs his back. "You mean he didn't?" he takes a long deep breath. "I thought I was too late I mean , she was on the floor and her- her clothes were ripped." He starts to weep a little and I take him back into my arms. It's surprising how much like his father he is. "Can I see Kendy now?" I nod and he goes into to the room we hold the door open and watch them hug. I feel Mulder wrap his arm around my shoulder. I sigh and say a silent thank you to God. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Paternal Instincts (3\?) Feedback: Mynace@aol.com 4:00 a.m. Three weeks later. Fox Mulder's Home Office I sit here in my basement office. No, not _ that_ basement office. That basement office has been retired. A group of good agents who believed in the X-files took over that entire floor and I took over running it all. Anyway, I sit here in my office reading David R. Benz's police record. David R. Benz is the bastard who attacked my daughter. A 22 year old man who has been charged with sexual assaults more times than I can count on one hand. He was incarcerated three times before he even graduated from high school. And the real sick part about it all is, Kennedy was one of his oldest victims. He's lucky it was my son and not myself who ran in on the attack. He would have definitely been completely castrated, balls and all. I wish these records could be use as evidence against him. But most of these charges took place when he was a minor and now are sealed to the public. Therefore inadmissible in court. I had to call in a few favors to get this much information. Luckily, being an AD has it's perks. Damn him. Kennedy doesn't need to go through this. She's been through enough. She's been questioned by the police, by neighbors, family members, the councilor we got for her. Now, she might have to tell her tale, again, in court. It was enough only a day after her assault she had to go make a statement to the prosecutors on Kadyn's behalf. Fortunately the prosecutors were smart and the decided not the follow the charges against Kadyn. I get up from my desk and stretch. I walk up stairs to the main floor. It's dark in the house, the only light on is the track lighting in the living. Suddenly, I hear voices. "I can't sleep, Kade. I've tried, but every time I close my eyes I see him." I here Kennedy talk and I sigh. She had my proficiency when it comes to memories and with bad memories came bad nightmares. "I understand, but you can't stay awake all night, go to school by day, then go to ballet, then help me out with the band, ....It was too much when you were getting the proper amounts of sleep." Kadyn was so much like his mother, he always thought things through, so strong minded, and always has his loved ones best interest at heart. Kennedy was so much like me, impetuous, stubborn, a dreamer. She sometimes she could be so sweet and other times. Well, other times she was what Kadyn calls "Little Miss Attitude." Like I said before she's just like me. "I want to sleep. I really_ really_ do! Believe me! I just- I just don't feel safe." I watch Kadyn hug her and I take that moment to interrupt. "Well, if you aren't going to sleep. I guess that means I'm not going to sleep either." I announce. "I'm with dad." Kadyn agrees. I walk to Kennedy and I kiss the top of her head. "Kadyn and I will keep guard while you try to sleep." She gives me a big smile. One I missed seeing from her beautiful face for the last three weeks. "You think that'll work?" I ask "I don't." Came a voice from the stairs. I turned and there was Dana at the foot of the stairs, wearing her cream silk pajamas, holding a blanket and some pillows. " I mean what kind of protection can you guys give without me?" she asks and smiles. "What were we thinking?" I say to Kadyn as I kiss Dana on the cheek. "I'll put the coffee on." Dana announces throwing the pillow at me and the kids. By the time the coffee's ready Kennedy's fast asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Paternal Instincts (4\?) Author: Nialani Feedback: Mynace@aol.com ____________________________________ 8:00a.m. Jonestown Municipal Court House 2 weeks later "Lord, give me strenght to get through today," I pray silently to myself and Fox squeezes my hand. "And give my family the strenght to get through this trying time, amen." I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. "It's going to be fine, love. Kennedy got through the practice questioning okay." Fox assured me, but he didn't know that after the questioning, when we got home, Kennedy went up to her room and cried for a long, long time. It broke my heart. "Yes I know." I slowly looked over to the defendant our eyes locked. This was the first time I seen him in person. He had such a decieving face. It was boyish and innocent. He reminded me of Norman Bates. Sweet on the outside, rotten on the inside. "Don't look at him." Fox said, rubbing my hand. "You'll make yourself upset. We need to be strong now for Kennedy." I nod and and stare straight ahead, but not before I see him smile at me. No, wait, not me. I turn and follow his eyes. He's looking at a young girl with black hair whose sitting behind me. Such a fucking bastard. You are going away for a long damn time. "Dana he's doing that to get to you." I nod again and close my eyes.I pray for strenght again. Then the judge entered the room, I felt some comfort that it was a female judge, and we all rose. I glanced at the jury which was composed of most young white females in their twenties and older men. The trial began. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8:30 Kennedy would be called to the stand at any moment. She looked back at us for an instance from the prosecuters table and I smiled at her. She smiled back. They called her to the stand. My baby girl, stood up so strong and defiant. She walked on to the stand and put her hand on the bible. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god?" "All I know is the truth. So yes. I do." she said while sitting down. I smiled. Before did I mention she was cocky? "On the night of July 16th where were you?" the prosecuter asked. "At Midway Beats. A local juice bar. I was watching my brother Kadyn and his band perform." Kadyn wasn't here today because of school thankfully. He's been beating himself up lately because of what happened. I don't think he should be here now and neither does Dana. "Tell us the events that lead up to your assault." "Well, I was watching Kadyn perform with a group of friends. It was the grand opening of the club. I had went to the bar counter to get a smoothie and I bumped into_ into John." " Is that what the defendant said his name was?" "Yes." "What else did he tell you?" "He told me he had just moved into town. That he worked at the juice bar as a busboy-slash-janitor. And that it was his first job out of pre graduate school." "Did you flirt with him?" "Yes. A little." I flinch at this. "He was cute, but once he said he was out of pre graduate school I knew that he was too old for me. He asked me for my number. I told him I had to get back to my friends and left him at the counter." The questioning about the events before the attack went on. I glanced over at Mr. Benz and my jaw clenches shut. Dana squeezes my hand in comfort as I did to her before, but I'm beyond comforting. I just wanna go over there and beat the holy shit out of the guy. "Tell us what happened as you were looking for the restroom." the prosecuter asks. All I can think is here it goes the telling of what happened, of what he did. "In looking for the bathroom I ended up in the hallways behind stage. The music was so loud I could barely hear myself think. Then I ran into John--" "The defendant." "Yes. He told me that the bathroom was right around the corner and he insisted on escorting me there. I followed him thinking that he was taking me to the ladies room. We turn around the corner into a darker hallway. I looked around and i saw no signs for the bathroom anywhere. That's-- that's where, that's when he started touching me." "I see and in what way did he touch you." I didn't want to hear this again as much as she didn't want to repeat this again. I swallow hard as she takes a deep shuddering breath. "He grabbed my arm and cornered me against the wall." She was calm and composed, stotic. "I was wearing a tailored green shirt with a tube top under it and he ripped it halfway off. I tried to push him off but he was to strong. I screamed and he slapped me and then.... he kissed me hard and I-I bit his lip." "Did he say anything to you during this attack?" "He said stuff like he likes red heads, that I was his little red headed whore, and when I bit him he called me a vixen." "What did he do after you bit him?" "He punched me in my stomach hard. It knocked the wind out of me and I fell to the floor." Her voice starts to get lower and lower as she goes on. I just want to go over to her, hug her, kiss her. I just want to do something that doesn't make me feel so damn useless, but I know I can't. Just get through this kiddo and this will be it. "Can I take this moment to introduce evidence number 1? Her ripped clothes. Please continue, Miss Mulder" "He pushed me on my back and ripped my shirt even more, until he could see my bra. I began kicking and screaming and trying to fight him off, but he just straddled me with his legs pinning to the floor. He grabbed my wrist and pinned them at my side then he bit my neck and shoulder he just kept biting me. It hurt so bad that I almost passed out." "Can I take this moment to present evidence number 2 to the court? Photographs of the marks her made with his teeth. Go on." "Then he moved down my body pulling at my pants and I began hit him with my hands, again. He punched me in my face. For a moment all I could see where stars." She paused and looked down into her lap. Her long wavy red hair falling into her face. "He grabbed my wrist with one hand and put his hand in my pants with the other, he started touching me_there_, through my panties and then when that wasn't enough he-- he pulled my pants _" Her voice broke and she paused again. I felt as if someone was slowly _very slowly_ chiseling my heart out of my chest. I looked over to Dana and saw the tears in her eyes and I knew she felt the same way. "He pulled my pants to my knees and then ripped my panties off---" "Then what did he do?" She looked at the prosecuter with tears in her ice blue eyes. I felt a drop hit my hand and I realized I was crying too. "I-I can't. Please, I can't." She cried, covering her face. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my chair and run to her. The prosecuter takes mercy on all of us. "I'll like to request a fifteen minute recess, so my client can gather herself." "Granted. Court's in recess for fifteen minutes." the judge said, hitting the gavel and leaving the bench. Kennedy jumps off the stand and runs, tearfully, out of the courtroom. Dana and I follow. Title: Paternal Instincts (5\?) Author: Nialani Feedback: Mynace@aol.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (5\?) 9:10 am Jonestown Municipal Court Room The hallway I had my arms stretched out and she ran right past me. I know she doesn't like strangers to see her cry, but damn it! I'm her mother. I hurry after her and hold her in my arms and she cries until my suit jacket was soaked with her tears. "You have to keep going. We know it's hard Kennedy, but- " one of the prosecutors began "Can you give us a minute? Please!" I yell not too politely. "It's okay, Mom." Kennedy whispered. "Are you sure? What you said should be enough to convict him." I looked over to the prosecutor. "Isn't it?" "Yeah if you want to get him on felonies assault, and gross sexual imposition. He'll get a few years in prison then he'll be out on the street looking for another pretty red head." I shudder, maybe I should let her dye her hair I think. "We need to get him on the big stuff. the sexual assault and the attempted rape." I nod somberly and look down at my little girl. "Are you sure you are ready?" I ask again. "Yes," I could barely hear her. "Okay then." I barely say. I look over at Fox. He is as tense as a board. I let Kennedy confer with the lawyers. I walk over to my husband. I wrap my hands around his waist. I feel his hands on my shoulders clutching my to him. "I would rather be beating, shot, stabbed and infected with the black oil virus than to go through this." He says. "Ditto." I murmur into his suit jacket. "God I wish I had my fucking firearm. I would make this trail short, simple, and to the point." "Then you would be sitting in the defendants chair." I sigh, "And I would lose wonderful husband, and the kids would lose a wonderful father." he looked down at me with unshed tears. "Yeah, but it sure as hell would solve the FBI's problem!" He joked and I grinned. The FBI is still wondering how_ he_ was made an AD. "The FBI would fall apart without you." A deep distinct, familiar voice said. Mulder and I immediately turned and smiled. "Walter!" we both said. "How are my Agents?... Well, former agents." He said. "Holding up okay." Mulder said. "I know I saw you in the court room. You two were so tense a metal chainsaw couldn't cut through you." "When did you get here?" I asked astonished. Walter was a big part of our family. He was married to my cousin, Daphne. They met during a X-files case pertaining to a mysterious serial bomber. The FBI called her to Washington as a bomb specialist. They must have clicked, because when they met again at my Ireland wedding three weeks later they became husband and wife. He checked his watch, " Around 8:10." "And you didn't say hello?" I accuse him. He was the only family member besides my mother that even bothered to come in and check on the kids and us and I'm being a total bitch to him. "I'm sorry, Walter. I'm just a little on edge." "It's okay. I can understand why. I mean anything like that happen to Chloe. I don't know what I would do." He said speaking of Daphne and his only child. "Probably exactly what I'm thinking." Mulder said. "Probably worse." Walter admitted. Kennedy came walking towards when she saw him. "Uncle Walter." She yelled running towards him giving him a big hug. "Hey kiddo." He smiled returning the hug. "Why are you here?" she asked "I'm here just to make sure your dad doesn't go on a shooting rampage in the courtroom." He smiled. Kennedy giggles. "The court is almost in session." The prosecutor said. We nodded and they led Kennedy back into the room and back up on the stand. The questioning continued ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9:25am "Okay Miss Mulder. After he pinned you to the floor and ripped your underwear off what did he do?" The prosecutor began his questioning of her relentlessly. "H-he put his mouth ... he put his mouth on me." She said her voice squeaking. I can't believe I'm so calm. This is so surreal. "Where did he put his mouth on you Miss Mulder?" She started to cry again."On my vagina." The courtroom stirred uncomfortably. I stirred uncomfortably. Dana she just sat there and cried. As a mother she felt Kennedy's pain tenfold. Walter just shook his head. "Bastard." I heard him mumble. "He did that for what seemed like hours." She said, "But it was only a few minutes. Then he moved so he wasn't straddling me anymore I tried to push my elf away but he dragged me back to him. He undid his zipper and that's when Kadyn caught him." "That's all the questioning I have for now your honor." I drew in a long deep breath. That part was over. Now all she had to do is stand her ground during the cross. Suddenly, the defense lawyer rose. " We rest your honor. The prosecution offered us a plea bargain two days ago and my client would like to take it." "What?" I said, not to softly. "Mulder." Dana pleaded. "Dana, they said nothing about a plea bargain. They can't plea bargain." I said outraged. "Shhh." she chided. "Objection your honor. The prosecution withdraws the plea bargain. We gave Mr. Benz a time 24 hour time limit to take the plea." The judge took a long look at the defense lawyer. " Sustained. You should have took the plea bargain when it was given. Does the defense still rest?" They took a moment to talk amongst themselves. "No, your honor, but we need a day to rebuild our case." "Objection your honor! They didn't have a case before and they won't tomorrow!" "Overruled! Your request is granted. We will resume cross tomorrow. Court dismissed." The judge hit her gavel and left the bench. Damn, I hate when the judge is fair. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10: 02 Fox looked as if he wanted to strangle the prosecutor. He walked briskly out of the court room and I followed with Kennedy by my side. "What was the plea bargain about?" I hear him yell in the hallway. "Mr. Mulder, there was a point in the beginning of this case when I thought maybe we didn't have a definite chance of winning. There were no witnesses and no physical evidence. And yes we had the photo but those marks could have been made through consensual rough sex. Which is where the defense might be heading with this tomorrow. which also means I might have to call your son to the stand as an eye witness." He finished. "Damn it." Fox said. "I know. I'm sorry. I thought after Kennedy's brave testimony it would be open and shut. I'm sorry." Fox didn't even bother to acknowledge him. He just turned to me and said: "They're going to call, Kadyn." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (6\?) 3:00 The Mulder Residence The driveway. "I can't be in the same room with that guy!" Kadyn yelled. I knew this was going to be hard. I watch him complete a lay up. We're playing basketball in our driveway like we always do. It was our father and son bonding we did. Here is where I told him the differences between girls and boys, I told him about the birds and the bees, I told him about drugs and safe sex, and most recently the reason why he has to testify at his sister's sexual assault trial. "Kennedy is depending on you, Kadyn. You were the only witness. Tomorrow, they are going to put her on the stand-" I steal the ball from him, "and portray her character as some sadistic slut looking for a good time from some innocent guy willing to go along." I dribble the ball around him and shoot it into the basket. "What can I say? The old man still has it." I joke and he smiles giving me a masculine form of Dana's familiar glare. "I don't know. Can I think about it?" he says in possession of the ball. I look at him for a moment. "Sure." I already know, by the look in his eyes, that he's going to do it. I check my watch. One hour before dinner. Damn. I love being out here with Kadyn, but at 56 it's a pain in the ass to try to keep up with him. He laughs obviously catching me glancing at my watch. "You can go in, Dad. Just let the record show I beat you by five points." He says with a Scully smirk on his face. "You see, now that you pointed that out, I can't let you get away with gloating rights." I laugh putting him in a head lock, which ends up in a round of wrestling. "Okay you two, break it up." Dana interrupts. "Dinner isn't for another hour." I say. "Yes, but Kadyn has a phone call ... from Sydney." Dana says like a schoolgirl making Kadyn blush. Sydney is Kadyn's first love. "We'll talk later, Dad." He said rushing of into the house handing Dana the ball. "So," she begins to dribble the ball, "what did he say?" "He'll think about it." I say simply and a look of confusion cross her face. "He's going to do it. He really doesn't have a choice, Dana." "Check" she says throwing me the ball. I laugh. Teaching her how to play basketball became a Sunday afternoon pleasure of mind when we first got married. "I love you, y'know." I say, "Check." I throw the ball back to her and she takes off and throws the ball into the hoop. "I love you too." She says and then kissed me on the lips. " Now come in a get cleaned up for dinner and maybe later you can have a little desert." She says suggestively raising her eyebrow. I grab her arms and squeeze them gently. "Are you sure?" I ask her. We haven't had sex since the whole incident with Kennedy started. It was like Dana herself had almost been raped. She drops the basketball on the ground and wraps her arms around my neck. She kisses me so deeply and passionately, I feel like Jell-O. "So, Agent Mulder now that you have examined the evidence and studied your findings what is your conclusion." "Well, Agent Scully, my love for you can't be categorized or easily reference." I say resting my forehead on hers. "How's Kennedy doing?" I whisper. "She's fine, so she says." She grins because she knows what's coming. "I wonder where she gets that from?" I chuckle. "Don't go there Fox, remember in the court room. 'All I know is the truth'?" she laughs. "Like father, Like daughter." "Okay you two break it up." Kadyn says from the porch. "I think the food is done, Mom." "Okay sweetie," she says walking away mouthing "Later." I pick up the basketball as I walk into the house. "Hey Dad." Kadyn calls out. "I'll testify." "I know son." I state and I can feel him smile. Title: Paternal Instinct part 7 Feedback: Mynace@aol.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9:30 Jonestown Municipal Court House Court's in session. My son sits on the stand stiff as a board. With his back up. He looks at me and then his father. I try to smile to him for assurance, but I fail miserably. Then he looks at Kennedy. "Where were you the night of your sister assault?" The prosecutor began. Before the trial he told Kadyn that his questioning was going to be rough. That the defense was going to try to twist his words against his sister. He just nodded, solemnly. "Performing with my band," He paused then smiled a bit, so did Kennedy, "Retrovirus." Fox and I was smiling too. Okay so The Mulder's have a sick sense of humor. We're allowed. Kadyn began to relax a bit. "We were at the juice bar, Midway Beats." "Why was your sister there?" The prosecutor asked. "She likes listening to the band and I play. She asked my father if it was okay and he agreed as long as she stuck with me and I -" He stopped, "And I kept an eye on her." He is never going to stop blaming himself for what happened to her. "Tell me what happened when you noticed she was missing." "Well, I had finished a set and I called for an intermission. I went and spoke to my girlfriend for a moment. I asked had she seen Kennedy. She told me she had went to the bathroom, but that it was a while ago and that she might be at the bar. So I went to look for her." "Where did you find her?" "She was in the back towards the loading bay. Where the bands load their equipment into their van. " He said playing with the end of his tie. "A guy over there was on top of her and she was crying, stop. So, I kicked his as--butt." He said through gritted teeth. "Is the person in the court room today?" "Yes, he's right over there." Kadyn said pointing. "The prosecution has no further questions for now, your honor." The prosecution sat, and the defense rose. "Earlier you said you had to watch your sister in order for her to go to see you play. Were these the conditions your father set?" "Basically yes." He said squirming in his chair. I felt my stomach lurch when I realized where the lawyer was headed with all this. Fox took my hand. I was really looking forward to forgetting what happened so long ago. "Why? Kennedy seems like a girl with her head on straight. A straight 'A' student. Why would your father not let her go out?" "My sister is a girl. A very beautiful girl. She's very trusting of people. The perfect prey for perverts like your client." Kadyn said. I shake my head. The twins angelic looks hid one hell of a temper. "I'd like to have that last sentence stricken from the record, your honor." The defense said. "Watch it, young man." The judge warned. "I apologize, your honor." The judge smiled. Like his father, Kadyn can be very charming. Sometimes to charming for his own good. "What happened the night of July 4, 2012?" I winced, so did Fox. "My sister disappeared." Kadyn said. I was thanking God that he didn't say: My sister was abducted--by aliens. "Objection, your honor!" The prosecutor said. Kennedy looked down at dress which she was wringing between her hands. "That has no relevance to this case." "Approach the bench." She said and the lawyers went to her. You couldn't hear what was said, but it looked like a heated debate. "Fox." I whispered worriedly, looking at him. "They're going to use her abduction to try to get this guy off. I thought those files were destroyed." He muttered, angrily. The lawyers left the bench and the prosecutor walked back to his seat shaking his head. "Your objection is overruled." The judge said, "Please continue with your questioning." _________________________ Title: Paternal Instinct part 8 Feedback: Mynace@aol.com __________________________ (8\?) 10:20 am Jonestown Municipal Court I wanted to kill the defense. He was a slimy rat bastard. He went into years old police report to make Kennedy look like she was unstable. I knew one day that_incident_was going to come back and bite us in the ass. " This is a police report from July 4, 2012. It states that: 12 year old, Kennedy Mulder had been kidnapped during a fireworks display at Washington, DC. Were you with her that day, Kadyn?" "Yes, sir." Kadyn said. He looked at me and I took a deep breath. "And what happened that day." "She was abducted. My parents filed a police report." Kadyn said. Kadyn was a master at running people around in circles with his answers. "But you were there when it happened. How was she abducted?" "Well, one minute she was walking behind me and the next she was gone." I love my son, I really do. He wasn't going to let out that information without a fight. "That's not what this reports said you saw. They said you saw an Unidentified Flying Object." "Honestly, I was 12, and there were fireworks and lots of smoke. Everything looked like an UFO." The courtroom chuckled. Good job Kadyn. "It then goes on to say you were paralyzed by a bright light. And your sister was taken in a big ship." "Like I said before I was twelve a huge car with bright headlights would made the same impression of a big ship." "What about the paralyzation?" "Fear." "So are you saying you don't believe in UFO's?" "I'm saying I was a young imaginative little boy who lost his twin sister to something that at that point and time looked like a UFO." I remember when she returned. That day we swore to never speak of the incident unless forced. We knew what we saw was a UFO and that Kadyn was subjected to the same thing I was when I was twelve. Except I wasn't like my father. I comforted Kadyn, we both did until Kennedy returned almost two months later. Why she was taken is still a mystery to our family. The defense lawyer looked irritated. He wasn't getting what he wanted out of Kadyn and I doubt he will. "I have no further questions for this witness." Kadyn walked off the stand with a smug smile. "I will like to call Kennedy Mulder to the stand." Kennedy rose and walk to the stand she swore to uphold the rules that was said to her before and the defense began his questioning. "Do you remember what you said happened to you, July 4, 2012?" Now my nerves was back Kennedy wasn't like Kadyn when it came to this topic. The topic I choose to bury in our family history. I never opened up to her and discuss with her what happen. Now I regret it. "Yes." She said nervously. "Go on." "I was kidnapped." She said. "Do you remember what happened to you while you were gone?" He said looking through the folder he held. "Not everything. " "It says here you were touched inappropriately" he mentioned casually making me want to ring his fat little neck. "Yes and so." She said defensively. "When you met my client in the bar weren't you a little more than friendly?" "No. I said hello and good-bye. When I saw him again it was just to ask where the bathroom was." "Could it be possible that you went with my client willingly, knowing full well what you were getting into?" "No. He lied to me he told me that he was going to show me where the bathroom is. He didn't say anything about having sex or anything." "Are you telling me after being abducted once before, You are just so trusting to every Tom, Dick, and Harry that comes along?" She started crying, "The first time I decide to trust someone, this happened." She took her blue Henley sweater off and revealed the fading marks on her shoulder. The whole courtroom drew in a breath at her bruising. Damn near a month and a half later the deep lesions he put on her skin where still black and blue. I looked over to the jury. They were outraged and some of the younger women were crying. Dana was crying, I put my arm around her. "I have no further questions, your honor. The defense rest." The defense sat down at his table and began to talk to his client. "Do you have any further questions?" The judge said, addressing the prosecutor. "No, your honor. The prosecution hereby rest." He said looking back at us with a smile. "We'll meet here at 8:00 tomorrow for closing arguments. Court adjourned." Kennedy slipped her sweater back on and buttoned it tight. She stood up and walked straight to Dana and I. "I wanna go home now." She said and we walked her and Kadyn out of the courthouse without missing a beat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Paternal Instinct part 9 Feedback: Mynace@aol.com ______________________________ (9\?) 10:00 Jonestown Municipal Court House Closing arguments. "She's young and innocent. She's trusting." The prosecutor began, "And for her trust she was brutally molested and emotionally scarred." He paced the court room in front of the jury. " David Benz is a predator. He stalked her out that night, he engaged her in some ... idle flirting, and when her guard was down against him he attacked her. A man like this should not be on the streets. A man whose looks are innocent but his heart is evil should not be allowed to prey on our daughters, our sisters, our wives. David Benz needs to go to jail for a very long time. It's in your hands to make sure that he doesn't do what he did to young Kennedy, to your loved ones. Thank you." He sat down. The defense rose and paced the courtroom, he took a long minute to begin, as if he was searching for something to say. "Kennedy Mulder, is young and trusting, but innocent? This innocent young woman lured my client to a secluded place in the club knowing exactly what she was getting into and when she didn't quiet get what she was looking for she cried assault. If you really look at my client. Really look, you will see that he is innocent. Thank you." The defense rested. My stomach churned as the judge explained how the jury should come to a conclusion. I looked Fox and he looked back at me as if to say "It'll be okay." The jury rose and were off to their chamber to reach a verdict and then court was dismissed. We left the court room. We listened to our lawyer tell us that he was going to jail. Not to worry. That it was going to be a quick verdict. Fox and I just nodded. We waited in the courthouse for about an hour and when there was no verdict we decided to get some lunch. ____________________________ Lawrence's 12:25 PM We sat in the restaurant staring at each other. Silently waiting for either Fox's or my own cell phone to ring. Food that was served was barely pick over an eventually it grew cold. "Why are they taking so long?" Kadyn finally said dropping his fork loudly on his plate. "Kadyn...." "No, Kendy. It shouldn't take them this long." He yelled. "Can I be excused please?" He asked and I nodded. He left the table and I turned to Fox. "Maybe you should..." "I'm on it." He nodded, getting up and walking after Kadyn. "I'm sorry Mom. I should have never talk to that guy. I'm so sorry." Kennedy wept. I moved next to her and gave her a hug. "You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for." I whisper, rubbing her arm. "Nothing to be sorry for? I almost got myself raped Mom!" she cried, I felt absolutely useless. What could I say to her to make her understand that it wasn't her fault? "You know, when I was in college, I was like you. A bookworm and a homebody. I was pretty, yet I always thought I could be prettier. I wasn't a big hit with the guys. One day there was a party at a frat house. My roommate was invited. She was told to bring some friends. She begged and begged me to go with her and finally I said yes. Now there was this guy there his name was Gregory Huston. He was gorgeous. I had liked him since I had been going to that school, but I was too shy to go up to him and ask him out. Well, Greg Huston decided he was really into me that night. He told me that I was the most beautiful girl at the party and after a few drinks I began to believe him. Needless to say, I slept with him. It wasn't enjoyable. I felt like a slut afterward." "Mom-" she began. "Shh. The next afternoon I went to see him. To start over fresh with him, because I believed that he really liked me. I went to his house and knocked on his door. When he didn't answer I let myself in. He was in his kitchen on the phone talking to his friend telling them that he had screwed me and that he should get points in his book for having sex with a dike." Kennedy gasped. " I ran out of his house in tears and for along time I beat myself up for being so stupid to believe his lies. It left me insecure about a lot of things evolving men. Even when your father told me he loved me the first time, I questioned him. We he asked me to marry him the first time, I said no, because somewhere in my mind I just knew your father would eventually betray me. It's been 18 years Kennedy and he hasn't betrayed me yet." "The point of me telling you this is, your young, baby. And no matter how you keep to yourself, no matter how frumpy you dress, no matter if you ever strike up a conversation with a handsome man or not. You will never know if who you are talking to is good or bad. They don't have signs on their foreheads reading asshole." Kennedy laughed and rested her head on my shoulder. " One bad experience shouldn't make you turn away from many good experiences in your future. And you can't blame yourself for falling victim to one bad man. He's to blame for being a sicko, not you. Okay?" Kennedy sniffled a bit and then nodded. "Just promise me one thing Kennedy?" I ask. "What?" she looks into my eyes. "Next time, when you go out, never let a man get you alone unless you're pretty sure what he's about." I say kiss her forehead. "Okay Mom." she whispered and then she smiled. ____________________________________ Same time In the parking lot "I feel that I failed her dad! I mean, if I only got there sooner, y'know?" he kick a small stone rock out of his way. "I know, I felt the same way when you aunt disappeared and my self-flagellation about that still goes on today." I admit. "It's not fair. Kendy, she didn't need that. Not after what happened before." He mumbled, he knew I hated mention her abduction. Maybe it was time to mention it though. "The day your sister was abducted was the second worst thing that had ever happened to me. I sat in the den all those nights believing if I was watching her, she would have been there. If I had carrying her around my shoulders as she wanted me to do, she would have been there. If I- If I wasn't her father, she would have still been there. And when she was brought back to us unharmed. For along time I thought, I didn't deserve to be her father. That I couldn't protect her or you or your mother. That I didn't deserve a family. I thought no man deserved a family that he couldn't keep safe. Then your mother and your grandmother decided to get together and knock some sense in to me. "I smiled at the memory of it. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. " You can't change the past, you can't hide from the future. You just have to move on. I can't live my life on what ifs and should have, could have, would have's and neither should you." "I failed to protect her, Dad, like you said." he whispered. I saw the tears in his eyes and I realized I subconsciously did exactly what I promised myself I would never do. I became my father. "I'm sorry, Kadyn. I... that isn't your job. When I told you to watch her, I never meant for you to become her bodyguard. Your sister is smart, but I didn't trust her to take care of herself." And I have to apologize to her about that. "You aren't me. You aren't her dad. You're a kid. You were playing in a band most of the night. I should have never put you in that position. So stop blaming yourself." I smiled. "I'll try." he said, "Thanks dad." I grinned, "Hey it's in my job descript---" The phone rang in my coat pocket. After the second ring, I finally clicked it on. "The verdicts in." my lawyer simply said. "We're on our way." _____________________________ (10\10) 1:00 Jonestown Municipal Court House We arrived just as the attempted rape and battery charges against Mr. Benz was being read. I quickly grabbed my husband and daughter's hand, tightly. "We the jury find David Benz guilty of attempted rape and battery." There was a gasp in the courtroom. Yes! It was over, finally over. Benz was going away. Now the healing process for my family could finally truly begin. "Thank God." I whispered clasping my hands tight together in a silent prayer of thanks. And this time we will work through this. This would not be buried. Not like the last time. "Please rise Mr. Benz. You have been found guilt of attempted rape and battery. You will be confined to Jonestown County Jail until your sentencing. Court is dismissed." The courtroom rose. I watched Fox shake the hand of the prosecutor ____________________________ It was over, well not completely. We still had the sentencing hearing, but the hard part was over. I shook the hand of the prosecutor and wrapped my arm around my wife. She was in the verge of tears, and for once in the last few months I don't really worry about that because I know this time they are tears of joy. Kennedy runs to me and Dana. "Is it done? Is it over?" she cries. "Well, just the sentencing hearing and then you won't have to worry about that man for a very long time." The prosecuted said and I nodded in agreement. "But what if they don't put him away for a while. Maybe he'll only get two years or something." Kadyn unwittingly stated his worries. The family's worries. "As long as he's not allowed to come with in fifteen hundred feet of Kennedy there shouldn't be any problem." The prosecutor stated. "I already have a restraining order placed on him." "Let him break that restraining order. I'm licensed to carry a gun." I said, angrily. "We won't have to worry about that. He's going to be put away in jail for many *many* years. So let's try not to premeditate his murder please." Dana said. I nodded. "Can we go home?" Kennedy asked. "Let's go home." I say ________________________ Epilogue David Benz was sentenced to fifteen years to life. Which hardly enough time in anyone's opinion. Fox kept thinking in fifteen years Kennedy would be 32 years old with her own family and probably with her own little girl that she would have to protect. He could only hope that David Benz would be an asshole and try to come after her again. Fox mentioned that to me and Kennedy over heard. She just smiled and ran upstairs saying: "By that time I'll be licensed to carry my own gun." She never did hide her aspirations to become an FBI agent like her parents. "Don't worry, Dad, " Kadyn laughed sitting at the kitchen table, "I'll keep an eye on her. You know just to make sure she doesn't go around shooting the unarmed." Kadyn was still into his music, but he was still a big fan of the FBI and the X-files team as well. Especially, when the Lone Gunmen stop by. His face lights up like Christmas. "Well, just don't go planting evidence." Fox said. "At least don't get caught planting evidence." He laughed and I tap him on the arm. "You stop teaching the kids this stuff." "What I wish in Quantico they taught us to 'deny everything' and to 'trust no one'." He says and I roll my eyes. "Especially those who smoke." Kadyn joked and we all laughed. Things are definitely starting to get back to normal around here. ___________________________________ After the verdict my daughter and I had a long talk. She was telling me that she felt that she could take care of herself and that this was an isolated incident. I agreed with her even though her curfew was upped an hour and I think more strongly about the places I let my son perform at. Now, I sit beside my son in the kitchen joking about being in the FBI. The Mulder's crazy life before the promotions. I wait for her to come downstairs. She has a date tonight with a boy I know. He's a little wild kind of reminds myself of me when I was his age. That's another reason her curfew was upped an hour. This is her second date since the verdict. I'm still a nervous wreck. The first date she went out on I followed her. She caught me and surprisingly she didn't yell. She just sat me down when we got home and told me once again that she was able to take care of herself. She walked down the stairs wearing a long blue dress. Kadyn whistles and she strikes a pose. "Now Daddy," she says getting me to help her put on her coat. "You're going to stay home, right." I say nothing and she laughs. "If I see you I'll shoot you." She bent up and kissed my cheek. "What's with the women of this family?" I joke which earns my a slap on the rear from Dana. "Stay home Dad... Please?" she says giving me that puppy dog eyes look I give Dana when I've been bad. "Ah ha. You're own little eye trick is being backfired on you." Dana laughs. A car honks in the driveway. "I'll stay home." I say and she happily gives me a huge hug. She runs out the door and disappears. I turn to Kadyn. "No dad." He says reading my thoughts. "I'll give you fifty bucks." I bribe with a grin. "Make it one hundred and we have a deal." He says casually. "Deal." I say shaking his hand as he gets up to leave. "That is so wrong, Fox. Having one twin spy on the other." Dana says. "It's just until I feel comfortable Dana. Just let me do this okay." She wraps her arms around me. "Okay." She kissed my cheek, then she said, "We have the house to ourselves." "We do don't we?" I smile. "Race you upstairs?" I grab her before she takes off, "I'm too old for that now, Dana." I kissed and lead her to the floor. "You are soo bad!" she laughed. Now, things are getting back to normal. ___________________