Title: Safe Harbor X 
Author: shawntaw 
Category: MSR, Mulder/Scully/Skinner friendship, ProfilingMulder 
Rating: PG, maybe R 
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not making any money. 
Feedback makes me happy at shawntaw@hotmail.com :) 

Summary: What does the future hold for Mulder and will Scully and 
Skinner be able to put the clues together to find him in time? 


NOTES: To Sdani, who wants me to wipe that wicked smile right off the 
killer's face...Don't worry, its coming..:) 

TO EVERYONE: Major clues within for those who've been paying close 
attention...:) 
***************************************************** 

The killer opened the door with a creak right before sunup. 

Mulder sat up on the cot and tried, in vain, to stare at him in the 
darkness. 

Last night, during his ruminations, Mulder had developed a plan. 

"I've come to tell you that you had better go ahead and finish up 
your water and the other half of that bar. Today, we begin." 

The calm, pleased way he said it sent a shiver along Mulder's spine. 

The killer turned to leave. 

"So, how old will you be this October 20th?" 

Mulder knew he was taking a shot in the dark...literally. 

But, after analyzing the facts last night, he'd come to realize that 
the killer's mention of his father had been a major clue. 

It had to have something to do with the killer's birth. 

Mulder hoped so, anyway. 

He was still working on the significance of the other words the 
killer had spoken to him. 

*Light eyes? Brown hair? Jock mentality? Why are these 
characteristics important?* 

The killer spun, eyes wide in the pale light beginning outside the 
small windows as the sun rose. 

"How? How did you find out? HOW?!" 

Mulder hoped the small man wasn't carrying anything solid to throw at 
him. 

"I'll be 35. And not the man my father wanted at all," the killer 
spit at him as the light across his face changed to 
amber, "Satisfied, Agent Mulder?" 

The feral smile returned. 

"If you think this information will help you at all, you are 
mistaken. Your friends are SO on the wrong track. They won't find 
you in time." 

The killer snorted in amusement and stepped from the basement, 
slamming the heavy door. 

Mulder let out the breath he had been holding. 

*But I AM on the right track...* 

He picked up the bottle of water and the leftover granola bar and sat 
on the cot to nourish himself. 

He had the feeling it was going to be a long time before he got the 
chance to do so again. 

******************************************************* 

The female employees were interviewed. 

The notes were spread across the large table in the conference room 
at the Burton Police Department. 

The local cops had given the two F.B.I. agents the run of the place 
and a wide berth, having no leads of their own. 

It was all up to Scully and Skinner. 

"This isn't right. She isn't here," Scully tossed another manila 
folder to the side with disgust. 

"I've checked the date October 20th against the records of each of 
the females interviewed and it came back with nothing. And each of 
the women has a solid alibi for the time when Mulder was kidnapped." 

"Of course, October 20th could be a date that is only significant to 
the killer and not a date that would be listed in a personnel 
record," Skinner played Devil's advocate from where he sat opposite 
from her. 

Scully nodded impatiently, flicking a stray strand of red hair behind 
her ear as she shuffled the papers, "I know, but that doesn't explain 
the alibis." 

She held up a hand, "And before you say it, I know that one of the 
people providing the alibis could in fact be an accomplice." 

She sighed explosively. 

"But to be honest I am getting the feeling that we are running in 
circles here. The killer is not one of these women." 

Skinner's brows raised. 

*Mulder would be so proud. She 'gets the feeling?'* 

Aloud, he said, "Then the profile is wrong?" 

Scully paused. 

"I've never known Mulder's profiles to be wrong," she stated 
quietly, "but maybe in the state of mind he's been in..." 

She let the thought trail off. 

Skinner looked down at his hands. 

"It IS something we should consider," he finished for her. 

Scully nodded and slammed the folder shut that she held in her hand. 

"Let's start on the male employees." 

******************************************************** 

Mulder was making himself crazy. 

The basement was utterly silent. 

He listened for street noises, but there were none. 

He listened for movement in the rooms above him, but could hear 
nothing. 

Utter and complete quiet. 

And it was driving him nuts. 

His mind wandered... 

He wondered what Scully was doing right now. 

Mulder closed his eyes.... 

She would be following the profile he left. 

*The WRONG profile, apparently.* 

He tried to picture she and Skinner interviewing suspects. 
Discounting leads. 

Eventually she would come to the conclusion that his profile had been 
wrong. 

But would it be in time? 

The door to his 'cell' began to open slowly. 

Mulder blinked back to his surroundings and stood as he always did, 
although it did no good and gave him no defense against anything the 
killer should decide to do to him. 

To his shock, a woman stepped in and regarded him with a half-smile 
on her thin lips. 

"Surprise," said her sing-song voice. 

Mulder's jaw dropped. 

Maybe he'd been right after all. 

******************************************************** 

I know it is short, but it was the perfect place to stop. More to 
come...Are you figuring it out yet?;)