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Hunter's Moon	By : purenightshade Category: S through Z > X-Files Views: 1547 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the television series that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
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- 14
Disclaimer: All X-Files characters are copyright to their respective owners. Riley Hunter is my original character and should not be taken or used without my permission.

Rating: NC-17

Archive: Anywhere, just give credit where credit is due

Feedback: Yes, please! Send all comments to nightshade@catlover.com

Author�s Notes: This crossover diverges from the Angel storyline in season two. Lindsey MacDonald never left Wolfram and Hart. His hand was returned to him and he and Lilah Morgan are still co-running the Special Projects Division. Fred has joined the team and has adjusted to life back on Earth. Kate Lockely, by necessity, is still on the police force. I�m not sure where in the X-Files to place it, but sometime in either season 4 or 5.

Summary: Mulder and Scully receive a call that there are bodies turning up in Los Angeles, bodies of unidentifiable creatures, all killed by the same unknown person with the same weapon. Unknown to Mulder and Scully, the Syndicate sends Krycek to find out what he can about the mysterious creatures and their killer.

Author�s Note: The bit of song that Riley sings in this chapter is �Vector� by Maya Sakamoto.
File 13: Tea with the old woman
Shuddering, Riley pushed him off her and put her shirt and pants back on. After doing his pants and belt back up, she took the key from the table and finished unlocking the handcuffs. She sat rubbing her wrists for a few minutes. She turned to look down at Krycek.

�Idiot,� she said, looping the cuffs back the way they�d been earlier and snapped them around his hands. Not as tightly as they�d been around hers, but tight enough so that he wouldn�t get out of them anytime soon. She found her boots at the foot of the bed and her jacket folded neatly beside them. She slid the boots over her battered ankles and sighed happily as the silky inside of the leather jacket slid over her skin. She picked up her sword and sat down in the same chair Krycek had used. He�d have a nasty bump on his head as she hadn�t been nice about bashing him on the head with that lamp.

It�s a shame, really. He�s not unattractive. It�s just that his head is screwed on all wrong. She stood up and walked over to his side and ran a hand over his head, feeling the lump that was beginning to form. Shaking her head, she put the sword down put the pillows aside, cradling his head in her lap. Remembering what her mother used to do when she was sick or injured, so hummed softly as she stroked his head. Tunelessly at first, but slowly it took a form. Without even thinking, the lyrics spilled out.

Told myself for a long time

don't go there

you will only be sorry

Told myself so many times

I just had to take a look

in those faraway eyes..
In them I saw a longing

for something

Maybe I couldn't give you

Said it's all in my mind

"It ain't nothing"
Don't say that

Don't say that

darling no

Don't say anything at all

Because I've seen it now

Can't pretend anymore

"It ain't nothing"
Do you know what I mean?

And have you seen it too?

Do you know what I mean?

Do you know?

And I'll do anything

just tell me what it means

Cause I can't live in doubt anymore

Do we try or should we

just say goodbye
About half way through the song, he groaned, his eyes opening, so she stopped singing. �What happened?� he asked, looking up at her.

�You fell for one of the oldest weapons in my arsenal,� she told him gently. Her eyes were full of sympathy, something that he found puzzling. �I�m sorry that it had to end like this, but there are a few things that I need to do. I can�t afford to hang around here. Oh, I�m sure I�d get used to you eventually. I don�t expect you to understand. I hope I didn�t hurt you too badly.�

He tried to sit up, but was stopped by the handcuffs. �What did you hit me with?�

�A very unfortunate lamp.�

�It was ugly anyways. You did the world a favor by smashing it. I wish you hadn�t used my head to break it, though.�

She scooted out from under his head and stood, looking down at him. Slowly she bent down, cupped his cheeks in her hands and kissed him on the forehead. �Despite the cuffs and ropes, you treated me well. You could have been much, much worse. Because of that, I�ll do you a favor and warn you. Don�t try and find me. I don�t use my blade on humans. I don�t want to have to start with you. Good bye, Alex.� Riley stood up and buckled the belt around her waist. �I hope you have a good life,� she said, leaving the motel room.

Krycek cursed, pulling at the handcuffs. Noting that they were loose enough for him to slip his hands through, he pulled himself into a sitting position and worked at getting one hand out. It took a lot of squirming, but he got the one hand loose. Riley had left the key on the table for him, so he used it to unlock the other cuff. He ran over to the couch, put on his shirt and jacket, stuck his shoes on his feet, and ran out the door to see if he could catch her.

Outside, the sun was beginning to rise, making it difficult to see. He went out to the street and looked down it both ways. There was no one wearing a long black jacket, no blonds, no one in sight. Sighing, he turned around and went back into the motel to have a cold shower. He needed it after all that had happened during the night.

Standing under the stream of cold water, he kicked himself for falling for her trick. Alex, you idiot. Did you honestly think that a woman like her would really be your ideal match? How could you have thought that she would want you the way you want her? You�ve gone soft, falling for someone like her. You should have known better.

He balled his hands into fists. Where do I go from here? I have to get her back. There�s no way I�m leaving L.A empty handed. I know she said not to, but I have to go after her. But how?

He turned the water off and got out, wrapping a towel around his waist. He sat down on the bed and stared at the door. I feel very alone right now.
Huntsman Heights

8:47 am
Riley collapsed onto the couch in her apartment, leaning her head back soft material. It had taken several hours, but she finally made it back home. She�d forgotten how abysmal early morning traffic was. She�d taken a cab back to the police station. Her car had been parked a few blocks away, so that hadn�t been hard. It was the drive back to her place that had taken forever. She was glad that she had closed her curtains before she�d gone out the night before. The light outside was very bright and it hurt her eyes. She had to force herself to get up and take off her boots and jacket. After hanging her sword up in its hidden rack, she walked towards the bathroom, unlacing her shirt as she went. She needed a shower. Badly.

The warm water felt good on her hot skin. She leaned her hands on the wall and closed her eyes, trying to force the images of Alex Krycek out of her mind. Problem was that every time she closed her eyes the image of him standing over her with no shirt on greeted her. Complicating it was her reaction. Her breathing and heartbeat quickened and her skin heated, making her sweat. It was a completely foreign reaction for her and it was worrying.

No amount of scrubbing could remove the lingering feeling of his hands on her skin, even in places he hadn�t touched. Giving up, she got out and tossed on a clean pair of red jeans and a white t-shirt, anything but black, and went to go check her messages. There was the standard telemarketer message and one from one of her friends wanting to meet her for a movie on the weekend, and a message from someone she�d been trying to get a hold of since the episode with Mulder in her dressing room.

Sighing in relief, she picked up the phone and called in sick for work, promising to be in as soon as she felt better. With that taken care of, she dialed another number to confirm the message. She hung up the phone, grabbed her wallet, sunglasses, and car keys, and headed out the door.
Sunset Heights

9:20 am
Riley knocked on the door of apartment 709 and waited for an answer that wasn�t long in coming. A woman who looked to be in her mid sixties but was in fact older than that greeted Riley with a warm smile, gesturing for her to come in.

�Come in, child. It�s been far too long since we�ve had a chance to talk,� she said in a soft, friendly voice.

Riley took her shoes off at the door and sat down in the chair she always sat in. It was a comfortable, high backed chair that was so soft, it could swallow you whole. �You aren�t an easy woman to get a hold of, Grandmother.�

Sheena Hunter waved her hand dismissively. �I do have to keep busy, you know. So, what did you need to talk to me about? It sounded urgent.�

�There�s something wrong with me, Grandmother. My strength is fading.�

The older woman leaned forward, concerned. �Really? This is serious indeed. Why don�t you tell me the whole story?�

Riley took a deep breath. �It seems like I�m telling a lot of stories lately,� she commented before starting. �This mess all started when I met a man by the name of Alex Krycek. For some reason, he was hanging out at Caritas. I�d gone to ask Lorne for help about something unrelated to my present problem. He introduced himself to me. You can imagine what my response was. In the end, I wound up putting a dagger through his jacket, hoping that would deter him from any further attempts. Things were fine again until Uncle Linwood coerced me into going to a big charity function his form was putting on. Fine. Normally, that would be simply boring. Not so. Guess who showed up on Lilah�s arm? Great. Uncle Linwood made me dance with him.�

�Humiliating,� Sheena observed.

�That isn�t even half of it. After that ended, I went outside for some fresh air, hoping to sneak away should the opportunity present itself. Oh no. He followed me out and tried to talk to me. Things would have been fine if those damn vampires hadn�t shown up. I should have left him to them, but no. My training took over and I did the only thing I could think of.�

�Let me guess. You took him back to your apartment, knowing it was safe.�

She nodded glumly. �We talked for a little. He admitted he was attracted to me. The more we talked, the more of a decent person he seemed. For reasons that are beyond me, I let him close.�

�How close are we talking here?�

Riley blushed. �Very close. I was in his arms, Grandmother. He kissed me.�

�And he�s still breathing? My, my.�

�This is when I discovered that he has a prosthetic arm that he didn�t tell me about.� She clenched her fists, remembering her anger.

�I always wondered when this surprise thing of yours would come back and bite you,� Sheena said. �You always did hate them. Mix that up with your love of honesty and it causes problems every time.�

�Needless to say, I took that badly. I let him sleep on the couch, but locked myself in my room until I knew for certain that he was gone. That incident was the first sign that my strength was fading. It was still mostly there, but I couldn�t have physically stopped him if I tried. At the time, I told myself it was just shock at his audacity, but now I know better.

�After that, things were ok. An F.B.I agent named Fox Mulder came to the studio to ask me questions about the demon bodies that have been showing up.�

Sheena clucked her tongue disapprovingly. �How could you have let them sit around like that?�

�It isn�t my fault, Grandmother,� Riley protested. �This is what happens when you have to get away from a kill as fast as you can because of a civilian coming nearby. This has been happening more and more frequently lately.�

�I see. Continue, please.�

�So anyways, he comes to talk to me. He got a list of names from the sword shop I frequent. Somehow, he and his partner reasoned that the cuts on the bodies were made by my kind of weapon, and so used that to get a list of suspects. I let him into my dressing room to talk in private. I�d seen him before, also at Caritas. He has some connection to Krycek. According to Krycek, they were partners once, but I�m positive he�s not telling me something about that in addition to all the other things he�s hiding from me. Anyways, somehow Mulder got it into his head to kiss me. This is where things really get weird, as I could no more have pushed him away that I could have moved a mountain. I�ve bested creatures many times his size and strength, but I was helpless. If my friend Fred hadn�t called, I�m not really sure how I would have dealt with it.

�That evening, I met up with Krycek again while on patrol. He had no idea who I was due to my habit of speaking in a low voice and keeping to the shadows. After taking out a vamp, a demon came out after me and revealed me as a woman. So, naturally, Krycek decided to make me swallow a knock out drug. He got it into my mouth by putting it in his and kissing me.�

Riley shuddered at the memory of what happened next. �When I woke up again, I was tied up in a cheap motel room. Whatever else I might think about Krycek, he sure does know his knot tying. I could budge my feet. My hands were handcuffed to the top of the bed. At least he had the foresight to take my boots, jacket, and belt off. That could have been even more uncomfortable.

�This can�t possibly be good.�

�No, it wasn�t.� Riley proceeded to tell her Grandmother about the conversation they�d had as well as everything she could think of that had happened, including the ruse she�d pulled in order to get free.

Sheena leaned back in her rocking chair, pondering what Riley had just told her. �This is a problem, but it isn�t really as serious as you think.�

�How could this not be serious? Any man could walk up and try to take advantage of me and I�d be powerless to stop him!�

The older woman shook her head. �If your mother had lived long enough, she would have told you this a long time ago. I didn�t see any need to bring it up before as your feelings regarding men were perfectly clear even before you yourself realized it. This is not a situation in which I thought you would ever find yourself in. Are you familiar with the term �Hunter�s Moon�?�

�In the old days of the lunar calendar, November was often referred to as the Hunter�s Moon, but I�m not aware of anything other than that.�

�In the month of November, we Hunters all experience an unusual fluctuation in our abilities. On one side of the coin, we�re stronger and faster than we are in any other month of the year. We�re far more effective as a result. This bonus comes with its own price, though, and don�t ask me why it is this way. It was never explained to me. To balance the increase in strength, we have a highly increased vulnerability to men. The Hunter�s Moon somehow brings out all of our most primal instincts, including the need to mate.�

Riley wrinkled her nose. �You�re joking, right?�

�I�m afraid not, Riley. As most in our line don�t have any sort of fondness for men, whatever was responsible for creating our line in the first place must have decided that this was necessary. As I recall, it was this that brought me into the world as well as your mother. This is no joke.�

�Why couldn�t you have told me this sooner?�

�You avoid any contact with men in general. I never thought I�d see the day when you�d have this happen. Though, I did tell you about that obscure legend, the one you used to escape. It did actually happen, just not exactly the way I told you.�

�It was just that time of the year?� she guessed.

�That�s it exactly. It will only happen during November.�

Riley relaxed a little bit. �So all I have to do is wait until the beginning of December and this will all go away?�

�Yes. On the first day of December, you�ll be back to normal. I promise.�

�So I only have to hold out for another week.�

�I have a feeling, though, that you aren�t telling me everything, Riley.� A shrewd expression appeared on the old woman�s face. �What happened after you got back to your apartment? What are your feelings on what happened last night?�

�I had a shower, checked my messages, called work, called you, and came over. As for my feelings, it�s a really mixed bag.� She swallowed. �Grandmother, could I get something to drink? I�ve only had two glasses of water since Krycek drugged me.�

�Certainly. I�ll be right back. Please have your answer ready for me when I get back. I think it might be important. I�ve always told you to pay attention to all of the details, no matter how unimportant or trivial they may seem.� She got up from her rocking chair and returned a few minutes later with a pair of tea cups and a hot pot of tea. �I made this after you called,� she explained, pouring Riley a cup and handing it to her. �Help yourself to the sugar, dear.�

Riley blushed and her Grandmother laughed. �Oh, relax. I won�t tease you about it. Now, then, please finish answering my question.�

Without breaking her calm, Riley spooned a large amount of sugar into her tea, stirred it, and took a dainty sip to test it. Nodding, she set the cup back down on its saucer and met her Grandmother�s eyes. �My feelings. Well, first there�s the embarrassment at being so easily captured and at being tied up. Fear for my life. Confusion that he�d let me choose my own fate out of the three options he provided. More confusion that he�d clean the injuries I got from trying to free myself and that he was even gentle about it. I wonder why he was so concerned about the nightmare, what the real reason for the food was. He didn�t have to, and yet he went out of his way to give me food and drink. Humiliation at being fed like a child. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation and being able to hear mom say those words I figured she�d say about it being kinky, romantic, or both. Irritated that Krycek wouldn�t tell me the entirety of his story. Especially when he keeps claiming that he won�t lie to me. Then he goes on this jealousy kick when he learned about Mulder�s try at it. I�m not sure if that annoyed or flattered me. He had no business doing that, and yet�� She shook her head. �I don�t know.

�Panic when he kissed me and I couldn�t stop him. Worse, my mind wanted to get away, but the rest of me very much wanted to stay right there. Surprise that he fell for the story; and panic again when I found that my body wouldn�t respond to what I wanted it to do. It was like being controlled by an outside force. When he did what I wanted him to do, his intensity was almost frightening. After that, it was mostly a blur, a haze of�I�m not sure what the words would be to describe it, but it felt good, relaxing. Every part of me felt awake and alive. It took all of my control to grab that lamp and hit him with it.

�I felt bad for having to do that, but there wasn�t much choice, really. It was painful to have to do so. Why, I�m not really sure. I even put his head in my lap and sang to him until he woke up. Guilt, perhaps, was what drove me to it. I even kissed him before I left, called him by his first name and warned him to stay away.�

�It was only fair of you to do so, dear.�

�I suppose so, but, Grandma, why can�t I get his picture out of my head? Every time I close my eyes, even blinking, I see him, standing over me with no shirt on.�

�How does it make you feel?�

Riley closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. �I can still feel his hands on my skin, even where he didn�t touch. I tried to wash it away, but I couldn�t. Seeing his picture, it makes my breathing and heartbeat quicken. My skin gets hot and I start to sweat. I�m so confused, Grandmother. Why can�t I get him out of my head?�

�Do you have a similar reaction to Mulder?�

�When we were in my dressing room, yes, but looking back on it now, it makes my skin crawl.�

�So this reaction is confined to Krycek?� Riley nodded. �Did your reaction to Mulder last for any amount of time after he left?�

�A little, no more than ten minutes.�

�You weren�t together for very long,� Sheena mused. �I have a theory, Riley, if you would care to hear it.� She took a deep breath. �The things you�re feeling now could be nothing more than a hold over from your time together. It�s just your body remembering what it felt like and telling your brain that it wants more. Biologically speaking, your body will do all it can to get what it wants. It could have been any man spending that much time with you. Anyone would have caused this reaction. It will fade, I promise you that; it�s only a matter of time. Once this month is over, you won�t have to worry about it ever again. At least, not until next year. That is, if you have any similar encounters next November.�

�Perhaps I�ll take next November off.�

�Your powers won�t let you. Because of the increase in skill, you won�t be able to sit still. Six in one, half a dozen in the other. There�s no avoiding this. Avoiding men all together would be the easiest way around it, even though you can�t avoid them forever. Eventually, it will catch up to you. You�ll meet someone you can�t resist and you�ll crumble. Then, one day, you�ll stumble on someone you can�t resist at the right time and we�ll have the next Hunter. I just hope for your sake that he�s a decent sort and not like your grandfather or father.�

�My father?�

�He gave your mother endless grief until his death. He was a nice looking man, but he wasn�t the greatest person, if you take my meaning. As for your grandfather, well, he was incredibly good looking and seemed nice at the time, but he turned out to be not what I�d thought.�

�You never talk much about him or my father.�

�With good reason. Men have no place in our lives, no matter how much we might think we care for the father of our daughter, it will ultimately fall apart and you�re left alone.�

�So all I have to do is wait and these feelings will pass?�

Sheena nodded. �That�s right.�

Riley breathed a sigh of relief. �I�ll be glad to be rid of them. They make me uncomfortable.�

�It won�t be easy going until they�re gone. You�ll want to go to him and let nature take its course, but if you can just avoid him, you�ll be fine. I just hope he heeds your warning and stays away from you. Even seeing him again will trigger it.�

�This won�t be a problem.� She finished her tea and stood up. �Thank you for your help, Grandmother. I�d best get back home. The studio knows I won�t be in for a couple days at least, so I can just lock myself in my apartment until it passes.�

�If things get too bad, dear, I suggest you talk to Fred or Lorne. Company will be good for you. Associate with people that won�t be dangerous to you in your present state.�

�I�ll do that, thank you. Oh, one more thing. Just a bit of morbid curiosity. If something goes wrong and I do wind up giving in, will the feelings pass afterwards?�

�Yes. Once you�ve satisfied that urge, it will vanish and things will return to normal. Emotionally speaking, that is.�

�Thank you. Good bye, Grandmother. I hope it isn�t as long a time until our next visit.�

Sheena stood and hugged the young woman. �You�re so much like your mother. I wish you well in this.� She stood, watching as her granddaughter left her apartment.

�My dear child, I hope this all ends well for you. I hope that one day you�ll forgive me for the half truth I told you. I love you dearly, but there are some things that are too hard to speak of. I do indeed hope that my instincts are wrong and what I told you was right. If I�m wrong�If you were anyone else, I�d tell you that you were falling in love with that young man Krycek.�
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Hunter's Moon