Manipulations of the Heart

Cory was just stepping out of the shower when he heard the phone ringing. Since
nobody knew about his being here, he assumed it was Fox. He had expected to find
Fox waiting for him here, but wasn't too surprised to find the young man had
left. Fox didn't strike him as the type of man that would sit still and let
things happen without trying to involve himself somehow.

He answered the phone casually. "Yeah?"

"Cory, it's Fox. I'm at Mariah's right now." Fox sounded as if he expected Cory
to disapprove of his acting on his own. "Um, we were thinking it might be a good
idea if I go back to the castle, maybe call the police to say the Professor is
missing. It would be suspicious if I didn't. My relationship with him was pretty
public-- regardless of how over-looked."

Cory was uncomfortable with, but accepting of the young man's apparent need for
his approval. "Good idea, Fox. I've got some business to get done today. But I
can be there tonight if you'd like." He still wondered if he were up for this
challenge. He was surprised to realize he wasn't even considering the idea of
just leaving.

Fox wasn't sure he wanted to see Cory so soon. The Professor had just died. He
needed time to think things out and get things straight in his mind. "I think it
might be better if you stayed away for awhile. I need to mourn for him, alone."
Fox didn't want to shove Cory away, but he needed to think things out without
the presence of a stronger personality to sway him.

"Ok, sure." Cory wasn't sure why Fox didn't want him to be there. "Are you sure
you'll be all right, alone?"

"I've got Mariah here. And there's Mrs. Keplar, the housekeeper at the castle. I
don't think she would approve of my bringing another man around, especially not
so soon after the Professor's disappearance." Fox prayed Cory would be willing
to let him be alone for a few days, without deciding to leave him for good.

Cory accepted his concerns and realized the problems that could be caused to
Fox's reputation were significant. "Could I call you tomorrow, just to make sure
you're ok?" He wondered if Fox were actually trying to get him to disappear, now
that Grysher was gone.

"I.. I'd like that. Thank-you for not getting upset." Fox was relieved that Cory
appeared willing to go slowly with him.

Cory wanted to reassure the young man that he was in charge of making the
decisions. "I won't get upset with you, babe. This is your life we're dealing
with. You tell me how we continue." He waited a beat, before he made another
offer. "If you'd like, I could take you out to eat on Friday" He mentally sorted
through restaurants he was familiar with and finally named a small, but
fashionable cafe.

Fox wondered if 5 days would be enough time for him to sort things out, but he
didn't want Cory to become too impatient with him. "That'll be fine. I'll see
you at 8:00?" He sighed with relief when Cory promised to be there, and then
disconnected the call.

Grysher's Quickening flowed through Cory's veins, burning like alcohol to a
wound, while the demented psyche warred for dominance within his own. Images
flitted past, along with a torrent of raw emotion. He could feel the love the
elder immortal had felt for Fox, even as it twisted into a helpless rage when it
realized its loss. He hadn't considered the idea that Grysher had actually cared
about the young man. He wondered how a sentiment like love could become so
possessive and cruel when it had begun as a pure and sweet emotion. It was no
wonder Fox was confused, he felt the same way as he tried to understand the
multi-faceted soul while it assimilated into his 'being'.

Cory shook off the confusion and called down for room service to order a good
sized meal, since he had missed breakfast. He hadn't even thought of eating
until he had mentioned dinner with Fox.

He thought of Fox as he ate, and wondered how best to deal with Fox's
insecurities when he saw him again. The first thing to do would be to build up
Fox's self-confidence.

Fox hung up the phone and was startled by Mariah's voice coming from across the
room. "Would you like some tea, Mulder?"

Fox nodded and watched her walk to the kitchen. He was unsure how to act with
her now. It was a little unnerving to think that she knew more about his life
with the Professor then he had ever suspected. She had always been disapproving
of his relationship with the man, angry that he allowed himself to be abused,
and now he had to wonder if it was also because the man was immortal. But then
it occurred to him that she had nothing against his getting together with Cory
the other night, and if she had indeed known about Cory too, then it probably
was just all about the abuse. Until he had met her, he had never known what it
was like to really feel cared for, not since he had lost his sister.

He turned to Charles. "What did you tell her about today?"

"I told her you found me outside the warehouse, while the Professor was fighting
with Cory, and that I told you about the Watchers." Charles led him to the
kitchenette where Mariah stood preparing mugs.

She turned to Fox curiously. "Things must have gone well last night? From what
I hear, Cory's never actually issued a challenge before."

Fox looked at her suspiciously. "Where did you hear that?"

"Our grandfather was his Watcher for almost 15 years. He used to tell us stories
about him all the time. He called Cory the 'Robin Hood of the 1900's'. Cory
would rob from the rich, at least those he considered to be rich, and he'd give
the money to the poor, like orphanages and families in need. The man never
issued a challenge during grandpa's days, and was more likely to disappear when
he was challenged. Grandpa says he heard Cory say the Game was a waste of time."
Mariah handed each of the men a mug of tea and then leaned against the sink
while she drank from her own.

Fox accepted the tea with a nod of thanks, before he cocked his head to the side
and voiced another question. "Why do you believe he issued the challenge then?"

Mariah shrugged, a little confused by his question. "Why would the Professor
have challenged him? He broke up with you. I assumed Cory was defending you."

Fox shook his head, embarrassed. "He was defending me. But I don't think he
would have, if the Professor hadn't sent me to kill him in the first place."

"What do you mean? Grysher sent *you* to kill him? You're not an immortal, are
you?"

Fox shook his head and he found himself explaining the previous events. How they
had met Cory in the park and the history between the two and the plan that
Grysher had come up with to punish Cory. He apologized for having lied to her.

He blushed furiously as he told her about his night with Cory, not going into
details, just telling her that things had gone a little further than he had
intended and everything had suddenly changed.

Mariah ignored his apologies for lying to her and instead focused on the actions
of the Professor. "The Professor planned to have you take Cory's head? Have you
ever done that for him before?"

Fox shook his head and gave her a curious look. "I thought you were a Watcher.
Wouldn't you already know that?"

"I'm not a Watcher, per se. Just a member of a Watcher family. Besides, Watchers
only know about the subject they're watching. The Chronicles aren't exactly for
public consumption. The only reason I knew about Grysher was because I was going
to University here, and a friend of the family, another Watcher, warned me to be
cautious because he was a manipulative bastard." Mariah spat the word as she
thought of what Fox may have done for the man. "Did he ever convince you to
behead any other immortals?" She was determined to know exactly how far Grysher
had pushed him.

Fox shook his head as he stared into the dark tea. "He wouldn't have asked it of
me if I hadn't angered him earlier yesterday by flirting with Cory."

"You flirted with Cory in the park?" Mariah didn't believe it. "What did you do,
speak politely and look him in the eyes when you met?"

Fox shrugged and looked away. His eyes landed on the refrigerator and he stepped
closer to look at a picture. "Who is this?" He pointed at the snapshot of the
two children.

"That's Charles and me when we were younger." Mariah wondered at the panicked
look in his eyes.

Fox stared in shock at the photo of a young Mariah. "Were you adopted?"

"No." Mariah set a hand on his shoulder, concerned.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Why, what's the matter?"

"My sister was taken when she was nine. You looked just like her, only she had
long hair."

"Oh man. I never knew." She took the picture from his hands and set it on the
counter. She led him to back to her living room. "My parents went to a fertility
clinic back in the States and I was the result. I was their miracle baby." She
sat him on the couch and grabbed a photo album from her coffee table. "You see,
these are all me and Charles." She sounded apologetic.

Fox looked through the album numbly. He couldn't believe it. Here was someone
that looked just like Samantha, yet it evidently wasn't. "If you were their
miracle baby, then how did Charles come to be?" He nodded at the young man that
stepped into the room carrying his cup of tea like a shield.

"Charlie is my cousin. When his parents died in a car accident, my parents
gained custody. He was only a few months old and we were raised as brother and
sister." Mariah gave Charles an affectionate smile.

Fox accepted that. He looked through the album, all the while wondering where
his sister was and if she was still alive.

"You say your sister was taken when she was nine, what do you mean, taken? Was
she kidnapped, or did she die somehow?" Mariah was sympathetic but curious.

"Nobody knows for sure. Our parents were at the neighbor's and I was supposed to
be watching her. Suddenly there was a bright light and I don't remember much
after that. When everything was over, she was gone. There were no ransom demands
or anything." Fox decided against mentioning anything to them about seeing her
floating through space.

Mariah was unable to imagine losing her own adopted sibling. "How old were you
when it happened?"

"Twelve."

"I'm sorry, Fox." Mariah wished she could do something. "Listen, why don't you
stay for supper. I made a casserole, there should be plenty."

Fox snapped back to the present at her invitation and realized he had to get
back to the Professor's, or Mrs. Keplar would be suspicious. Grysher rarely
approved of him staying away for very long, and the fact he'd been gone all
night was already going to be a problem. Mariah might provide him with a more
secure alibi, he hoped, but he couldn't act too suspicious either. He wasn't
supposed to know about Grysher's demise.

He shook his head. "I've got to get back to the castle or Mrs. Keplar will get
concerned. I don't want to raise any suspicions. Can I call you tomorrow?" He
stood up, nervously raking his hands through his hair.

Mariah nodded. "Of course."

"Thanks. Charles, it was an interesting meeting. I hope I didn't scare you too
much earlier." He offered a hand and Charles shook it. Having seen a more human
side to the other man, Charles was no longer afraid of Fox. He and Mariah saw
Fox to his car, and they casually bid each other good-bye.

"I'll come over after classes tomorrow. We can talk." Mariah made the offer as
he was starting the vehicle.

Fox nodded, relieved that she was willing to help him sort things out. He drove
back to the castle wondering what he could possibly say to Mrs. Keplar about his
whereabouts.