The Leviathan 

Author: lemonspice81@email.com 

Disclaimer: The ones who belong to Chris Carter belong to Chris Carter

and Fox. 

 

Spoilers: None, I think. 

Summary: Memories of Luke help Doggett solve a case. 

Rating: About as clean as they come. 

 

“The mermaid watched from the sea her prince. He had survived. But she was sad, for even though he lived, she was once again a mermaid and they could not lived together. The Sea King, feeling his daughter’s sadness, closed his eyes and with the use of his magic trident, gave his daughter her one wish. He could only be happy if his daughter was happy. Out of the salty foam of the sea arose the princess, walking with her human legs. The prince, seeing this smiled and they ran to each other, embracing. Then they married and lived happily ever after. The end.” The man looked down at his son, tucked all warmly under his covers.

“Dad?”

“Yeah Luke?”

“Do mermaids and sea monsters exist?” The boy asked.

His father, John Doggett, sat up and looked down lovingly at his son. “What do you think?”

The young boy thought about it for a while. “Yeah.”

Doggett chuckled. “And why do you think that?”

“Because, the ocean would be pretty boring without them. And they are neat.”

“They are neat, aren’t they.”

Luke nodded his head quickly.

Doggett stood up and set the book on the nightstand next to his son’s bed. He helped Luke adjust his pillows and tucked him in tightly in the bed.

“Okay son. Go to sleep. Don’t let those bed bugs bite.”

Doggett walked over to the door, reaching for the light switch.

“Dad?” Luke asked, sitting up.

“Luke?” Doggett replied.

“How come grownups don’t believe in monsters and space aliens and mermaids?”

Doggett was surprised by the inquisitive question his son posed to him. It was like children to ask questions that have no answers. And if it had an answer, he didn’t know what it was.

“Why do you ask?”

Luke looked around his room. “Jeff said his mom and dad don’t believe in them. Do you believe in them?”

Doggett leaned against the doorframe, scratching his head. After running his fingers through is hair, he looked at his son. It was like watching himself grow up. He tried to think back to the point when he stopped believing.

“I don’t know son. Many people haven’t seen aliens.”

“But I never get to see Santa Claus.”

Doggett smiled at his son. “Time for bed young man. Night.”

“Night dad. I love you.”

Doggett sighed. The most wonderful words he had ever heard in his life. “I love you too Luke.”

He turned off the light and shut the door. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

A small group of men sat around a table playing a game of cards. Nineteen men were abroad a crickety old fishing boat. Night had fallen hours ago. The water was calm, but the wind was active. Those not playing cards were sleeping soundly in their cramped bunks. Only one guy was on watch that night. The other man who had abandoned his post to cheer on the card players.

The five men playing cards eyeballed each other carefully, trying to bluff each other. Yet, their efforts had failed. Each tossed in their chips, anteing up the bets to the maximum limits. It would be the last hand of the night before they had to switch shifts.

Suddenly, the boat was rocked violently, tossing men out of their bunks. The men around the table all were thrown out of their chairs and against the floor. They were completely tossed around the tiny dining area.

Quietly, the old fishing boat sank into the cold dark ocean. Being engulfed by the mystery and the power of the waters. In the blackness of the night, a tiny glimmer of light from moonbeams breaking through the clouds, large squid like tentacles reached up, stretching into the air, then belly flopping onto the surface of the water, hugging the boat. Together, they disappeared into the depths of the water. The water was once again calm. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Doggett, with his feet resting on the desk, was staring at a picture of his son. The one he tried to keep hidden away in his wallet. Yet, the picture was powerful. Finding strength to resurface from time to time. Always resurfacing at the oddest times. Doggett couldn’t resist the pull to dig deep into his wallet, to let the picture breath, to give light to his son.

His wide thumb brushed over the glossy picture. Soft in hands, the picture was. The corners slightly bent and the glossy part starting to come off it’s backing. To replace this picture with a new one would break his heart. Memories were so powerful, so strong. It drew him away from the land of reality. Away from his work.

“Agent Doggett?” Reyes repeated.

Reyes was standing there. Her jacket already hung on the rack. Her bag set on the floor. A cup of coffee in her hands had been almost half drunk.

Doggett had been suddenly pulled away from the force of the picture. Standing there, staring at him was his partner. She had that look on her face. The one that told him he had been caught. Bringing his feet back down to the floor, he slipped the picture deep into his back pocket.

“Morning.” He gruffly let out, trying to ignore the facts.

Reyes sat down in the chair in front of the desk. Crossing her legs, she set her coffee cup down on the desk and carefully examined her partner.

“How are we doing this morning?” She asked.

Briefly, Doggett acknowledge her. “Fine.”

“Fine. There’s a good lie to start the morning fresh.” Reyes said sarcastically.

Doggett did not catch the intended humor in her remark. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

“Right about now I’m thinking about grabbing my coat and reentering the office.” That was her way out without addressing his question.

Doggett then realized it. He was acting like a jerk. No, it was worse than that. He was being a jerk. Plain and simple. Lately, memories and visions of Luke were bombarding him. It was frightening him. But he didn’t know why.

“I’m sorry.” He quickly apologized. “I haven’t been sleeping well.” Or so his excuse went. As long as Reyes bought it, he would be okay.

“Good. We can get started. I got a call from an old friend. A sheriff up in Connecticut.” She began. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the ever so familiar look of a case file. “He asked if we could help him look into this case he received.”

“What kind of case?”

“He’s not exactly sure.” She spoke, smiling. “He isn’t able to explain it or where to begin.”

Doggett eyes his partner. She was hiding something. The element that would make this case an X-Files.

“Oh, stop looking at me like that. He says that a fishing boat went missing a couple of days ago only to have one of the crewmembers float into the harbor in perfect condition. The other members are considered dead.”

Doggett could feel that there was more to it. He continued he look to get the answers he needed.

“And the man claims that the ship was attacked.”

“by what? Pirates?”

“A giant sea monster.”

“A giant sea monster?” Doggett repeated.

Reyes closed her eyes and nodded. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

“Monica!” Sheriff Jesse Tofte greeted his friend.

“Jes!” She answered back.

“How are you?” He asked enthusiastically.

“I’m good. Really good. And how about you?”

“Great. You know. I think I found my place.” He answered her.

“Jesse, this is my partner, John Doggett.” Reyes introduced.

Jesse reached out his hand. Doggett grabbed his hand and they briefly shook.

“Agent Doggett I’ve only heard good things about you. I had a cousin who worked in New York when you were there.”

Doggett just nodded in response.

“Well, I don’t think you just came up here for the pizza. We better get to work. Then we’ll get to the pizza.” Jesse gleefully said.

“Where is the survivor?” Doggett asked.

“He’s at the local clinic. I’ve already talked to the doctors. They are completely stunned that he not only survived, but that he was able to make it back here, back home.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

“Monica, Agent Doggett, this is Dr. Alexander Roller. Chief physician in Mystic.” The sheriff said.

“He really survived without injury?” Reyes asked.

“I know. Hard to believe.” The doctor explained. “I’ve heard of people falling out of buildings with the only injury is having dirt in their eyes. But those fishing boats aren’t just off the coast.”

“Did he have a life raft of some kind?” Doggett asked.

Jesse shook his head no. “An elderly couple on their morning walk found him lying on the shore. No raft, no ring.”

“What I find odd is how quickly he made it back.” The doctor started.

“What do you mean?” Reyes asked.

“According to Zach, our survivor, the boat was attacked roughly four days ago. I called the coast guard since they keep records on all ships out at sea and they said that their last reported position of the boat was roughly four hundred miles out. There is no way on this god given earth that he made it here in three days.”

“There is the tide. That could account for it.”

Dr. Roller shook his head. “Not according the nautical experts. I called a friend. He said that if it were possible, Zach would have had to swim about 5 nautical miles per hour nonstop for the entire three days, perhaps faster since the exact time of the attack is unknown. To have that kind of stamina is amazing.”

Doggett was surprised at how much this clinic doctor knew. Perhaps it was because he has lived in this area much of his life and to live here, you have to speak the nautical lingo.

“May we see Zach?” Monica asked.

Dr. Roller smiled. “This way.” 

Inside the tiny patient room, Zach Taylor laid comfortably on his bed. Sitting in a chair beside the bed was a beautiful young woman.

“Hi Zach. Melanie. These are FBI agents who want to ask you about your experience.” Dr. Roller said. “I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” And he excused himself.

“Zach, this is Agent Reyes and her partner Agent Doggett.” Jesse said, introducing the agents.

“I’m Melanie, Zach’s wife.” She said revealing a very pregnant belly. “And our unborn child.” Melanie said gleefully. “Who is about to make its appearance any day now.”

“Yeah, talk about being lucky.” Zach replied.

“Yes, let’s talk about that. Can you tell us what happened exactly?” Doggett asked.

Zach sat up straighter. “Um, let’s see. I was out on the deck taking a break. One guy was at the wheel and another should have been on look out duty. Half the crew was asleep and I think the other guys were playing cards or something. The boat just began to sway violently. It tossed me around the deck. But there was no wind. Completely freaked me out. It just kept going over and over. Somehow, I was compelled to abandon ship. Then, I dove into the water and the next thing I remember is waking up in here.”

“But in your report, you mentioned a sea monster.” Doggett asked.

Zach nodded. “Yeah. I vaguely recall seeing what looked like an octopus arm thingie. I don’t know what they are called. But, now that I think about it, probably just shadows or something.”

“What will happen to Zach?” Melanie asked, concerned for her husband.

“He’ll be released and will probably been involved with the insurance companies for a while, but since we can’t prove anything, he’s just the only witness we have.” Jesse explained to the woman.

She nodded. “I feel so horrible. I am deeply saddened that everyone else died, but I can’t shake off the incredibly happiness and relief to know that my Zach is here, alive. I don’t know what I would do if he weren’t here. Especially with the little one on the way.”

Reyes smiled. Doggett tried to ignore it. The sheriff smiled as well.

“Zach, Melanie, and the tiny one, good day. If we have any other questions, we’ll know where to find you.”

The three officers left the expecting parents alone in their room.

Jesse stopped the two agents. “I have to head back to the office really quick. How about you do whatever you feel like you need to do and we meet for pizza?”

Reyes nodded. “Sounds good. About 6 then?”

Jesse agreed and left the two agents alone to fend for themselves.  

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Tommy Nelson, a lanky man with a slight curve forward in his back, was arguing into the phone. It was obvious he was extremely frustrated and stress, reaching the limits.

“I won’t let you do this Michael. You can’t destroy me.” He grunted into the phone.

Tommy looked up and saw two strangers standing in the doorway, watching him.

“Look, I gotta go.” He hung up the phone and sighed. “Sorry, just taking care of some business. Please, come in. Have a seat.”

Tommy hurried around to the front of his desk and cleared papers off from the two chairs so the guests could sit down.

“Mr. Nelson, I’m Monica Reyes and this is John Doggett, we’re special agents with the FBI. There are a few questions we need to ask you.”

Tommy sighed and chuckled. “Oh thank God. I thought you were the insurance investigators. They are going to rip me a new one. Anyway, what can I do for you?” He asked, sitting down in his chair behind the desk.

“You wouldn’t happen to know who was suppose to be on watch that night?” Doggett asked.

“Um, not really? I, ha, unfortunately am not a part of the crew process. I have a degree in business, not fishing. Adam Beardsley, a school mate of mine, he is in charge of that. But, he was out on that boat.”

“Sorry.” Reyes started. “You wouldn’t happen to have a crew manifest list. For your records.”

Tommy stood up and headed over to the file cabinets that lined one wall of his office. He opened a very full drawer and pulled out a file. “I’ve been trying to get everything organized for the insurance investigators, but that’s an impossible feat. Been trying to deal with the families, trying to convince them that the insurance company will pay out the life insurance policies all of the men had. Then I have investors pulling out, but they had been pulling out for years. And this old crab on my back trying to buy me out. The Jolly Lobster has been around for four generations. A staple of this community. Now, it’s all about commercialization.”

“You get a small stipend from the insurance companies if an employee is injured or killed, isn’t that right Mr. Nelson?” Doggett asked, trying to remember topics he heard about in college.

“That depends on the insurance company. If they find that some outside force was the cause, then yes, but if not, nobody gets anything.”

“Thank you Mr. Nelson.” Doggett said standing up. “We’ll call you if we think of anything.”

Monica Reyes stood up, seeing that Doggett was ending their questioning already. At first she didn’t question his actions, but they did confuse her. Once outside, they would be able to discuss any thoughts or theories they were thinking.

“John, what’s going on?”

“Isn’t it obvious. This about saving one’s own ass. The Jolly Lobster is being pressured by a large corporation to sell out. He got desperate.”

“So, Mr. Nelson killed the men on the ship allowing one to escape completely unharmed. That makes sense.” She said sarcastically.

“And maybe Zach Taylor was a part of it. Willing to do what he needs to do stay alive. He is the only man on that boat to come back alive. Now, they both just have to convince the insurance that it was some accident that they couldn’t control.”

“Okay, then how to Zach Taylor make it back here?” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Monica felt all giddy as she and her partner walked into the tiny pizza parlor. It was fairly empty tonight and even though she was full of electricity, the air in the room was dead. She found Jesse sitting at a large table. Seeing them, we waved them over.

“Good evening agents.” He greeted them.

Reyes and Doggett sat down; taking off their jackets and letting them hang on the backs of their chairs.

“How is the investigation going?” Jesse asked, looking at the menu.

“Well,” Monica began. “We talked to Mr. Nelson and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard took their sweet little time to answer three questions, so we spent most of them with them.”

A waitress approached the table. “Hey Jesse, how are ya?”

Jesse smiled. “I’m good. And you?”

“Been slow lately, but it’s kinda nice. What can I get you and your friends?”

“How about a large House Special and three beers?” Jesse suggested. Since their were no objections, the waitress jotted it down, grabbed the menus and left.

Monica looked around the place. “Hasn’t changed much.” She commented.

“How do you two know each other?” Doggett asked.

“College.” Jesse blurted out. “What was it, freshman year?”

Monica nodded. “Yep. Lived on the same hallway.”

“Monica and her crazy ideas. She told the best stories.”

The waitress returned with the three beers, setting them down in front of each person.

Doggett looked over at Monica. There was something different about her at this time.

“One break period, a whole bunch of us drove up here. My parents have a summerhouse on the beach. Remember, that bonfire we had out on the beach?”

“Well, I remember that it took forever to get that thing started. Ending up stealing gas from someone’s boat to fuel the thing.” She said.

The waitress carried over a pizza and set in down on the table. She then gave each person a plate and some extra napkins. “If you need anything, just holler.” She left the three law enforcement officers to enjoy their pizza and beer. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Tommy nelson was working late in his office that night. He was sorting through papers and books, trying to get organized. His lack of organization was a way of admitting that in the past ten years, he hadn’t been a very good businessman. Feeling that he had failed his family and the Jolly Lobster.

“Look at this.” A voice boomed, startling Tommy. He looked up. It was Michael Thompson, owner of Go Fish! The one man he didn’t want to see.

“What do you want Michael? Can’t you see that I’m busy?” He asked, trying to reorganize the papers that had fallen out of his hands.

“Are you really that dumb Tommy? Do you think I visit you because I want us to be friends? Grow up. You are such a turtle.” Michael knelt down next to Tommy, who had been sitting on the floor. “I’m here to help you escape. You can’t win against insurance companies. But if you sell now, insurance agents, lawyers, and families will leave you alone. You can retire early. Sail around on your houseboat. Perhaps get a real house.”

Tommy looked up at the man. “I can handle this on my own. I’m not a coward.”

“Tommy, Tommy. Why do you do this to yourself? If you don’t buy know, I’ll force you to sell out. You think bankers are nice? I’m an angel compared to what will happen. Sell it to me now Tommy or you will die like the rest of your so-called friends.”

Michael stood up, towering over Tommy. He kicked the folders and papers that were at his feet and laughed at the pathetic man.

“Get out of my office.” Tommy demanded, sucking back all feelings to just club him one.

Michael left. Tommy looked around the office, thinking of the history and his family. More than ever he had failed them. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

The moon was high in the sky and was already beginning its decent into the sea to allow the sun to rise in a few hours. Tommy stumbled onto his house boot, tired and exhausted. He took off his jacket and dropped that on top of his bag by the door. He was glad he had left a light on when he came home for lunch. He headed straight over to the tiny bar and poured himself a large glass of his good friend Jack Daniels.

The boat swayed gently with the motion of the ocean. Tommy enjoyed coming out on his little deck to look out at the lights and stars reflecting on the water. He remembers his grandfather telling him stories about the sea and the boats. How the sea is incomplete without boats and good men to steer them. The sea is incomplete without the stars for the fishermen to steer their boats by. Everything was connected in some way.

Another gulp and his yellow drink would almost be finished. The effects of the alcohol were starting to hit him. It made him smile. He needed a good nights sleep. Ever since Zach drifted in without the rest of the Slippery Sturgeon, his life had been hell.

A large pink tentacle reached up along the side of point and found its victim. Wrapping its strength around one of Tommy’s legs, it pulled the man down into the cold dark waters. Tommy, struggled, dropping his drink onto the deck, shattering the glass and spilling Jack all over.

Tommy had no chance. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

“Over here Monica!” Jesse cried out.

Doggett and Reyes hurried over to Jesse. A crowd had surrounded since hearing the sirens blare through town as Jesse received the call. The object everyone was surrounding, Tommy.

“Tommy Nelson.” Monica muttered. “What happened?”

“Looks like he drowned. His chest is hard. Full of water.” Jesse described to the agents. “It’s odd that the same elderly couple who found Zach found Tommy.”

“Where does he live?” Doggett asked, looking out at the harbor, trying to picture how he got here.

Jesse looked at the boats that were floating in their parking spots. “He lives about three blocks down that way, in one of these house boats.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

The two agents stepped inside Tommy’s houseboat. It was cluttered in the daylight. Both of them immediately noticed that the sliding door to the deck was open. Heading over there, Doggett noticed that a bottle of Jack Daniels was left out with the cap off.

Reyes is the first to step outside. She looks at the view. As she takes a step closer to the railing, her foot lands on some broken glass. Looking down she sees the shattered pieces and the liquid.

“John.” She calls out.

Hearing his name, Doggett walked outside and saw Reyes bent down looking at glass pieces.

“Came home, had a bit too much to drink, fell overboard and drowned. It’s common.” He commented.

“Don’t they usually take the drink in with them? Instead of dropping it and letting it go to waste.” Reyes asked.

“It’s hard to keep of everything when you’re wasted.” But Doggett noticed something. A shiny thick substance on the edge of the deck. “Check that out.” He said pointy the unknown stuff out.

Reyes ran inside and into the kitchen. She found some clean saran wrap and a spoon. Heading back outside, Reyes handed her supplies to Doggett. Carefully, he scooped what he could with the spoon and wiped it onto the saran wrap.

“Let’s get this checked out.” Doggett said. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Melanie buttons up her large maternity dress and slips into her sandals. Opening the door, she steps out of the bathroom and smiles at Dr. Roller.

“Everything looks really good Melanie. You have a very healthy baby.” He informs her.

“Thank you so much Dr. Roller.” She says to him, smiling.

“It’ll be any day now. Are you and Zach ready?” He asks her.

Melanie sits down on the examination bed. “I think so. We have a small bed that according to your instructions doesn’t have all of the soft stuff on it. Bought some baby toys, diapers and Angela bought us some of those baby radios so we can hear what’s going on. And some other things.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to know the sex?”

“Oh, no. Zach and I want to be completely surprised.”

Dr. Roller smiles. “Well, I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed.”

He helps Melanie down from the examination bed.

“Now, remember, continue your vitamins and your maternity exercises. The exercises will help with the cramps some, but in the next couple of days, you’ll begin to feel contractions. Don’t hesitate at all. If it is a false alarm, it is a false alarm. Okay?”

“Thank you Dr. Roller.” She says as she leaves his office.

Dr. Roller closes the door behind her and locks it. He walks over to a table and sits down. He picks up an ultrasound picture and holds it up to the light. In the picture there is a baby head, but at the waist, there are what he has concluded to be tentacles. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

“Predictability. What I have learned is that science isn’t as predictable as we think it should be. There can occur abnormalities in plants, animals and even humans. A sixth finger is such a case. No arms. Siamese twins. There are endless varieties. Some are more common than others are. Nature sometimes lets rare genetic mutations slip through the cracks. I tell this to you because in your research, you will see something that may defy convention. Just because it doesn’t make sense, you shouldn’t dismiss it.”

The bell rang, releasing the students and the teacher from the duties of the day. A man in a suit approaches Scully and hands her a folder. Opening it, she sees the results of the material Doggett and Reyes had sent to her from Connecticut.

Reaching into her bag, she pulls out her cell phone. Shoving all of her notes and papers into her bag, she heads into an adjacent room for some privacy and quiet.

“Agent Doggett. This is Agent Scully. I got your results.” She tells him. “It’s a mixture of squid ink and blood. Human blood.”

Doggett thinks about what she has told him. “You mean like some half human half squid type thing?”

Scully laughs at him. “No, it is as if a man was cut and a squid squirted some ink and the got mixed together. But this ink is different.”

“Different how?” He asks.

“They aren’t sure. It could be a species thing, but there are some unusual abnormalities that were found. It could be that this is a larger or even a new squid species that we hadn’t encountered before.”

“Thank you Agent Scully.” He said.

“Agent Doggett, you are in Mystic, Connecticut, right?” Scully asks.

“Yeah, why?”

“Bring me back a pizza. Bye.” And she turned her phone off.

Doggett just shook his head. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Melanie and Zach sat at their usual table at the pizzeria. Due to Melanie’s pregnancy, she ate out a lot. Pizza was her food of choice at this moment in time. Idea of pickles and ice cream still wasn’t appealing to her. The waitresses at the restaurant gave Melanie a small discount during her pregnancy to help the poor couple out.

Michael Thompson entered the restaurant and saw the happy couple sitting at the table. He walked over there, smiling and trying to seem warm and nice. Grabbing an extra chair from a table that actually had people sitting at it, he carried it over to Melanie and Zach’s table, sitting down and inviting himself to their private dinner.

“Howdy there.” Michael said to the couple.

Melanie and Zach just looked at each other, uncomfortable with the interruption.

“Hello Mr. Thompson.” Melanie said.

“Zach, how are you feeling?” Michael asked.

“I’m good Mr. Thompson. What can we do for you?”

“Glad you ask. I’m here to offer you a job.”

“A job?”

“Yes. Due to the unfortunate circumstances of Tommy’s death, I was able to purchase the Jolly Lobster. So, in a way, you being an employee of the Jolly Lobster, now makes you an employee of Go Fish!”

Melanie smiled. She knew those employees at Go Fish! had better pay and benefits. A real opportunity. She was excited for her husband.

“Zach, how exciting for you.” Melanie squealed to her husband.

But Michael wasn’t so happy for the couple. “There’s one draw back. I would need you be able to leave within the next 24 to 36 hours.”

The smile on Melanie’s face dropped into a frown. She looked over at Zach. “But I’m due to give birth in the next couple of days. I need my husband to be there for me.”

“I know. Zach, if you do decide to go out on that boat, I can get a video and a satellite link where you both can talk to each other and you can be there for her during the birth.” Michael sighed. “I’ve been talking to the insurance company and my lawyers. It could be a very long time before anyone sees any money. Working for me would guarantee some income and benefits.”

Zach and Melanie just looked at each, neither knowing what they should do.

“Look, you think about it. Call me when you’ve made your decision.” Michael pulls out his wallet and drops down his business card. On top of that, he drops a $50 dollar bill. “Have a nice dinner.”

He stands up, exiting the restaurant. Zach reaches over and picks up the business card, carefully studying it. Melanie looks at the $50 dollar bill Michael left for him. It had been a while since she had seen so much money. Any money they had went to bills and to the doctor. The idea was tempting. Rubbing her belly, they had to start thinking about three people. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Agent Reyes and Agent Doggett spent the whole afternoon and evening going through Tommy Nelson’s papers. They were hoping that within his unorganized papers, they would be the kind of answers they were looking for.

They knew they had done the insurance investigators a great service by organizing his papers and records. There was history here. Many of the papers had survived from the previous owner’s of the Jolly Lobster.

Jesse walked in, carrying a pizza and a paper bag with their beverages. He set the food up on the desk, on top of papers that were already put in some kind of order.

“Here’s dinner. I’ve got to run back to the office and take care of some work. If you need anything, just holler.”

Monica stood up and walked Jesse out. Doggett grunted at the fact that his partner ditched him.

“Jesse, thank you so much for everything you’re doing to help us. I really appreciate it.”

“Well, it’s the least I could do. I love this town and it’s people. And you’re my friend. I take care of my friends. Better not leave your partner stranded. Might take it personally.”

“Nah, John can take care of himself.”

Jesse looked carefully at his friend. “And what about you? How are you holding up.”

Monica looked up at Jesse and smiled. “I think I found my place.”

They hugged each other and said their good-byes. Jesse left and Monica headed back into the office to help her partner do some work.

Doggett had already gotten into the pizza and coffee Jesse brought over for them.

“Break time.” He commented.

Monica too helped herself to the food. The pizza was still pretty warm and it reminded her of the first time she ever had this pizza. Her and her college friends, sitting in the little shop, drinking beers, eating pizza and laughing. Having good times.

“Well, what do we have?” She asked, taking a huge bit of the gooey pizza.

“One very obsessed guy. I stumbled onto the gold mine. Had to pick the lock, but. He hired a private investigator to follow Michael Thompson, to find anything and everything about the man.”

“And did the investigator find anything?” Monica asked, going into her second slice of pizza.

Doggett picked up a piece of paper and began to read from it. “Let’s see. According to this communiqué from the private investigator, someone with a lot of money paid Mr. Thompson quite a bit to do research on squids. The checks come from an anonymous source. The private investigator quit because this was the dead end.”

“So Tommy’s suspicions about Michael Thompson is actually about whoever wrote those checks and why.” She finished her second slice and then took a large gulp of water.

“That’s got to be it.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

It was a perfect day to be out on the water. The sun was out, the sky was clear, the water was calm and the fish were biting.

Sitting in a tiny boat with a powerful little motor. Two people were sitting that boat, drifting comfortably on the water. Both were holding fishing poles in their hands, sitting side by side.

One of the poles starts to bend, touching its tip to the water surface.

“Whoa, dad.” Luke shouted.

Doggett let go of his pole, letting it drop into the water to help his son. He sat behind Luke and grabbed a hold of his pole to help him sturdy it. 

“Okay Luke, I want you to start to reel him in. Reel him in fast.” Doggett instructed his son.

Luke grabbed the spinner and spun it as fast as he could. The fish was a real fighter. Doggett smiled as his son did his best trying to bring the fish in.

“Like this dad?” Luke asked.

“Yep, that’s good. Keep it up Luke.”

They could see the fish fighting. Appearing out of the water, jumping into the air, trying it’s best to get free. 

“Okay Luke, reel her in just a bit more.”

Luke reeled the fish in as fast as he could. But the creature was strong and it was making it difficult for Luke to control it. Yet, he was able to reel the little thing close to the boat.

“Now, grab the net. Quick, before we lose her.”

Doggett grabbed the pole tighter as the fish wiggled around. Luke reached over and grabbed the net, holding it out. Doggett reeled the fish up high. Luke dipped the net into the water as his dad had showed him. Doggett dropped the fish in the net. He sat the pole aside and let Luke pick the net out of the water to look at his catch.

“Look at him Luke.” Doggett pointed out.

Luke studied the fish carefully. He then noticed something odd about the fish.

“Dad, that fish has two heads.”

Doggett looked closer at the little creature. Indeed, it had two heads. One mouth had the hook in. It’s gills working hard, trying to breathe, but failing. This caused Luke to panic. He could see the fish dying.  

“Dad, put him back in the water.” Luke begged his dad, almost freaking out.

Doggett picked the fish up out of the net and took the hook out of its mouth. Gently, to not worry his son any more than he already was, Doggett released the fish into the water. Slowly, it swam down into the depths of the lake.

“Better?” Doggett asked to son to make sure he was okay.

“If I had two heads, would you still love me?”

“Of course. Even if you had four arms, three legs and three eyeballs to go along with your two heads, you would still be my son.”

Doggett gave his son a great big hug and then started to tickle him. Luke started to laugh controllably. This caused his dad to laugh at him.

“How about, when we are done fishing, we get some ice cream and do whatever you want to do?”

“Video games?”

“Video games it is.” He said, walking carefully over to the motor. “Let’s hurry then.”

Luke sat up on one of the chairs on the boat and Doggett started the motor up. They didn’t notice that the two-headed fish hadn’t survived its horrible experience. There, dead, it floated on the surface as the boat quickly gained speed, heading toward the dock. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Reyes and Doggett walked into the main building of Go Fish! They had set up an appointment with Michael Thompson earlier this morning to determine what suspicions Tommy Nelson had about this rival man. Michael personally greeted them and led them back to his office. A large open space with great big windows facing the ocean. Michael sat in a chair while the two agents sat down on the expensive leather couch.

“Can I offer you any coffee, water, tea, anything?” Michael offered his guests.

Reyes and Doggett just both shook their heads, wanting to get on with the investigation.

“Did you know that Tommy Nelson had hired a private investigator to follow you?”

Michael sighed. He realized what this was about. “Yes, I did. One of my bankers had informed me that someone was very interested in all of my transactions. Since I have nothing to hide, I ignored it, allowing my banker to give them whatever information they wanted.”

“You like squids?” Doggett asked.

“They are fascinating creatures.”

“You were paid a lot of money to do research on them. May we ask why research squids?” Reyes asked.

“In Asian countries, squid is considered a delicacy. A colleague of mine from years back took a trip to Japan and became fascinated with the creature and its benefits as a consumer good. He asked me to study it, to see what kind of health benefits it has what dishes could we make from it that would appeal to Americans and tourists. If the results proved to his liking, then he was interested in funding Go Fish! in fishing for squids. He wanted to move beyond the typical calamari appetizer into something quite exquisite.”

“Can you think of any reasons why Tommy Nelson would investigate you?”

Michael sighed. “The fishing industry hasn’t been the most wonderful business to be involved in these days. Depletion of animals, animal rights activists, vegetarian and vegen movements. The economy at the moment isn’t as strong as it was say five years ago. Because Go Fish! does more than just fish, we do research, educate, invest, we have been able to survive. We don’t depend on just fishing. The Jolly Lobster on the other hand was so dependent on the fish, when the fish suffered, so did the Jolly Lobster. Tommy saw Go Fish! as a threat.”

“Were you a threat?” Doggett questioned.

“I wasn’t trying to be. When we started this business, the Jolly Lobster had already been around for fifty years. It’s very difficult to compete with their reputation. We decided not to focus just on fish, and we moved beyond the city. When I found out that the Jolly Lobster wasn’t making the money it needed to make to support itself and its employees, I felt sorry for it. I made Tommy a deal. I would buy the Jolly Lobster to help it out financially. I offered him a managerial position, he could keep the same employees and we would take care of them.”

“And that was the threat?”

“He said he couldn’t sell his family out. I understood what the business meant to him and his family. I just didn’t want to see it disappear, that’s all.”

Reyes and Doggett were satisfied with his answers. They made sense to them. Tommy was acting out of desperation, he felt threatened, but wasn’t actually threatened. In hoping to expose something wrong doing he though Michael was doing, he could gain some leverage to compete with the large multi-million dollar industries.

Doggett and Reyes stood up.

“Thank you very much for your cooperation Mr. Thompson.” Reyes said to him, smiling.

“I hope you figure out who or what is behind this. No one wanted to see those men die.”

They left, still unsure about Michael Thompson. Did he really want the Jolly Lobster bad enough to kill nineteen people for it? Was it worth it? 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Dr. Roller is in his office. It is late at night. He works furiously at some sort of machine, trying to put it together. The building is empty as he works in secrecy.

A ringing sound startles him. It isn’t a phone in his office, but a softer, quieter sound. He reaches into an inside coat pocket, pulling out a small cell phone.

“Hello?” He asks in a whisper. He recognizes the voice. “I told you not to call me.” He listens to the person speak. “Of course I will be done in time. You just hold up your end of the bargain.”

Dr. Roller turned the cell phone off. He couldn’t be bothered anymore. Time to go back to his work. He was reading instructions from a book. Realizing that he was now missing something, he stood up and left the room, locking it.

On the table he was working on is a large glass tank. Large enough for a large animal, or small person. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

The pizza parlor is fairly busy. Melanie and Zach are at their usual table with their usual two large pizzas. Jesse, Reyes and Doggett found their way back into the restaurant.

“Jesse, we have some good news.” Melanie spoke from her table to the table Jesse was sitting at.

“Oh, what is it?”

Melanie smiles as she looks over at Zach who isn’t as thrilled, but wants to keep his wife happy.

“Zach was hired by Go Fish!” She enthusiastically says.

Jesse looks over at Zach. Zach nods in agreement.

“I sail out tonight.” He informed everybody.

Reyes looked over at Melanie. “You aren’t going to stay for the delivery?”

“Well, we talked about it and I need this job to help take care of the little one. Got to put the baby first.” Zach stood up and pulled out his wallet, dropping the $50 dollar bill on the table that Michael had given them earlier. “We’re going to go. Last time together for a couple of months.”

“See you later Jesse.” Melanie said, grabbing the leftovers and leading her husband out.

The three of them watched the couple leave the restaurant. The waitress came to the table and cleared away dishes and empty glasses. On the TV in the corner, a commercial for Go Fish! came on. Michael Thompson was in the commercial talking about the company.

“God, I really hate that guy.” The waitress commented.

“Why?” Doggett asked.

“It’s because of him I drive to the next town for doctor appointments.”

Reyes couldn’t find the connection between Michael Thompson and doctor appointments.

“Why don’t you just go to the clinic in town?” Reyes asked.

The waitress sighed. “We went to school together. I hated how much him and Alex picked on me. Used me and what not. Got a bunch of laughs.”

“You mean Dr. Roller?” Jesse asked.

“Yeah, Michael and Alex are like brothers. It’s scary. And I have never known Michael to be nice. Offering Zach a job. There’s got to be an ulterior motive. A man like him isn’t just nice out of the goodness of his heart. And if he is up to anything, I’ll bet you anything that Alex is behind it as well.” She then noticed how mean she sounded. “Sorry, those silly soap operas can get you wound up. I’ll put this in a take home box for you.”

Thew waitress grabbed the few pieces that were leftover and took them to the kitchen. Doggett looked up at the TV. The commercial was gone, but not the suspicions. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Melanie hugs Zach as tight as she can. Tears are pouring down her cheeks and dripping off her jawbone. Michael stands in the doorway, patiently waiting for the couple to say their good-byes.

“Promise me you will take care of yourself. Eat well. Stay warm.” She couldn’t hold back her tears. “Think of me and the little one. And don’t forget about us.”

Zach looked at his wife. At this moment, he felt more love for her than he knew he was capable of. “Mel, I could never forget you. I’ll be home before you know it. You just take care of our child. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They hugged again.

Michael rolled his eyes at the silly couple. He headed outside and pulled in a crib.

“This is an early birthday present for the little fiserperson.” Michael said.

“Oh, it’s so lovely.” Melanie stated.

“Now, I know it can’t replace Zach, but it will keep the little ones safe. And, that video stuff I told you about. If you would like, I can bring it by here once a week and Zach can sing the little one to sleep in its new crib. Uh, how does that sound?” 

“Mr. Thompson, how can we ever thank you?” Melanie asked.

“No need to.” Michael looked at his watch and made it an obvious action. “Zach, couple more minutes and we need to leave. I’ll be out in the car. Congratulations again Melanie.”

Michael smiled at the couple and headed out to the car.

“Melanie, I want you to be careful when I’m not around. Now, I talked to a couple of people. Jesse is going to stop by at night to make sure everything is safe. And I have a couple of the wives who promised to stop by and help you out anyway they can. Please take their help. If you need a nap, or something, let them know. They want to help. I am going to miss you so much.”

“Oh Zachary. Please, come home soon.”

They hugged and knowing that he couldn’t stand the good-byes lasting any longer than they were, he broke away from her and headed out the door, carrying a bag. He closed the door behind him. Leaving his wife alone.

Melanie balled. She had never felt so alone before. This time felt different. She was used to her husband leaving, but with the baby, Tommy’s death and the death of the crew of the Slippery Sturgeon, the sea wasn’t safe anymore.

She felt tired and walked over to the record player. She put on some of her favorite classical music. Sitting down in her rocking chair by the fire, she gently rocked back and forth, her hands on her belly and smiling. Reaching down, she picked up a large cross-stitch she had been working on since she discovered she was pregnant.

Suddenly the telephone rang. Slowly, Melanie got out of the chair and headed over to the phone. She picked the receiver up and put it up to her ear.

“Hello.” She said, her voice affected by all of her crying.

“Melanie, I’m sorry to bother you.”

“Dr. roller, no, it’s okay.”

“I got the test results back in. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell you.”

Melanie panicked. “Oh god, what?”

Dr. Roller sighed. “Mel, they find some abnormalities.”

“Abnormalities? What kind of abnormalities?”

“They think that when your baby turns, it will wrap itself up in the umbilical cord and strangle itself. They even think that the umbilical cord is already wrapped around the neck of your baby and that any moments it makes will put it in distress.”

Melanie had ignored most of what the doctor had told her. She just rested her hand on her belly and felt her child. She knew that if her baby was in trouble, it would tell her somehow.

“But my baby is okay.” She tells the doctor.

“Let’s hope so. I would like for you to come in. WE can do an ultrasound and check. Can you do that?”

Melanie sighed. She didn’t want to leave, but she didn’t want to put the life of her child in jeopardy. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hangs up the phone.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Luke and Doggett are sitting in a car. The radio is on, but on a very low volume where it’s barely audible. It is dark outside. Doggett is concentrated on driving. Luke looks up at his dad and studies him.

“Dad, can I ask you a question?” Luke begins.

Doggett looks briefly at his son. “Shoot.”

“And you won’t get mad?” His son asks.

“No, I’ll try not to get mad. Just ask your question.”

Luke sat up straight in his seat and fixed the seatbelt. “How come people are mean to each other, even if they are friends?”

“Usually because one person wants something and they will do anything to get that. Most of the time, the thing they want isn’t even theirs, but that doesn’t stop them.” Doggett notices that his son is having a hard time understanding the idea of friends betraying each other. “Luke, why did you think I would get mad?”

“Well, I was watching one of those soap shows with mom. You know, the ones you tell her are a waste of good TV. That instead of soaps, they should put baseball on or something. I had a hard time understanding what was going on, so mom explained it to me. So, one guy paid another guy to get rid of this woman’s husband so he could have something that she had. But all of these people were friends, or pretending to be friends. Like the guy asked to get rid of the husband was really nice to the husband and the wife, giving them presents. And he was able to make it so the husband left, leaving the wife alone and vulnerable. Dad, what does vulnerable mean?”

Doggett slammed on the brakes. The car stops in the middle of the road. Doggett just stares out the window.

“John, what are you doing?” Reyes asked.

Doggett pulled a U-turn on the road and headed back toward the waterfront. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Michael stands on the dock, watching the boat disappear out toward the horizon. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a cell phone and pushes a speed dial button. He huddled into himself as a chilly breeze blew from the water.

“All done.” He said. He then turned the phone off and put it in his pocket. A storm was coming and he didn’t want to get caught in it. HE turned around only to be stopped.

“Going somewhere?” Doggett asked. He grabbed Michael and dragged him toward the car.

“What are you doing?” Michael ordered the agent.

Reyes opened the backseat door and Dogget threw him in.

“This is outrageous!”

Reyes slammed the door shut and they got into the car. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Michael, Doggett and Reyes sat in the interrogation room. Reyes sat in a chair across from Michael. Doggett just stood, leaning up against the wall behind Reyes.

“What are you getting out of it?” Doggett demands.

“I had nothing to do with those deaths.” Michael had repeated.

Reyes decided to trap Michael. “We know where the checks were coming from.”

“Well, that answers one thing I was getting out of it.” He answered.

“What else?” Doggett asked, standing up straight.

“Control of the fishing industry. At least that is what he promised.” Michael said.

“Who?” Doggett said.

“I want complete immunity before I go any further.”

Reyes and Doggett looked at each other.

Michael thought that their looks and head movements were enough to agree to his demand of immunity. He liked the power he had here. That he knew what the FBI needed.

“Zach isn’t normal.” Michael told them.

Reyes looks back at Doggett.

“He’s a freak of nature. He is some kind of sea monster. A leviathan. The child that Melanie is carrying is as much of a monster as Zach is. The crew of the Slippery Sturgeon found that out and he killed them.”

“Why kill Tommy then?”

“Diversion. Expose Tommy’s obsession with me. It keeps you focused on me instead of him.”

“Then why did you hire Zach?” Doggett asked.

“He knew that we knew. If I gave him a job, we would protect him and his child. Of course he denied everything.”

“Whose we?” Reyes asked.

“Alex.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

With weapons in hand, Reyes, Jesse and Doggett run into the clinic, searching all rooms. They then find Dr. Roller dead, covered in large quantities of squid ink. In the adjacent room, his evil plan revealed.

He was going to taker her child and replace it with a still born child to keep hers in a tank and to study it.

Jesse checked out the body, he found a piece of paper on the chest. Grabbing one of the latex gloves, he slips it on and reaches for the note. Taking another glove, he wipes some of the ink off, revealing a handwritten note.

“Agents!” Jesse yelled.

Doggett and Reyes join Jesse. He shows the agents the notes. It reads: Sorry, had to do everything to protect my baby. Call it animal instinct. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Melanie, having a hard time walking due to contractions, stumbles into the water. She then dives into the water, emerging from the water about fifteen feet from the shore. Tentacles spring out from the water. Moments later two tiny heads spurt out, with their tiny tentacles.

They then swim out toward the horizon, following the boat that has their father on it, so that all four of them may live happily in the ocean, the place they call home.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Mystic Pizza is packed. The special pizza comes with a special desert, squid ink ice cream. Though it’s just vanilla ice cream with a black dye, it’s a big hit. Fishermen had caught a 60 foot squid off of the coast.

Jesse stands up, holding a glass of beer in his hand. “Attention. Can I have your attention please?”

All of the conversation in the room stopped.

“This is for the men of the Slippery Sturgeon, Tommy, Zach, Melanie and their child. People who fought the big corporation. And to the FBI agents who were willing to go against the norm. Cheers.” Jesse said.

“Cheers!” Everyone said in unison.

Jesse sat back down and everyone returned to their normal conversation.

“Thank you for that moment of embarrassment.” Monica told Jesse.

“Well, you deserve it. Both of you. I don’t know how much appreciation FBI agents are shown. Even if they do investigate the paranormal.” Jesse raises his glass again. “ To Monica, where the truth is as strange as her stories.”

The three clinked glasses and drank. They enjoyed their last evening in the mysterious little fishing town. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

“And, because of her love for him, she saved him from those who wanted to kill them. Sacrificing their life on the land, and to avoid persecution, they returned to the sea, to live as a family.” Doggett said to the baby William.

Scully stands, listening to the story, smiling. But she can see that Doggett telling the story to her child is hard. He is sad. Burdened by memories. Scully walks over to Doggett.

“Are you okay?” She asks. Noticing that her once fussy child is now fast asleep.

“I try to forget because of the pain, but when I forget, I become lost. I don’t know how, but he helped me. Luke helped me save that woman.”

Scully sat down on the couch next to Doggett. “My sister, Melissa, she helped me. Help me save a little girl’s life. Maybe memories have a way of resurfacing to help us out.”

Doggett looked over at Scully. Her words were sincere. She was being honest.

“Well, I better go. Monica wants to finish our report.” He says standing up. “Oh.” He started. Doggett headed over to the kitchen and opened the over, pulling out a pizza box. “House special.”

Scully headed into the kitchen and took the box from Doggett. “Wanna slice?” She asked.

“No, I’m gonna go. I ate enough pizza anyway. You enjoy it.”

Doggett let himself out. Reaching into his wallet, he pulled out the picture of his son Luke. He ran his thumb over the glossy surface. He then put the picture back in his wallet.

“Dad, can I tell you something?” Luke asked. “I like being with you.”

“You do? Why is that?”

“You’re cool.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, you’re cool.”

“Can I tell you something?” Doggett asked his son.

Luke nods his head.

“You’re cool too.”

Luke laughed at his dad. “You can’t say that word. You’re a grownup.”

“But I’m a cool grownup.”

“Okay dad.” Luke smiled at his dad and Doggett smiled back at his son. Good memories are great.