Title: Go mBeir an Taibhse

Author: Skinfull

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None 

Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit, no harm.

Summary: St Patrick's Day, Ireland and 
leprechauns...it's gotta be an Xfile. Originally to 
be submitted to IMTP for VS11 St Patrick's Day 
Special.

Feedback: skin_full@yahoo.ie Love all feedback. 
Thanks in Advance!

Author's notes: My dad is from Killarney so every 
summer for two weeks we all packed into the car to 
head south like a flock of ducks.  With usually about 
8 of us traveling in a small car with a dog it was 
never much fun until we got to Torc Waterfall.  My 
dad told us horror stories about banshees and 
leprechauns so it was always the highlight of the 
trip.  

*The title of this fic roughly translates "To Catch 
the Ghost" It's one of my favorite Irish poems and my 
dad used to recite it as we climbed the waterfall to 
scare us.  Go mBeir an Taibhse. (Pronounced "Guh Mare 
awn Tie-v-shuh") Other Gaelic words in the fic are 
Bodhrán (bow-rawn) which is a drum held in the hand 
and hit with a wee stick, Poul an Ifrinn (Pool awn 
If-reen) The Devils Bowl and Scéalta (sch-k-ale-ta) 
that is Irish for Stories. Oh and of course Sláinte 
but then when your holding a pint of Guinness in your 
hand and you say Sláinte...I don't need to write a 
meaning do I.

**You really can climb up and behind Torc. To view 
pictures of Torc Waterfall go here:
http://www.irlgov.ie/aboutireland/eng/photogallery/14
.asp


Go mBeir an Taibhse
By Skinfull


Torc Waterfall
Killarney
Ireland.
March 8th

The waterfall stood impressively in front of them 
spilling a continuous flow of heavy water over its 
sheer drop onto the rocks below.  The rain that 
dropped heavily from the sky did nothing to diminish 
the view as they sauntered up the sandy path to the 
bottom of the falls.

Patrick Murphy took the lead and leapt over the small 
brick wall to land on a wide flat rock.  The water 
flowed quickly beneath the rock but would only wet 
his ankles if he fell in.

"Keep close lads, it's not too tricky until we get to 
the pool that's about half way but to climb in behind 
it we'll need to keep focused." Patrick looked back 
at the two men that followed him.  When they arrived 
at his tourist office three days ago he spotted their 
American enthusiasm immediately and dollar signs rang 
up in his mind.  Then when they explained what they 
were researching he knew only the personal touch 
would do.  He offered to take them up to the top of 
the waterfall through the caves that sprawled out 
behind it, and told them the tales that he'd heard 
from his father about the folklore of these ancient 
caves.  With every tale their eyes lit up and when he 
picked them up at the hotel this morning, they could 
barely contain their excitement.
  
He had instructed them to wrap up warm and bring rain 
gear.  Paddy supplied the food and they had backpacks 
full of equipment that he didn't think they'd really 
need.

"Is it much further Mr. Murphy?" the tall one said.  
Paddy glanced back and looked between them both.  One 
named Charles Parsons and the other Frank Gellar but 
he couldn't tell which was which.

"Call me Paddy...and no, once we get to the pool it 
will only be a little further."
 
He jumped up to another flat rock and turned back to 
help the others over.  He'd been climbing this route 
since he was a kid and knew every loose rock and 
stone in the place.  As he circled the wide natural 
pool he told them to be careful, as it was deeper 
than it seemed.  

"This is the skinny dip pool you mentioned?" Frank 
said smiling through his thick beard.

"Yeah and it wasn't raining we'd probably have to 
sidestep a few lovely maidens!"

"Damn this Irish rain," Charles laughed as Frank 
helped him onto the next rock.
 
They managed to get around the pool and climb up to a 
table like rock that was big enough to hold all three 
men.  Paddy rubbed his hand over his face to wipe it 
free of the rainwater and took a deep breath.  He 
pointed up to a cave opening that stood behind the 
fast falling water and showed them their destination.

"Stick close lads and follow me.  Stand where I stand 
and yell out if you need me to slow down."
 
The two men nodded and Paddy took off at a moderate 
pace, climbing up the side of the waterfall to a 
ledge that stood eight feet above the pool and a foot 
wide.  Pressing his back to the rocky wall Paddy 
inched his way behind the water, ignoring the mist in 
his eyes, he carefully moved past it and finally made 
it to the cave entrance.  He remembered it being a 
lot easier when he was a kid, Paddy mused with a 
smile.  Shortly afterwards the tall American, Frank, 
with the backpack now resting on his chest walked in 
his smile wide and elated.  Charles finally made it 
through, his face more panicked than elated but his 
smile was present.

"Right so lads.  This is where it gets tricky...these 
caves are like mazes.  Don't wander off.  We each got 
our own torches but if you want to see what you came 
looking for keep them off."
 
The cave was all but pitch black with little or no 
light to follow their leader but they held their 
torches off in their hands as instructed, the hopes 
of maybe finding what they came all this way for out 
weighing the need for light.  Paddy's footsteps 
stopped and Frank and Charles bumped into the back of 
him.

"Shhh...did you hear that?" 

"No...what did you hear?"

"They are a tricky folk...they can make a man think 
he's seeing things that aren't really there." Paddy's 
voice was hushed and he bent low to the ground.  He 
flicked on a small penlight and Frank knelt next to 
him.

"Where's yer man?" Paddy said nodding his head behind 
Frank to the empty space where Charles should be 
standing.  Frank glanced round and was surprised not 
to see Charles kneeling next to him.

"Charlie? Hey Charlie?"  He switched on his torch and 
shone it round the empty cave way.  Standing, he took 
a few paces back the way they came calling his name, 
but a loud scream from ahead in the cave startled 
both of them.

"What the hell was that?" Frank came back to Paddy's 
side and searched the cave again with his torch.

"They're here," Paddy, sounded almost surprised.  He 
glanced back to his anxious partner and waved him on 
to follow him.  "C'mon this way, it came from over 
here."

"What about Charlie?"

"Hurry..." 
 
Keeping their torches on, Paddy rushed ahead racing 
around the stalactites with a surefootedness Frank 
wished he possessed.  They reached an opening with a 
blowhole on the top letting the light from outside 
stream in.  They stilled in the sunrays and held 
their breath for another clue, but as Paddy turned 
around to speak to Frank he found he was alone.

"Hello? Mr...Eh...Parsons? Gellar?" Going back the 
way he came he took slower steps, retracing his track 
all the way back to the cave entrance.  "Hello?"
 
Stepping away from the misty falls outside, he went 
back into the caves slipping on the wet rocks and 
falling hard onto his knees and hands.  He looked up 
wanting to see the two men standing over him but all 
he heard was their screaming voices filling the air, 
that shook him to his bones.  Scrambling to his feet, 
Paddy backed away from the cave and jumped over the 
edge through the falling water, landing in the deep 
pool below.
 
Gasping for air he resurfaced and swam to the rim to 
climb out.  He rushed down the rocks with little 
care, falling several times.  The path was empty as 
he barreled down calling for help all the way. He ran 
straight out of the park entrance and onto the road 
without looking.  The lorry couldn't stop in time and 
it crushed him to the fender, dragging him for three 
hundred yards before it finally stopped.  
 
The rain kept falling and the roar from the falls 
disguised the screams as the driver called the police 
and turned from the gruesome sight under his wheels.

***

FBI Basement Office
March 14th
7.12am

"Top of the morning to you Scully?"  Dana Scully 
halted in her tracks half way across the office and 
spun on her heel to face her smiling partner.  His 
grin was suspiciously wide, spanning his whole face 
even reaching his eyes making them twinkle wickedly.

"What?"

"Skinner just approved our next case." Mulder sat 
back into his chair enjoying the satisfying creak as 
it moaned under his weight and propped his feet on 
the desk.

"What case?" She approached his desk and placed her 
case on the chair in front of it, dropping her coat 
down too. 

"I thought we were desk bound for the next couple of 
weeks?"

"Well I submitted a few cases for Skinner to look 
over and he approved one.  I guess we get a pardon 
this time Scully."

"So what is the case?"

"Missing persons."

"Missing person? Who?"

"No missing persons.  A government funded team who 
were researching...for purely scientific reasons..."

"What were they researching Mulder?"

"Folklore."  He sat forward and rummaged through a 
pile of papers on his desk, avoiding her eyes.

"Folklore?"

"It began five years ago.  In different parts of the 
country and was so successful in debunking local 
folklore that it has expanded worldwide.  They 
traveled to Scotland to-"

"No don't tell me...The Loch Ness Monster?"

"Correct.  Then to Ireland at the beginning of this 
year...January 15th to..." He glanced up at her to 
see if she would pre-empt his answer.  She was half 
smiling looking down at him shaking her head.  
Finally his exploring fingers found the elusive file. 
"To search for Leprechauns."

"Leprechauns? Oh come on Mulder give me a break." She 
collected her case and went over to her desk.  
"Skinner approved this investigation?"

"Well in essence we're searching for the team not the 
leprechauns." He followed her to her desk where she 
was booting up her PC.  He dropped the file in front 
of her and perched himself on the corner.

"Why didn't you tell me you were submitting cases to 
Skinner?" she glanced up at him with more than a 
little annoyance.

"To be honest I didn't think we'd get approval for 
any of them."  She took the file he left down, 
opening it.  Reading through the personnel data of 
the missing team, she noted they both had scientific 
doctorates and published works in many magazines.  
"But it seems that without this team a lot of the 
research will be wasted."

"So when do we leave?"

"This evening.  Flight is direct to Shannon and 
leaves Dulles at six thirty.  Check in is at four."  
He stood away from the desk and straightened his tie 
but leaned down closer to her, resting one hand on 
the desk and the other on the back of her chair.  
"Wrap up warm Scully, it's cold over there at this 
time of year."

***

Killarney
Ireland
March 15th
10.34am
 
It was raining.  It was raining heavily.  And it was 
cold.  Mulder stood beside her with the keys to the 
rental car jingling in his hand merrily.  She glanced 
up to see him smiling and pulled the collar to her 
coat higher around her neck.  Pulling her bag from 
the boot she dropped her bag to the ground and jammed 
her hands in her pockets.

"Cold Scully?"

"Freezing."

"Well it's just after nine so after we check in we'll 
get some food."

"Breakfast...doesn't feel like breakfast time."
 
Mulder locked the car and caught up with her as she 
went in through the large ornate hotel entrance.  
Gold trimmed door handles and a marble tiled floor 
pleasantly surprised her as she stepped up to the 
reception desk.  

The receptionist spotted them walking in and smiled 
as Scully approached the desk.  Her weariness was 
obvious and she could tell she was just off a 
transatlantic flight so she softened her smile a 
little.

"Hello.  Welcome to Jury's Inn Killarney."

"Hi.  We have a reservation for two rooms." Scully 
put her bag on the ground and turned to see Mulder 
join her dropping his bag too.

"Under Fox Mulder," he said.

"Ah I see.  Rooms 213 and 214." The receptionist 
busied herself for a moment setting up their card 
keys as Mulder fished out his credit card and signed 
the check in receipt.  "There will be food served all 
day in the restaurant and of course room service is 
available."

"Thank you."

"The elevators are through those doors and your rooms 
are on the second floor.  If you have any questions 
dial zero for reception." 

"Thanks."
 
After unpacking her clothes Scully stepped into the 
bathroom and turned on the shower.  Looking down at 
her watch she saw it was just after eight in the 
evening but the room clock told her otherwise.  
Resetting it to local time she left it on the bedside 
locker and undressed. The hot water poured some 
vitality into her weary body and she basked in it for 
a moment longer than necessary.  Finally stepping 
out, she wrapped up in a large soft towel and 
returned to her room.  Mulder lay stretched out on 
her bed, the case file in his hands and a frown on 
his face.  He had removed his tie and shirt and his 
shoes were trailing from the door.

"What?" she asked sitting down on the edge of the 
mattress.

"Just some of these things don't add up."

"Well isn't that why we're here?" she chided over her 
shoulder making him smile.

"Partially."  
 
Rolling onto his side, he slipped an arm around her 
waist and pulled her down next to him to kiss her.  
She let him for a moment then pushed him away to sit 
up.

"C'mon.  The sooner we get out in that rain the 
sooner we can get back in here."

"And finish up the real work."  Laughing she walked 
over to her wardrobe and pulled out some fresh 
clothes.

***

Laurel's Pub,
Main Street Killarney
March 15th

"Mister Patrick Murphy was seen speaking to them in 
the lobby of Ryan's hotel on the morning of the 
22nd."

"That's doesn't mean he killed them."
 
Mulder glanced at Scully as she took a step forward, 
drawing the attention of the bartender.  He continued 
to wipe the glass clean with a well-worn cloth.  The 
pub was small and smoky but he didn't seem too 
interested in cleaning anything but the glass in his 
hand.  Scully let her eyes wander briefly around the 
room at the three other patrons that nursed pints 
even at this early hour.

"We're not here to accuse Mr Murphy-" she began but 
the bartender shook his head with a frown as he 
blessed himself.

"God rest his soul."  He put the glass down, leaning 
over the bar towards the two agents as if he was 
about to impart with some secret wisdom. "Something 
frightened him up there.  He saw something that 
scared the bejeezus out of him."

"What do you think he saw Mr Reilly?" Mulder asked 
leaning on the bar too.

"Not what...who..." Reilly tapped the side of his 
nose, turning away to serve a customer.  Scully 
turned on her heel and walked swiftly out of the bar, 
not waiting to see if Mulder followed.

"Mulder...we checked out the tourist office...Patrick 
Murphy's brother and now the bartender at his 
favorite watering hole," she said when she heard his 
quick footfall behind her.

"You don't think he's a suspect do you Scully? That's 
a bit easy.  He's dead."  Mulder was walking behind 
her, yearning to turn her round to face him but he 
knew better than to stop her when she was in this 
mood.

"He was killed on the N71...a main road outside the 
gates of a national park.  The path from that park 
has quite a steep incline leading to that road.  If 
he was coming down that hill he could have lost his 
footing and raced out in front of the truck that hit 
him."

"He was running...running from something Scully...I'd 
like to know what.  A horseman at the park gate who 
saw Murphy and two other men that have been 
identified as Parsons and Gellar entering the park, 
said Mr Murphy came racing down that hill, soaked to 
the skin and screaming for help."

"We're here to look for Professor Frank Gellar and 
Doctor Charles Parsons.  Patrick Murphy's death-"

"Patrick Murphy was the last man to see these two 
alive."

"He's dead!"

"So we'll work from there."

"We're going to the waterfall aren't we?" she knew 
his answer before he spoke.

"It's supposed to be a beautiful view."
 
She didn't reply but she didn't argue. Her pace 
slowed and her eyes finally took in some of the 
sights in the streets.  Flags and banners were being 
hung up all over the place with huge inflatable 
shamrocks and leprechauns joining them on rooftops.  
Bunting criss-crossed the streets, hanging from shop 
to shop with green white and gold colors everywhere.  

"It's St Patrick's day."

"Well not till the 17th."

"We're in Ireland on St Patrick's day...searching for 
leprechauns...oh god Mulder!"  She was laughing with 
a rueful smile.

"Oh come one Scully, everyone's looking for 
leprechauns this time of year."

"My Dad loved it this time of year.  He was in 
Ireland once for St Patrick's Day when his ship 
docked in Dublin and he told us about it over and 
over..."

"Your family is of Irish decent isn't it Scully?" he 
asked as they ambled down the street turning towards 
a trio of musicians who started up an old Irish tune 
on a bench outside a crowded pub.  One of the played 
a guitar, one a tin whistle and the last beat on a 
hand drum Mulder remember being called the bodhrán.

"Yeah.  It goes way back but a few Scullys moved back 
here in the 70's."

"Never been tempted? With your hair you'd fit right 
in."

"No not me.  My dad talked about it a lot but, well, 
he never did."

They walked on in silence for a few minutes enjoying 
the music and the party atmosphere in the street.  
Spotting an advertisement that was bragging the best 
guides to Torc Waterfall in town he took her arm, 
leading her towards the tourist office. A small 
jingle alerted the receptionist as they entered and 
they both produced their badges as they approached 
the desk with perfunctory smiles.

"Agent Mulder FBI."

"Oh sure aren't you the ones investigating Paddy's 
death?" the small receptionist asked as she blessed 
herself.

"Well not exactly..." Scully slipped her badge back 
into her pocket.  "We need to get to Torc waterfall." 
She tried a different approach.

"Well you've come to the right place." She switched 
immediately to business mode and slid a few brochures 
across the table.  "We're quite busy at this time of 
year as you can understand."

"Of course but we need a guide who would have known 
where Patrick Murphy was taking the two tourists that 
morning."

"They were going into the living caves that run 
beneath the Devils Punch Bowl." The receptionist 
blessed herself again at the mention of Murphy's 
name.  "John will take you.  No man knows those caves 
better than John Byrne."

"Great." Mulder's eyes lit up at the mention of the 
caves and the name of the area.

"When can we leave?" he asked, reading through the 
brochures with restrained enthusiasm.

"Sure he wont be ready to go until tomorrow morning. 
He's out at The Gap today," she said with an air of 
incredulity as if the guides schedule was common 
knowledge.

"There's a Gap in town?" Mulder looked up in 
surprise.

"Yeah the Gap of Dunloe." Her gaze turned to one of 
amazement at Mulder's ignorance of the land.

"It's a mountain pass Mulder, not a clothing store."

"So should I get him to meet you at your hotel?" The 
receptionist asked pulling out a copybook to jot down 
their appointment.

"Please.  Jury's Inn." Mulder passed her his business 
card and turned to Scully smiling.  "Call me if there 
is any problem."

"Rightso.  He'll be calling at around nine-ish. Have 
a good breakfast and wrap up warm."

***

Jury's Inn Lobby.
March 16th
10.21am

"Maybe he couldn't come."  Scully sipped her coffee, 
looking out the window at the pelting rain.  People 
rushed by with umbrellas, coats and scarves pulled 
around their necks tightly protecting them against 
the wind.

"They would have called, I left my card."  Shifting 
uneasily on the soft leather chairs, Mulder strained 
his neck to see the door as the swoosh of it opening 
reached his ears.

"Maybe the little people got him!" she jibed over the 
rim of her cup.

"Maybe Scully maybe!"

"Agent Mulder?" A soft-spoken voice called his name 
making him turn to see a tall brown haired man 
walking over from the check in desk. "My name is 
Jack.  Jack Byrne."

"We were expecting a John."  Mulder stood to shake 
his hand.

"Jack or John...it's all me.  I understand you want 
to go up to the Devils Punch Bowl on Torc."  He 
glanced at Scully as she drained her coffee and 
stepped round the table to join Mulder's side.

"We wanted to go on the route that Patrick Murphy may 
have taken two American researchers."

"Paddy took them up to the falls and then on the path 
that leads behind it into the caves."

"Well then that's where we want to go."  Mulder 
smiled and looked down to Scully who was standing 
quietly by.

"Rightso.  Follow me. We'll take my truck."

Jack turned round and walked out into the heavy rain 
without a second thought.  He crossed the road with a 
lazy gait and started to climb into a dark blue pick 
up.  

"You going up to Torc today Jackie?" 

They all turned to see an old man approaching the 
truck; one hand swinging before him as he walked the 
other one nestled in the small of his back.  He wore 
a tattered pair of trousers that were tucked into a 
green pair of wellies and a tweed suit jacket.  On 
his head he rested a threadbare cap that had seen 
better days but he didn't seem to notice or care.

"Yeah Míchál I'm taking these on a trip up to Poul an 
Ifrinn."

"Well you be careful up there.  I can feel it today, 
the mountains are close."

"Don't worry Míchál.  I'll catch you later in 
McClusky's."

"Rightso Jackie, I'll have a pint of the black stuff 
waiting for ya!"
 
Jack smiled and sat into the truck closing the door 
behind him.  Mulder climbed in beside him, while 
Scully got in the back, and with a quick glance over 
his shoulder at the traffic he pulled out into the 
road.

"So you're from the FBI?"

"Yeah.  Agent Fox Mulder and that's my partner Agent 
Dana Scully."

"How are you doing ma'am?" John gave her a warm smile 
through the rear-view mirror and she could do nothing 
but return it.  

"Did you know Patrick Murphy?" Scully asked leaning 
forward.

"Yes.  We were good friends.   Terrible shame what 
happened to him."

"What do you think he was running from?"

"The caves."  Jack said it without question as if he 
thought there could be no other answer.

"What's in the caves that made him so scared?" Scully 
asked trying not to meet Mulder's excited eyes.

"Well Torc Waterfall is a very enchanted place.  It 
has a lot of history."

"Enchanted?"  As if sensing her cynicism Jack glanced 
round at her with a wide smile. 

"This is Ireland Agent Scully...the whole place is 
enchanted." He turned back to the road and drove away 
from the town.  Soon they were driving through tree-
lined roads with glimpses of the lakes to their left 
and mountains all around.  "Torc Wood was once home 
to the Pookas and Fairies, but a man named Larry 
Hayes owned a farm that bordered it.  He was a good 
honest man but every morning when he came out to tend 
to his stock, he found they'd been hocked, hipped or 
even missing. Sometimes dead."

"Sounds like a case for you Mulder."

"Cattle Mutilation is a common phenomena in the 
United States."

"Well I don't think Larry was afraid of aliens," Jack 
replied, surprising Scully with his perception.

The rain hadn't eased up by the time Jack pulled in 
to a space by the park entrance.  He jumped out of 
the car and zipped up his raincoat, pulling the hood 
up over his head.  The agents joined him, each 
pulling up their hoods too.

"Anyone who's not wearing a coat today doesn't own 
one!" Jack smiled at Scully as she shoved her hands 
in her pockets to protect them against the cold wet 
wind.

"So what happened with Larry?" Mulder asked glancing 
between them both and catching the smile on Jack's 
lips as he winked at Scully.

"A long time ago..." Jack began, walking up the 
incline that led to the waterfall."

"In a galaxy far far away?" Scully suggested, her 
voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No not quite..." Jack looked back at her with 
laughing eyes. "Larry was wondering who would hold a 
grudge against him to hurt his livestock.  But he 
couldn't think of anyone."  As he spoke he walked on 
the gravely sandy path away from the car park and up 
towards the waterfall.  The closer they got the 
louder he had to speak, as the roar of the water was 
tremendous.  "So even though he was afraid of the 
good people of the forest, he stayed up one night to 
see if he could catch the culprit.  He walked the 
fields over and over and suddenly before him appeared 
a large boar."

"A boar?" Scully asked but both men ignored her 
exclamation.

"He was afraid but he asked the boar what he was 
doing in the forest.  And the boar admitted it was he 
who killed his animals, but promised to make it up to 
him if he followed him to the caves."

"A talking boar no less," Scully added but again to 
no reception.

"So Larry followed the boar into the forest," Jack 
continued chuckling at her reaction.  "So they walked 
through Torc Wood and came to a large rock.  The boar 
opened a door in the middle of it and walked in.  
Carefully Larry followed only to find himself 
standing in the finest room he had ever seen.  He 
turned to speak to the boar but standing in his place 
was a handsome young man."
 
The path became steeper and Mulder reached back to 
take Scully's hand but she batted his offer away, 
passing him out instead.  If Jack noticed the 
altercation he didn't comment, only continued with 
his story.

"In less time than it takes to tell, he had treated 
Larry to a fine meal of beef and mutton and a large 
jug of whiskey punch, then from nowhere, he produced 
a bag of gold and handed it to Larry.  He then told 
him that he could have as much gold as he liked but 
he couldn't utter one word of this place to another 
soul."

"Uh oh...here it comes." Mulder glanced around him 
and took in the beautiful sights of the forest and 
the river that flowed beside them over soft rocks and 
pebbles.

"Larry vowed he would never tell, hocked the bag over 
his shoulder and made his way home.  Soon the 
neighbors not to mention his wife became curious how 
he'd become so suddenly rich.  But Larry never said a 
word.  Then one night his wife followed him into the 
forest and watched him enter the rock.  When he came 
out she taunted him to tell her his secret and she 
berated him so much he finally gave in and told her 
everything."

"Women!" Mulder joked rolling his eyes to heaven.

"Shut up Mulder."

"Then the boar appeared on the top of the rock and 
yelled out to Larry so loud that the mountain on 
which they were standing rocked again and again.  And 
he was whipped up into a sheet of flame to Poul an 
Ifrinn where no sooner had he plunged into the Devils 
Punch bowl the water spilled out and became Torc 
Waterfall ever since protecting the rock."

"That's some story," Scully said emphasizing the word 
story.

"What about Larry?" Mulder asked always wanting to 
take it a little further.

"Larry is said to roam this forest protecting the 
rock for eternity."  Scully let out a small laugh and 
Jack turned to face her, an exaggerated frown on his 
face. 

"Well let's just get up here and see what we can then 
we'll know who's skeptical?"  

As they turned a corner in the small path the 
waterfall came into view.  They all looked up at the 
magnificent sight of the pristine water spilling over 
the many rocks in its path.  Jack reached the small 
brick wall and rested one foot one it.  His hands 
slapped his knee and he pointed up to the waterfall.  
"See that ledge up there jutting out from behind the 
falls? It leads to the cave entrance."

"We have to climb up there?" Scully pulled her hood 
back to get a better view.  The rain had eased down 
but the crashing water at the bottom of the falls was 
wafting a fine mist over them.

"Yeah."  Jack hoisted himself over the wall onto a 
flat rock and Mulder followed.  As they bounded onto 
the next one Scully followed.  "They are supposed to 
live in these caves.  But you can't just walk in and 
see them."

"Walk in and see who? The boar?"
 
Both men stopped and turned to face Scully who was 
jumping one rock behind them.

"Na Fír Beag," Jack answered in his native tongue.

"Who?" Scully asked unaware of the scrutiny she was 
receiving from both men as she jumped onto the next 
flat rock.

"Leprechauns."  Jacks voice was so matter of fact 
that she found it hard not to expect to see them.

"Agent Scully is part Irish," Mulder offered 
helpfully.

"Oh so she knows all about them then."
 
Scully pursed her lips, jumping over to the rock 
where Mulder was standing.  He steadied her with an 
arm around her waist and smiled at her ruffled hair.

"C'mon Scully we're nearly there."

"This pool is a lot deeper than it looks do be 
careful." Jack called out to them.  "It's also a 
skinny dippers haven so try to keep your clothes on."

"Pity it's raining," Mulder muttered earning him a 
jab in ribs from Scully.
 
Jack had climbed up onto the small ledge and was 
inching his way behind the powerful water.  Scully 
followed, and with a quick glance back to see if 
Mulder was behind him, she carefully stepped behind 
the water and met Jack in the cave. 
 
What little sunlight managed to shine through the 
water was refracted around the cave.  Jack was 
pulling a torch from his jacket pocket but he didn't 
switch it on.  As Scully went to turn hers on; he put 
his hand over hers to stop her.  Without a word he 
shook his head, putting a finger to his lips.  

Mulder stepped in and looked between them both.  He 
resisted the urge to turn on his own torch as stepped 
protectively up to Scully, placing a possessive hand 
on her elbow.

"We can't use the torches," Jack whispered.  "They 
hide from the light."

"We're here to examine a crime scene Mr Byrne.  That 
can't be done in the dark."  Scully's voice was a 
little higher than a whisper but her frown added all 
the volume it needed.

"I understand that, but if you don't keep your torch 
off we wont get much time to examine it."

"What do you mean?" Mulder asked.

"They're here."  Jack walked on and slowly made his 
way deeper into the darkness.

"I don't like this Mulder."

"We're both armed Scully.  And besides...I could do 
with a pot of gold."

"You'll need more than lucky charms if something goes 
wrong here."
 
Chuckling Mulder looked up to find Jack.  Barely able 
to make out his shadow he walked on, dodging the low 
cave roof in a few places.  He felt Scully's hand 
gripping the back of his jacket as she followed 
closely behind.

"Hey! Jack! Wait up!" Mulder called ahead not able to 
see Jack's shadow any more.  When no one replied he 
looked back at Scully who without hesitation flicked 
on her torch and shone it ahead. 

"Where did he go?"
 
A loud scream startled them both and Mulder reached 
for his gun.  Scully kept the torch steady as they 
walked on, holding her gun rigidly by her side.

"Hello?" Mulder called out.  "Yell if you can hear 
me!"
 
Another scream from behind made them spin round to 
see where it came from.  Scully took a few steps back 
and reached a hand out to the cave wall.  It was wet 
and cold beneath her fingers but it glistened beneath 
her torch light with an unnatural sheen.

"Come here Mulder look at this?"  He walked over and 
she held the light up closer to give them a better 
view.

"What is that?"

"I dunno...it looks like...it looks like gold."

"It's not in a pot though."
 
Mulder stood away from the wall and spotted small 
stream of water running on the floor but disappearing 
behind a rock.  He knelt lower to the ground and ran 
his fingers along the streams trail feeling a breeze 
as they brushed against the bottom of the rock.  
Calling Scully over with her torch, he holstered his 
gun and tried to move the rock but it wouldn't budge.  

Sitting back and leaning on his hands he ignored the 
freezing cold water that soaked through his jeans and 
levered his feet onto it to push it away.  It moved a 
little then with a grunt he pushed harder and it 
moved away.  Scrambling to his knees he followed the 
water with his fingers again and found the hole that 
it was flowing down.

"There is something down there.  I can feel the air 
rising."

"The must be another entrance." 

Scully locked her torch onto the stream and followed 
it in the other direction.  Mulder was behind her 
fumbling in his pocket for his own torch, but as he 
pulled it free of his pocket it fell to the floor 
with a splashing clatter.  Following it to a curve in 
the wall he grabbed it and was relieved to see it 
switch on.

"I see the light Scully!" he mused, turning to follow 
her, but as he swung his torch around the cave he saw 
she was gone. "Scully?"
 
Her scream shook him right down to his bones and he 
rushed forward to chase it.  The ground was wet and 
he fell to the floor scraping his palms but his 
momentum kept him moving and with some difficulty he 
got back on his feet and scrambled further into the 
cave.

"Scully!" he called again louder this time and more 
urgently, his heart ramming in his chest so hard he 
was sure if she couldn't hear his voice shouting she 
would hear his heart calling out to her.

"Mulder...I'm down here!" he heard faintly.  Stopping 
all movement and even holding his breath he waited 
for her to call out again.  "Mulder."
 
Running forward he noticed a slip in the ground where 
a tunnel ran under the wall.  It was pretty well 
hidden but he figured she must have fallen in.  
Getting down onto his chest, he got as close as he 
dared to the tunnel noticing how it went into a sharp 
decline.

"Scully...can you hear me?"

"Yeah Mulder.  We're down here...call the paramedics 
and get help out here quickly."   

"We? Did you find Jack?"

"And the researchers.  But get help Mulder...quick." 
Her voice sounded urgent so he jumped up and rushed 
out to the cave entrance.  Pulling his mobile phone 
out he checked it for a signal but there was none.  
He edged his way out onto the ledge but lost his 
footing and fell down into the pool.  

Splashing his way to the edge he raced down the 
rocks, bouncing form surface to surface with an 
agility that belied his stiff cold wet limbs.  He 
reached the path, watching his mobile until finally 
the signal lit up.  Mulder dialed the 911 emergency 
services and stared in confusion as it dinged funny 
noises at him, flashing a message of no such number.

"What the hell..." he tried again but it failed a 
second time and then it dawned on him where he was.  
"Shit..." He reset the phone and dialed 999 rejoicing 
in the instant connection.

"Killarney Emergency how can I help?" the clear voice 
answered.

"This is special Agent Fox Mulder with the FBI. I 
need all available emergency vehicles down at Torc 
Waterfall."

"Wait hold on a sec there boy...FBI?"

"Agent Fox Mulder...with the FBI!"

"Is this you Brian?" the voice came back laughing.  
"You gotta stop calling here like this. You'll get me 
in trouble."

"Sorry this isn't Brian look, I'm at Torc Waterfall.  
Some people are trapped in the caves...they need 
help."

"Seriously?"

"Yes!" Mulder couldn't believe what he had to go 
through to call the ambulance.  "Hurry!"

"I'll send two units straight out."

"Thank you!"
 
Already running up the hill, Mulder pocketed the 
phone and climbed back in to the cave.  He was 
freezing cold and shivering from the wet clothes but 
he made his way back to the tunnel entrance and 
called out to Scully.

"Can you hear me Scully?"

"Yeah Mulder."

"You okay?"

"Yeah...a bit bumped and bruised but I'm okay."
 
Scully shone the light around the small cave and held 
it over Jack's pained face.  He was holding his leg 
at his knee and wincing at the pain he was obviously 
feeling from the bloody wound.  The researchers were 
unconscious but she could feel slight pulses.  
Removing her coat she draped it over Parsons who 
seemed to be slightly worse off then Gellar. 

"You okay?" Scully asked Jack as she crawled over 
towards him seemingly oblivious to the small bloody 
wound over her left eye.

"My knee.  I think it's broken."

"I'm a doctor...let me see."
 
Reluctantly he released his grip on the leg and tried 
not to wince too much as Scully probed his knee with 
her fingers.  She refrained from rolling up his 
trousers and pulled the scarf from his neck.  Binding 
it tightly in place she rested it back on the ground 
and told him help would be there soon.

"It shouldn't be long now.  I can't believe no one 
checked the caves for the researchers," she mused as 
she looked them over again checking and rechecking 
their pulses.

"A lot of people are afraid of these caves."

"Because of that story?"

"You don't put much weight into stories like that do 
you?" Jack was watching her from under hooded eyes 
and she wasn't sure if he was in pain or trying to 
add an air of mystery to the cave.

"No.  I'm a scientist," she replied matter of factly.

"Maybe you shouldn't disregard everything without 
proof."
 
As he spoke Jack's eyes lifted to an area behind her, 
towards the tunnel they had fallen through.  Scully 
whipped her head around and in a flash the ghostly 
outline of a young man shabbily dressed disappeared 
in a cloud of mist.  She blinked a few times and 
shook her head but the sight was gone, replaced only 
by two boot-clad feet as the rescue worker jumped 
through the tunnel and landed in the middle of the 
small cave.

"What have we got here then..." The seriousness of 
the situation seemed to dissolve under the soft Irish 
brogue of the rescue worker who was already assessing 
his options.
 
When the emergency team arrived they went down the 
tunnel with an efficiency Mulder was afraid they 
wouldn't possess.  The bodies were lifted out and 
carried down the waterfall to waiting ambulances.  
Scully was the last to be lifted out, having waited 
for all the others to go first.  Jack smiled ruefully 
at him as he was winched down.  The waterfall did 
nothing to help their decline to the path but the 
rescue team didn't even seem to notice it was there.
 
Finally when Scully crawled out, he helped her out of 
the cave and they made their way down the waterfall 
hand in hand carefully stepping from rock to rock 
until the steadiness of the gravel path was beneath 
their feet.  Sitting on the ambulance bed in the back 
of the truck, Scully let the technician sew up her 
small wound and place a light bandage over it.  She 
still hadn't said a word as they took Jack's car back 
into town.  Leaving the keys at reception as Jack had 
asked him to do, Mulder walked beside her to the 
room.

"You okay Scully? You seem very quiet."

"I'm eh, I'm fine Mulder.  Just tired."

"Well have a rest.  I'm going to go to the hospital 
to find out about Gellar and Parsons."

"Okay." He helped her out of her wet clothes and into 
the bed.  She had fallen asleep almost as soon as her 
head touched the pillow so with a soft kiss he left 
her alone and walked out.
 
It was some time later when Scully woke with a start.  
The room was dark but it was a fading darkness that 
barely shadowed the shapes and contents of the 
unfamiliar surroundings.  It took a moment to realize 
where she was and spied Mulder laying next to her; a 
warm protective arm draped over her waist. She 
smiled.  Rising from the bed she slowly made her way 
to the bathroom and it all came flooding back.
 
She cupped her hands under the running taps and let 
the cold-water spill over the uneven edges of her 
palms for a moment before splashing the cold liquid 
over her face.  The immediate shock stung her temple 
and she reached up and carefully padded the small 
bandage.  It came off easily and she cringed at the 
sight of the jagged stitches over her eyebrow.
 
Back in her room she fumbled in her case for the 
first aid kit to replace the dressing as Mulder's 
warm arms embraced her from behind.  She leaned back 
against his bare chest and he kissed her head.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he loosed his grip 
and let her continue search for the kit.

"Much better. What happened at the hospital yesterday 
evening?" she replied immediately taking the focus 
off her and into the case.

"Parsons is still in a coma but Gellar woke up this 
morning.  He said that he fell down into the cave and 
found Charles Parsons lying there unconscious.  He 
yelled out for help but nobody answered."

"How did they survive?" Scully asked sitting in front 
of the mirror to apply the thin dressing over her 
stitches.  He stood behind her his fingers rubbing 
gentle circles into her shoulders.

"Until the day before yesterday he was okay.  He was 
able to keep them both alive by feeding them water 
from the falls that trickled down the walls."

"Then he passed out," she summarized turning as she 
stood into the circle of his arms.

"Yeah.  If we didn't find them when we did."  Scully 
didn't reply but her arms snaked around his waist and 
she held him close.  "You okay?"

"Yeah."

"I spoke to Jack.  He said you got a bit of a fright 
down in the cave...did something happen?"

"Happen? No nothing happened."  Mulder didn't believe 
her but her words seemed to close off any more 
questions.  

"So shall we go into town an see the parade?"

"It's St Patrick's Day today?" 

"Yeah and the parade kicks off in about an hour."

"Sure but I'd like to go into the hospital first and 
see them."

"I thought you would.  Well lets get dressed and go."
 
It seemed that at least one thing in this world was 
universal, Dana Scully thought as she walked swiftly 
through the hospital corridors.  No matter which 
country she was in a hospital still smelt like a 
hospital.  The sound of bedpans clattering to the 
floor sent a nauseating shiver up her spine and old 
men didn't know how to tie robes.  Mulder knew where 
the rooms were so they didn't need to ask for 
directions.  He led them to the researchers room 
first and they were pleased to see both men awake.

"Doctor Parsons.  My name is Fox Mulder."

"Ahhh the FBI Agent who saved us." His voice was 
raspy and soft and Mulder could barely make out what 
he was saying.

"Well that accolade should probably go to my partner 
Dana Scully." Mulder waved towards Scully who was 
examining the chart at the end of his bed.

"Thank you very much," he managed to say too weak to 
sit up but too grateful not to smile in her 
direction.

"Do you remember anything from your time down there 
Dr Parsons?" Scully asked coming around to the side 
of the bed and taking a closer look at his pallor.

"Nothing at all.  I remember falling and a flash...I 
guess that was when I banged my head."

"What about you Professor Gellar?" Scully turned to 
face the other bed and faced the other patient.  His 
eyes seemed to shift between the two agents but he 
said remained silent,  "Nothing?" Scully persisted.

"Just worrying about being found."
 
Scully stared at him for a moment and Mulder almost 
called her away, but it seemed she finally accepted 
his answer and walked out of the room with a brief 
wave.  Mulder wished them well and followed her into 
the corridor.

"What was all that about Scully?"

"What?"

"The third degree...what did they see? What did you 
see?" he persisted taking hold of her arm.

"Nothing Mulder. Where is Jack?"

"He's in orthopedics.  This way."  They took the 
elevator to the next floor and found Jack in the 
communal room sitting by the window.  

"Jack?" Mulder said softly not wanting to disturb the 
other patients.

"Ah Mr Mulder.  You're back."

"Agent Scully wanted to make sure everything was 
okay."
 
Jack's eyes lit up at the sight of Scully walking 
towards him a careful smile on her lips.

"How are you doing Jack?"

"It's just a twisted knee.  I'm going home tomorrow."

"That's good."  She glanced over her shoulder at 
Mulder who was keeping one eye on the TV sport's 
channel. She didn't recognize the game but it looked 
like soccer.  A local sport she presumed, as she 
turned back to Jack grateful for Mulder's 
distraction. She stepped closer to him and rested a 
hand on the table beside him "I was wondering if you 
could tell me..."

"It's not my story to tell Dana."

"Sorry?"

"It's not my story."  He covered her hand with one of 
his own and squeezed it gently. "We both saw the same 
thing so we both have to tell our own stories."

"What did you see?" she asked tying to keep the plea 
out of her voice.

"Scéalta.  Scéalta Taibhse."  At her frown he smiled 
a little and turned back to the window but not before 
she heard his faint whisper.  "Ghost stories."
 
Scully stood away from the table and touched Mulder's 
elbow to let him know they were leaving.  He smiled 
at Jack whose focus was on the scenery out the 
window.  Following Scully out to the car they drove 
back to the hotel and parked the rental car back in 
the garage.

"What did he say?" Mulder asked unable to take the 
silence any longer.

"Ghost Stories Mulder, he was talking about Ghost 
stories."
 
They climbed out of the car and turned walked out 
onto the street in time to see a large paper maché St 
Patrick drive by on the top of a lorry.  Mulder 
smiled and even Scully's reverie seemed to have 
melted.  Taking her hand he pulled her over to the 
side of the road where they could watch the rest of 
the parade go by.  With an arm over her shoulder he 
pointed out the various floats that caught his eye.  
They ate green candy floss and watched as the teams 
of Irish Dancers danced by, oblivious to the wind and 
light rain in their short skirts and curly hair.

"I'd really love a pint of Guinness," Mulder muttered 
as he spied the doorway to a pub behind them, 
littered with parade watchers who didn't seem to want 
to commit to the rain fully.

"Guinness Mulder?"

"When in Ireland..." he said smiling as he took her 
hand and led her over to the pub.  Fighting his was 
to the bar he ordered two pints of Guinness and 
smiled at Scully as the bartender left two half full 
glasses on the bar to settle.  After taking the money 
from Mulder, he bent lower to the glasses as if 
evaluating their status then arched them under the 
tap to fill them to the brim.  Grabbing what looked 
like a small jam jar lid from a shelf behind them he 
pressed it onto the top of the creamy pint head and 
gave them to Mulder.

Mulder took them and held them high above his head as 
he fought his way back onto the street again.  They 
managed to reclaim a spot near the curb again and 
Mulder handed her a pint, grinning like a fool.  
Scully took it with trepidation and realized that now 
they were out in the sunlight the stout wasn't black 
as she expected, but a dark green color and had a 
shamrock stamped carefully onto the head in the 
cream. Her eyebrow went up in surprise as she looked 
to Mulder in surprise. 

"Sláinte!" Mulder said clinking his glass to the side 
of hers before taking a deep breath and tasting his 
drink.  Scully watched him swallow a big portion and 
grimace at the sour taste. "Oh that's good 
Guinness..." 

"Try telling your face..." she said joking before 
taking her own taste.  The dark green liquid was ice 
cold and the taste exploded on her tongue and buzzed 
all the way down to her stomach.  Once the initial 
surprise dissolved she was left with a cold trail of 
stout that begged to be filled.  Mulder watched in 
amazement as she took another swallow and another 
licking her lips free of the creamy residue.

"You like it Scully?"

"Oh yes.  But sure Mulder I'm practically Irish, of 
course I like it."  He laughed out loud delighted to 
see the dark clouds of wonder had disappeared from 
her eyes replaced by the now familiar twinkle of joy 
that escaped when she smiled. Especially the smile he 
brought out in her when he looked at her with all 
that charm and love. He clinked their glasses 
together again and slipped an arm around her shoulder 
to hold her close as they watched the rest of the 
parade.  She felt a strong urge to lick the Guinness 
froth from those gorgeous lips of his, but what her 
mouth didn't say her eyes made up for. Nothing in her 
gaze was lost on Mulder. 

Soon they too didn't seem to notice the misty rain 
that came down from the mountains and covered the 
town in a damp sheen as the festivities went on 
around them.

"Happy St Patrick's Day Scully." He bent to kiss her 
and nuzzled her lips, tasting her. 

"You too Mulder."

The End.
Skinfull.