Novels The Damascus Files In The Interest of Science Other Stories A Deafening Silence Finding Zuzu's Petals Into The Mystic Je T'aime Knockin' On Heaven's Door Knowing Korena, Korena Matthew 19:14 Nightwing Sweet Dreams Symbiosis A Texas History Lesson This Could Be Heaven,   or This Could Be Hell Timepieces Your Soul in My Heart Other Info About Kat Linkage Feedback   Matthew 19:14 Text Only Rating: PG-13 Author's Note: The story of Baby K's life and death is true. Names and places were changed to protect me from being sued. The only innocent in this tale doesn't need our protection anymore. This is for Joel - " But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 Journal January 22, 2000 Dana K. Scully I met Jessica P. outside the basement morgue of Clear River County Medical Center. I was there, waiting to talk to her about a victim she'd examined the prior month. This victim, Mulder and I were certain, held "the clue" on a case we were working on. Jessica was the Clear River County Coroner, usually not a terribly stressful job. This night, she'd stumbled through the swinging door that led from the autopsy bay, tears streaming down her face. I wound up offering my assistance on the autopsy that had so upset her. His body covered only that small center portion of the huge, metallic table. He'd been 8 days shy of seeing 8 months on this planet. It had been two thirds of a year spent in painful misery and lonely neglect. I felt my throat tighten as I walked over to stand beside my fellow pathologist and soon to be friend. We found he'd smothered to death, confirming what Jessica had speculated at the scene. She'd been called to the dilapidated, ramshackle farm house by the sheriff. Social Services had popped in for a surprise visit of the "home" and had found this tiny, lifeless victim lying face down on a bean bag chair that sat in a dark corner of the filth bestrewn living room. They'd discovered his baby sitter asleep on the couch, unaware of the child's death. That she'd not been awoken by the baby's cries as he'd slowly suffocated in the soft, plastic covered bed was excusable; after all four year olds can sleep pretty soundly at naptime. It took them two hours to find the children's mother. She'd been at a bar where she was a regular customer. Apparently his sister had left him on the chair after she'd gotten him to sleep. He'd awoken, squalling and rolled over. He'd been unable to right himself, despite frantic struggles because his right arm and both legs were weakened by untreated fractures. Little sister had informed the sheriff at the scene that her mom's live-in boyfriend was the disciplinarian of the family. The small child, oh, so mature for her age, had related that the boyfriend's preferred method of punishing the baby was holding him by the legs as he slammed him on the bed and thumps with a finger to the head. Our examination of the small, soft, brown hair covered skull confirmed this eye witness testimony. I returned to Mulder that evening, morose and near tears. I'd forgotten to ask Jessica the questions about the case. It didn't matter, everything came to a head that night when Mulder slipped out while I was sleeping to check out the abandoned mill on the edge of town. I woke up, just past two with a fierce, not to be denied feeling that my partner was in danger. I was right. I arrived in the nick of time and saved his ass. The case was solved. Turns out it was your typical vengeful spirit, getting back at the descendants of the mill owner whose negligence caused his death type X-File. Of course, nobody bought our explanation and the local cops are still looking for a murderer. I came home today to find a letter from Dr. Jessica P. She caught me up on her life, the newsy missal made me smile over the folksy tales of small town life. Then I found the clipping. The judge had given the mother of the baby the harshest sentence allowable for Felony Child Abuse -- 16 years. It was that severe due to the fact that Lisa K. age 26, had already lost custody of her three oldest children due to charges of neglect. This was the only way the judge saw to break the cycle of this young women having babies only to lose them due to her neglect. My eyes misted when I read that the foster care parents of Baby K.'s siblings had been trying to get both him and his baby-sitting sister for six months. They'd run out of time. I stare at his picture and weep, knowing my tears change nothing. As I write these words another innocent is lost, falling victim to abuse and neglect. My mind screams out in anger and my heart bleeds when I think of my own barren womb and empty arms. Justice IS truly blind. End DISCLAIMER: "The X-Files" and its characters are owned by FOX and its related entities. All rights reserved. This website, its operators and any content on this site relating to "The X-Files" are not authorized by Fox. No copyright infringement is intended. This site created and maintained by Wasatch Design and Consulting.