I do not own anything or anyone in this story that you recognize. They all come from the brilliant mind of Chris Carter, played out by brilliant actors like Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, and produced by FOX. Any mistakes are my own. And as always reviews are welcomed if not encouraged... Okay they are very encouraged.

Worst week of the year. He knew it would be going in, but that did not help. He would not even come to these things, but since the FBI technically employed him to do psych profiles, they forced him to come to these awful things. Fucking psychological profiling conferences. And these things could not even be in places like Las Vegas or New York City; no, they were in places like Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. And as much as Special Agent Fox Mulder like the idea of living in a small town, he would much rather be working on one of Kersh's boring cases with Scully. But there were some things that not even he could get out of, and this was unfortunately one of them.

Actually, he would not have minded coming to this as much if he could have dragged Scully, but there was no way Kersh or CSM (who apparently had Kersh in his pocket from what Scully had seen) would have let that happen. They knew the more Scully and him were together, the more powerful they were. Scully was his biggest strength and weakness. He had realized that he loved his partner a long time ago, but recently had been forced to accept that she did not share his feelings. So, he had been trying to ignore his love for her since she answered his "I love you" with "Oh, brother" last month, but so far all that had done was make his affection for her even stronger. He could not ignore how her hair fell perfectly every day, how her eyes lit up when she smiled or laughed, that smile she gave him when she was trying to hold back a laugh, how her ass had that perfect curve, and her breast- Mulder should not be thinking about this in a public place. If he kept this up, his excitement would quickly be visible to most of the conference, and he did not need that type of attention.

Of course, it was not his first conference and it probably would not be his last. But he had learned early on that most of the people here liked to evaluate their peers. And with a name like Fox in addition to his beliefs, Mulder was a prime target. Which is why a few of conferences ago he decided there was no way he was telling anyone at these conferences his real name. He had started using William Kuipers after he had been told for the fifth time how his sister's abduction played a part in his beliefs and other things that it would not take a college education to figure out.

Anyway, Mulder was currently waiting for the first seminar to begin with an empty seat on either side of him. It was not a very crowded seminar, but it was also a pretty small room in the hotel. Mulder was hoping that he could get by with the extra leg room, but he was not quite so lucky. About five minutes before the seminar was supposed to start, Mulder had a man ask him, "Is that seat next to you taken?"

Mulder had no choice but to shake his head. As the man sat down, Mulder tried to size him up. He was a man of five foot- nine with slightly broader shoulders than Mulder. He was not a body builder, but he was fit. His brown hair that was just a little longer than Mulder's. He had a rounder face and bluish green eyes. Mulder put him about thirty.

"You look excited to be here," the new guy said.

Mulder let out a half hearted laugh. "I wouldn't be here except for the fact it's mandatory to come to one of these every few years, and the last one I went to was about three years ago. Plus, I think my boss wanted me out of his hair for a week."

The other guy laughed. "You can't be that bad of an employee. Which agency are you with, anyway?"

"CIA." People tend not to ask too many questions when they think they are talking to a CIA agent, and for Mulder that was perfect. "What about you?"

"US Marshal."

The seminar speaker then stepped up to the podium and Mulder and his new companion went quiet. However, as predicted, Mulder quickly got bored of listening to the speaker. Actually, half way through the seminar, he could not even remember what he was there learn about. Luckily, he was saved by a notepad being past to him clandestinely by the man next to him.

I dont think this guy could get more boring if he tried. Mulder could not help but smile. At least he was not the only one trying to stay awake.

I was seriously considering seeing how long it takes Dr. Whoever to notice people leaving. Not sure how much more of this I can take. This time it was the marshal who smiled.

After you, CIA. But I thought you CIA people would be used to these types of meetings.

Yeah, well theyre usually a little more interesting than this. Mulder knew it was not true, that he was usually just as bored when listening to someone drone on about rules and regulations. He had a tendency to ignore those anyway. Cases he was fine with, but not informational meetings.

Guess secrets of the government would almost have to be. Mulder looked at the man. It felt like this guy was in his head, which was a dangerous feeling.

You trying to get me to spill the government secrets?

Ha! I know better than to try that! Plus, I got a family to support. I cant go dying because curiosity got the best of me.

Mulder made a mental note of the family comment before responding. Good. I'd hate to shoot you.

Someone cleared their throat and both men looked up. Apparently the speaker had caught on that they were not paying attention and was becoming annoyed with them. Mulder was ready to continue without hesitation. He was used to pissing people off. But the marshal was not as willing. He scribbled one more note. Bar later?

Mulder nodded. He could not help but notice that the man looked like a guilty Catholic schoolboy caught by his nun teacher. This guy probably had such a school experience, too.

He could not deny that he liked the guy sitting next to him. He seemed like good guy. Mulder only then realized that he had not actually caught the man's name. Normally, he would have just asked, but he knew that they guy's conscience could take a hit; so he just waited for the seminar to end.

Once the boring speaker finally finished, Mulder stood up and was relieved to be able to stretch his legs. Apparently, this was not an issue for the marshal. Of course, Mulder had a good three inches on the guy, mostly coming for the legs.

"So, I saw a bar off the lobby. You want to head there?" the marshal asked.

"Anywhere as long they serve a good beer."