I was very anti-Mulder after the episode "one son" and couldn't believe they created the episode "arcadia" just three episodes after. That somehow Mulder was just suddenly forgiven. I felt Scully deserved better and Mulder need a good wake up call. Well I am doing this story to give Scully more independence. Don't worry I still believe Mulder and Scully belong together but it shouldn't have happened after Diana died and suddenly Mulder is only stuck with Scully (like they made it seem in season 7). Well don't be too harsh on me, this is story is for me to deal with the arrogant side of Mulder. Oh and I am warning you now…grammar is NOT my friend. :)

Meeting in Kersh's Office:

After Agent Spender defended his opinion that the only two people who should work on the x-files was Mulder and Scully, Kersh turned to them for an explanation on the happenings at El Rico Air Force Base.

"who burned those people" Kersh demanded

"they burned themselves with a choice made long ago by a conspiracy of men who thought they could sleep with the enemy. Only to awaken another enemy" Mulder answered while glancing at Scully for the last part, to admit his mistake.

Mulder thought that admitting his fault in choosing Diana over Scully would be enough to patch their damaged partnership. But little did he know that the partnership ended long ago when Scully said "…I cant help you anymore" at the guman's office. He did not know that Scully had already made plans to leave days before and that even Kersh and Skinner knew what Scully had planned; that the pitiful look Skinner gave him in that meeting was not over the burned bodies at the Base but because he knew the one person who stuck by him through everything was finally leaving. The straw that broke the camel's back had been placed.

After Kersh dismissed them, Mulder and Scully walked out of the room with bowed heads and an eerie feeling surrounded all the occupants. While walking down the hallway Scully told Mulder she was going home and would see him Monday morning. Mulder nodded and secretly hoped Kersh was now planning to assign them back on the x-files.

Monday Morning:

Mulder walked into the bullpen with two coffee cups in his hand and a cheery smile because he got a call this morning from Kersh saying that a meeting was being held to discuss the future of the x-files. Mulder was pretty confident that Kersh was going to hand them back the files. However, being lost in thought, Mulder failed to notice Scully's desk was empty and now the smile was wiped off his face. Mulder came to the conclusion the Scully had already headed for Kersh's office and ignored the pressure in his chest. When Mulder entered Kersh's office he was surprised to see Diana sitting in one of the seats.

"Sit down Agent Mulder" said Kersh. Mulder immediately took the seat next to Diana.

"It has come to my attention that Agent Spender and Agent Scully firmly believe that you belong on the X-files and I will not go against their wishes. You and Agent Fowley will continue to investigate x-file cases, you can now move your belongings back to the basement office and settle in. Tomorrow I will present you two with a new case. That will be all Agents. You are dismissed."

Mulder was in shock. He couldn't move. At first he was elated that he was getting the files back, his life's work was now in his hands. But soon he realized that Scully was no longer his partner and that Scully had already been informed.

"I am sorry sir but I cannot accept your decision. Agent Scully deserves to be put on the x-files just as much as I do"

"Agent Mulder this is not a choice I am asking you to make. You will be assigned to the X-files and will be partnered with Agent Fowley. Unless you want to be dismissed from the FBI completely, I would recommend that you accept this. And not that it is any of your business but Agent Scully has already made future occupational plans and has no longer desired to be partnered with you. Now agents you are dismissed!"

Mulder could not believe what Kersh was saying…Scully no longer wanted to be on x-files?? Was he crazy? This was her life's work just as much as his. But he knew he could no longer argue with Kersh and briskly walked out behind Diana.

"Diana I am going to go see where Scully is to discuss this. I'll see you tomorrow morning"

"She is not in the building Fox, I saw her leave a few hours ago"

"Well she must be at home, im going to stop by and then ill come back to gather my things and bring It down to the basement. Thanks for telling me, it saved me some time to look for her"

Mulder pulled up to Scully's building and headed straight for her apartment building. He knocked for a few minutes and when he didn't hear any movement he fished his pocked for his key. He opened the door and was presented with an empty apartment building. Nothing was there. The walls were bare, there were no boxes, no lint on the carpet, no furniture, and most importantly no Scully. Mulder looked at the back of the door to make sure he was at the right apartment number but knew he was if the key fit.

"hey Mr. Mulder, why are you looking for Dana here?" the building manger asked. Curious to see why Dana's door was left open.

"huh? Oh why is her apartment empty"

"what? You mean you don't know she moved?"

"no! when did she plan this! Am I in some parallel universe…what the hell is going on!"

"im sorry Mr. Mulder I assumed you knew. Umm…Dana told me she was leaving a couple of days ago. so many people were helping her move that I figured she was finally moving in with you"

"what! Who was helping her move! And when did she tell you this exactly…I need the date"

"Her mother, those geeky men, and that big buff guy who I think is your boss came to help her and I don't know the date but I remember it right after I had to let her in her building because she didn't have her key. Something about a quarantine procedure"

Mulder couldn't believe that the guman, skinner and maggie knew Scully was leaving and never gave him any indication. Mulder went to each of their houses and was rewarded with the same response "im sorry we can't help you, but it was her decision and we have to respect that." No one gave him any information about her whereabouts and was basically given the cold shoulder. Mulder had no idea that the next time he would see Scully again would be two years later.