Doggett and Scully, who were seated in front of Skinners desk, had been waiting to hear news about this so called new case for the specific techniques of the X Files. Skinner seemed to be looking around for something that wasn't there. And Scully knew probably just what that something was.

"How come Mulder hasn't decided to greet us with his presence today?" His voice seems agitated. Not the type Scully was used to either.

"He…he's a bit tied up right now. " She replied slowly. That probably wasn't the best way to retort back.

"Exactly what do you mean by 'tied up', Agent Scully?"

"He's busy, with another case?"

"Is that so? And what other case could be so important for him not to be with us for this meeting?"

"Its." She couldn't blow Mulders cover. Not so easily at least. Just thinking about how upset he would be at her. It was unbearable. Even if he was being more stubborn then a mule.

"Agent Scully? If there's something you're not telling me I need to know."

She thought hard for a minute. If she gave away the personal secret little project Mulder was working one she would never hear the last of it. Skinner was her boss and also a friend though. If she didn't tell him she knew he would find other was to resort to extract the information.

"He, recently got new dirt on his sisters were abouts."

Skinner replied with surprise in his tone. "Samantha? But I thought that he had closed that case a while ago."

Scully took in a deep breath, readying herself for the long explaining. "Yes, I thought that as well. Yet Mulder being Mulder he had to look deeper. Which, is causing him to act distant. Trust me." She glanced over to Doggett and gave him a sophic look. "I know. He hasn't spoken a word of sense to me since Monday."

Skinner rubbed his face and peered down at the papers placed beforehand. "I need Mulder's contribution on this case just as much as you."

"Sir, I can get Agent Doggett on this case with me if that makes it any easier."

"He's new to the X Files. I'm not sure he would be…right for this one."

"Sir, I assure you I can take whatever you put on my plate. Just explain to me exactly what the assignment is."

"I'm sure Agent Scully has explained to you a few things about how the X Files work."

John glimpsed over to Scully who had her ready gaze set on him as well. "Yes, sir. She has. I think I can handle a few UFO surmises."

"I can tell you right now Agent Doggett that this has nothing to do with UFO's or little gray men."

"Sir?"

He proceeded to hand Agent Scully a folder, containing crime scene photos. A man had a long knife protruding from his back, from what looks like he fell onto it execution style.

"Director Sir, there's no way.." She flipped through the pages very carefully, scan over the autopsy report. "There's no way this can be an X File. By the look of it I say this man committed suicide. There's nothing unexplainable about that."

"That's what I thought. Until we, got word his wife has been placed in a special cares facility. We had someone sent down there after the police arrived at the house and found the body."

"So?" Doggett was getting intrigued now. "How come she was placed in the nut house?"

"When we were trying to get her into the interrogation room, she was thrashing around like some kind of maniac wild animal. Then, when we finally got her calm and seated down at one of the desks she tried to grab a letter opener."

"This just seems like a woman who is in post mourned stress. She was probably just freaked."

"Grabbing a letter opener and trying to killer yourself with it doesn't seem like post mourned stress to me."

"Wait. She. Tried to killer herself with it?" Scully raised a brow.

"Sounds like a case of mass depression disorder." Doggett cut it, throwing off Scully's thought processing.

"No.." She trailed off, thinking back to the X Files cabinet. "Skinner. May I go back to my office to look over a few things?"

Skinner sighed and waved her away. Leaving Doggett to oversee the rest of the meeting.