CHAPTER NINE

" We both shouldn't be here." AD Skinner told the two men, " We'd scare her."

" You're right. Scully's still a skeptic. " Older Skinner agreed, " It's best if it were just me and Mulder."

" Meanwhile, I think I know where the other Scully would go." Mulder said, " Back to the office to look for me."

The three of them decided on a course of action. One of the Skinner's headed back to the FBI Headquarters while the other and Mulder went to visit Scully.

* * *

" It was the strangest thing." Scully finished her story as the AD and Mulder sat on the couch.

" Scully, that woman who visited you. Did she seem…familiar to you?" Mulder asked.

" No, not really. Just unsettling." Scully replied, perplexed. " Why?"

" This woman…she's a visitor from another time and place." Mulder paused, " She's-"

" Are you suggesting this woman is a time traveler?" Scully interrupted scornfully, " Mulder, this woman is a murderer and for some reason wanted to frame me for it."

" Told you she wouldn't believe you." Skinner said to Mulder.

" You said I got a phone call by the informant," Mulder replied and Skinner nodded, " Yeah. He's the one who directed you to the military base." He paused, " John Doggett."

" Who?" Scully asked raising an eyebrow.

" John Doggett. And what does he do?"

" I have no idea what he's up to in my time. I lost contact with him ever since…" Skinner trailed off.

" Ever since what?" Mulder prodded.

" Nothing. I get a phone call from him, telling me you and Scully are in trouble, so I had to help."

" So you're saying you, Scully and I still know each other thirteen years from now?" Mulder mused.

" What the hell are you two talking about?" Scully demanded frustrated and that's when Mulder realized Scully thinks she's talking to the AD from their time.

" Scully. This isn't Skinner." Mulder said.

Scully stared at her partner, then at Skinner. " Um…"

" I mean, it is Skinner. But not our Skinner." Mulder went on.

It came to her. " Are you his twin brother? I didn't know Skinner had a twin. Then again, we don't know much about his private life…"

" No, I'm not his brother. Maybe we should have bought him with us." Skinner said.

" This Skinner, he's from the future. He came here to warn you. I mean, the other you."

" Other me?"

Skinner explained what had happened. Scully refused to believe it until Mulder's phone rang. He talked to the caller for a few minutes before handing the phone to Scully.

" Scully."

" Dana?" came a voice that sounded too much like Skinner. Scully glanced at Skinner, " Sir?"

" You don't call me that anymore." Skinner replied, " It's just Walter now."

" How…how can this be? You're sitting right in front of me-"

" Did they tell you what happened?"

" Yes but I can hardly believe it-"

" I can't believe it myself. I'm as much skeptic as you, but it seems I have a more open mind later in life. As you do."

" I wouldn't kill anybody," she protested.

" Well, you did. And I have someone you will want to talk to"

" Who?"

" Just come to your office and you'll find out." Skinner disconnected the call.

The three headed for the basement office. Scully stopped in the doorway and glanced at the two Skinners, standing side by side.

" This is….amazing." Scully stared at the elder Skinner. He had more grey but he still kept fit. He didn't wear a ring either.

" Well, isn't this nice." A voice said from the shadows. Mulder glanced up to see future Scully step forward, her eyes locking with present Scully's.

" A reunion. Of sorts."

" You again." Scully scowled, crossing her arms.

Future Scully smirked, " Still a skeptic eh?"

" Scully, meet Scully." Mulder grinned at his partner who was still glaring at the future Scully.

" What?" present Scully looked up at him. Then her mouth dropped when it hit home. This was her future self. She looked so different. Short, cropped hair, thin face and her eyes. There was something about them. They looked so…cold.

" So, what do we now?" Mulder asked the future Skinner and Scully. Future Scully smiled up at him and for a brief moment, the coldness disappeared from her eyes. She grasped her hand, " It's so nice to see you again Mulder." She said.

" If you two are from the future…then how did you get here?" Scully demanded them as she sat down.

" I don't know. I woke up in a stairwell." Elder Skinner told her.

" Me too. Except it was a parking garage."

" I think we need to find this John Doggett." Mulder suggested.

" In 1996. He's still a cop. This should be fun." Future Scully sighed.