"So what did you do this weekend, Dana?"

"Oh, I went to Wisconsin to bail my partner out of a makeshift military prison, treated a bunch of guys with radiation burns, was almost put under military arrest myself, and came home to face an FBI tribunal."

Yeah, that would go over well at a family dinner. Barely back from Wisconsin for 24 hours and she was at her parents house, listening to the buzz of family news around her. She was still in her work clothes, and wanted nothing more than a pair of sweats, her couch and a tub of ice-cream. She was tired.

Instead of answering the question honestly, she shrugged and poked at her chicken.

"Worked."

"Dana, you're working too much," her father said, rolling up his napkin and tossing it onto his empty plate.

"I never thought I would hear you say that, dad."

"I normally wouldn't, but your job involves guns. The less you do it, the less chance there is of taking a bullet."

"No one's pulled a gun on me yet," she lied, shaking her head. She didn't like lying to her family, but she knew it was better this way. No one but Melissa and Charlie could handle knowing what her job was really like.

The conversation moved slowly back to Bill's new assignment and his pretty girlfriend and she breathed a sigh of relief. Being the center of attention was not her favorite activity, especially under scrutiny. She'd had enough of that at work earlier.

Her thoughts drifted to Mulder and she wondered what he was doing. She hoped he was staying off his leg and keeping it elevated. Maybe he was sitting on the couch watching junk TV and eating sunflower seeds. Maybe he was writing up a case report. Maybe he was playing paper football, like he did at work. As humorous as it was to imagine him doing all sorts of stupid things, it made her sad to think that he didn't have a family to have dinner with. Estranged parents, missing sister and no connections to any one else.

She could feel tears prick at the back of her eyes and she blinked them away. She hoped that no one noticed, but she caught the look Bill threw her direction and knew it wouldn't be long until they had a sit down. He rather enjoyed the role of big brother, and felt he best knew how she should handle her life. Melissa had rebelled too far out of his clutches years ago, and Charlie could knock him flat in an instant, so that left poor little Dana to deal with him. She sighed and braced herself for what was coming.

He pulled her aside after dessert, while Missy and Charlie were busy with a game of Speed.

"Dana, I think dad's right. Every time I try to call you you're at work or out of town or something. You can't spend your whole life like this."

"I know, Bill. But it's a new assignment. I can't really just blow it off. It'll get better."

"I don't like knowing you're out there holding a gun and chasing down bad guys and getting involved in all sorts of dangerous things."

"Bill, the most dangerous thing so far has been teaching Mulder how to shoot a rubber band one handed. He hit me in the eye twice."

"Dana, I'm being serious."

"I know you are. And I appreciate the concern, but don't you think I can take care of myself by now?"

"You're my little sister. You always will be. No amount of reassuring is going to make me feel any better."

"I can accept that. But don't second guess me."

"I'll try not to."

He hugged her and left the room while she sighed. She'd been expecting worse, but maybe that would come later. Bill always had to have the last word and his way, and would work as hard as he could to get it. This wasn't over.

When she got home, the red light on her answering machine was blinking rapidly. She pressed the button and slid out of her coat, tossing it on the chair by the door.

"Hey Scully, it's me. I know you're probably still mad at me, and I know that this wasn't an official case, but I was wondering if you had seen the receipt from the car rental place. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Give me a call back when you get in."

She picked up the phone and dialed his number while kicking her shoes off and making her way into the bedroom.

"Mulder."

"It's me. I think the receipt is in your coat pocket."

She heard some rustling, then a relieved sigh.

"Found it. Thanks, Scully."

"No problem. How's the leg?"

"A little sore, but not too bad."

"Let me know if you need anything."

"You're not mad at me?"

"No, I'm not. You might not be right, but you're not the only one in the wrong here either, and you're my partner, so I have to take your side."

"You don't believe me?"

"I believe you, Mulder. I just don't know if what you believe you saw is what you really saw. I don't know what the government is doing and I am starting to question a lot of things."

"You sound like you're in limbo."

"Maybe I am."

"Scary, huh?"

"Very."

"As long as you don't deny what you experience, you'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight, Scully."

"Night, Mulder."