The events of Unusual Suspects now complete, this universe slips into another future for Mulder and Scully, but you would have realised that by now. Angst and intrigue warning for the chapters ahead.

'Mulder,' he barked into the receiver, annoyed at the timing of this interruption.

'Mulder, its Reggie,' his superior sounded confused, 'is Dr Scully still with you?'

'Yes,' he returned, looking at the diminutive woman in the passenger's seat, 'she's sitting beside me.'

'I've just had my ass chewed,' Reggie paused to let that sink in, 'because I contacted Section Chief Blevins in regard to the changed in the partner assigned to you.'

'Sir,' Mulder communicated so much with the single word. This just gets weirder and weirder, he thought, what does Reggie's ultimate superior have to do with Dana and my new partner.

'OK, I get it,' Reggie picked up on his hint, 'you can't say much. So let me do the talking and I'll tell you what I know. Daughter of a Navy Captain, both brothers in the services, she's been a reservist from the age of eighteen with an exemplary record, obtaining a Military scholarship for her undergraduate schooling. She attended University of Maryland, obtaining a degree in Physics with honours. While in Medical School at North Western the FBI recruited her. She graduated third in her class with offers from several hospitals. Dr Scully currently works at Baltimore General, to be closer to her family. She's due to commence training at Quantico in October next year. Only one serious previous relationship with her married college professor, ended six months ago in a spectacular public argument when she discovered his duplicity.'

'Nothing new,' Mulder interrupted, chancing a peek at Dana. She attempted to ignore him. Unless she stepped out of the car, giving him privacy to complete this call, Scully couldn't help overhear Mulder's side of the conversation.

'I gathered from what Blevins didn't say,' once again Reggie paused, as though he didn't want to divulge too much but felt impelled too, 'she's had more training than her dossier shows.'

'I've seen proof,' Mulder broke in sardonically. He considered Dana's ease with a weapon and the two bodies she left in the warehouse without a second glance. That took some training and even more experience to cope mental. So far she hadn't displayed any regret at her actions.

'OK,' Reggie took time to mull over the information, intending to get the details next time he met Mulder. 'I've been instructed not to ask any more questions, just consider Dr Scully on the FBI payroll. Arrangements have been made for Diana's name to come off your counterfeit marriage certificate, apartment lease and any other documents pertaining to the University case. I'll have them ready for you to collect tomorrow.'

'Blevins believes Dana's position as a recently graduated doctor and new intern at the campus hospital will fulfil our requirements,' Reggie's tone dismissed this idea completely. 'You're to take up your teaching post on Monday and move into the apartment tomorrow with your new wife. You've been given authority to debrief Dr Scully on her assignment.'

'Reggie,' looking at the woman beside him, Mulder wondered how she'd take this news when she emphatically denied the possibility of continuing a professional association after this case. 'I need to talk to you about that,' Mulder stated, capturing Scully's blue gaze. 'Dana's come up with a lead which I believe will snare our perpetrator. This undercover assignment…'

'You told a civilian about an ongoing investigation?' Reggie could have been knocked over by a stiff breeze. Mulder, being one of his best operatives and playing by the book didn't normally cause Reggie to worry. 'Are you crazy, Mulder?'

'I got played,' he stated, hazel eye's boring into Scully. 'Seems I'm not the only profiler you're going to be dealing with in the future.'

Mulder saw the exact moment Scully understood the implications of the conversation. Until that point, she been embarrassed, twin patches of red staining her pale cheeks. Obviously she didn't like her private life being discussed. Now all colour drained from her face at the realisation she'd be sharing that life with Mulder for the immediate future.

'Now, I'd like a word with Dr Scully,' Reggie had a tone in his voice Mulder knew only to well. It spelt danger for anyone unlucky enough to be on the receiving end. He didn't envy Dana, but didn't mind listening in to the conversation. She caused him enough trouble today and he couldn't help taking a little revenge at her dressing down.

Turning towards Scully, Mulder handed her the phone with a mocking smile, 'Reggie Purdue.'

'Hello, Sir,' Scully said, attempting to hide the edge to her voice.

This is it, she realised, the moment where it all falls apart and my duplicity is realised. With years of FBI training behind her, and a well developed sense of self preservation, thanks to Mulder's escapades on the X-files, Scully decided to let Reggie do the talking. When she'd gathered enough information, maybe she'd managed to find a way to satisfy everyone's curiosity with out telling the entire truth.

'Dr Scully, I believe you were assigned to Agent Mulder as a civilian to aid him in the Modeski Case,' Reggie couldn't keep the bewilderment from his tone. Yet he didn't sound happy about being left out of the loop and he obviously blamed her.

Playing her cards close to her chest, Scully answered, 'Yes, Sir.'

'Care to inform me who gave you this assignment,' Reggie asked sharply. He wanted answers but realised she been too well trained to gain them this easily.

'I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say,' Scully closed her eyes. This is it, every thing I've achieved tonight is about to be unravelled…..

'As your file is sealed,' Reggie's tone bespoke his anger and lack of insight into an operative under his direct supervision, 'I've been unable to access who authorised the removal of a trusted agent, your temporary assignment to my best agent or the ulterior motive for the Modeski case.'

'There is a reason for that, Sir,' Scully concealed her surprise. Briefly she wondered who'd arranged her cover story, but her mind needed to stay on the conversation.

'I'd like to see you and Agent Mulder immediately,' Reggie's annoyance communicated itself clearly down the phone line, 'so we can clear up a few questions. However, your patron at the FBI has expressly forbid me from making further enquiries about your past and the level of proficiency we should expect. As I like my position, I'm not about to countermand a Section Chief.'

'Sir,' Scully answered in her best professional tone, wondering how this tied in with the events of today. Then she remembered S.C. Blevins and the payoffs from the pharmaceutical company with links to Cancerman and the Syndicate. Suddenly the puzzle pieces fell into place. Even before Mulder discovered the X-files, The Cigarette Smoking Man had attempted to control his life. Fowley, their relationship, brought about by living together undercover for a year, Mr Normal's surveillance today and finally Mulder's exposure to the gas, they'd all been carefully conscripted acts. Modeski hadn't been the target, just an incidental player.

This is just the beginning of my new life and suddenly I've been cast in the role of the believer, here to protect Mulder from events he has no knowledge of, Scully came to the blinding realisation, they used me before, abducting me to control Mulder, orchestrating our working relationship, bending it to their will. Uncovering that file last night wasn't an accident, its fate or the hand of God. If I had doubts about turning time back nine years, this new information has completely erased them. The only way I can limit the effect on Mulder's future is with him. I have to make this work. I have to be at his side to negate the effects of forces beyond his awareness or control.

'I don't know who or what you're protecting Dr Scully, but let me give you some advice,' Reggie growled, his affection for Mulder obvious. 'I suggest you come clean with Agent Mulder. He's the best damm profiler the Bureau's seen since its inception. What ever you're hiding, he'll find out on your next assignment together. You won't be able to escape his mind easily from inside a marriage.'

'I'm very aware of that, Sir,' Scully answered neutrally, finally comprehending the enormity of the task before her. Suddenly she couldn't help it, Scully added, 'my only intention, my whole reason for taking this assignment is to keep your agent safe.' Pausing, biting the inside of her lip, she felt impelled to add, 'Sir, if I may be so bold,' closing her eyes, Scully had to get this off her chest, 'I'd be investigating the background of Agent Diana Fowley. If I may say so, she may not be all she seems.'

'Meaning what exactly,' Reggie demanded, disliking the implications.

'Maybe there's a very good reason the substitution needed to be made,' Scully suggested without commitment. 'If your enquiries in regard to my predecessor prove fruitful, you may uncover the reason for the change.'

Reggie grunted, his mind working on that kernel. Scully handed the phone back to her partner, saying, 'we need talk.'

Mulder couldn't agree more. However, he had work to do now the Modeski case had come to an end. No paper work would ever be submitted, but he had every intention of corning Dana Scully and finding out the truth.

'Reggie,' Mulder spoke in the hope of catching his superior before he cut the connection.

'Yeah,' Reggie sighed despairingly, still unsure what to make of this situation. Strange didn't begin to describe it.

Feeling just as drained by the events of tonight, Mulder said, 'the Modeski tip off's a bust. We located several people who identified her at the convention centre. We followed a lead and have staked out a warehouse near the Baltimore-Washington International Airport.'

'I know,' Reggie sighed, just as confused by the sudden change in the woman's wanted status. 'I just got word that Modeski is no longer sought in relation to those terrorist alligations. No explanation or excuse. What I'd like to know is how your new partner is involved. She knows more than she's telling.'

'I'm not sure I can shed any light on that, Sir,' Mulder returned wondering why he protected Scully with everything he'd witnessed today.

'I guess you and Dana can stand down and start preparing for your next assignment,' Reggie agreed.

'After we've sorted out our on campus living arrangements,' Mulder informed his boss, 'I'll bring Dana to your house tomorrow.'

'Fine, I'll have Raelene organise lunch. She can run interference with Dr Scully for a while so we can debrief,' he agreed understanding Mulder needed to talk to him privately, 'but I sware, Mulder, if I have to cope with two of the Bureau's most talented, rising stars, I'll be forced to retire to a psychiatric ward,' Reggie complained, pinching the bridge of his nose. The tension headache that'd been threatening since he'd been chewed out for mentioning Dr Dana Scully suddenly hit. 'I haven't met her yet, but she's already cause me enough trouble.'

'Reggie,' Mulder use of sarcasm indicated his confused emotions, 'you're not alone.'

The sound of Reggie's laughter stopped with the Mulder ending the call. 'You wanted to talk,' he stated, turning his body towards Dana with a menacing gaze, 'so talk.'

Nodding, Scully stared blankly at her lap. Folding her arms across her chest protectively, Dana shied away from the conversation she needed to have. A monumental sigh escaped as she slowly exhaled. These actions gave her time to rationalise.

Muttering an obscenity under his breath, Mulder unbuckled his belt. Reaching across the car he grabbed Scully's chin with more force than he intended. Yanking her head up and around to face him, Mulder's eyes blazed with anger. 'Enough,' he roared, the emotion in his voice indicating his short fuse, 'I want the truth, not the crumbs you're feeding me. You killed two men in that warehouse and walked away without a second look. Like hell you haven't had professional training.'

'I've been exposed to them and others just like them before,' Scully found the truth spilling before she managed to filter it, just as Mulder had intended with his rage. 'If you know who they worked for, what they represented, you'd applaud me. Modeski's part in all this is incidental to the real goal.'

'What goal,' Mulder asked, his anger abated by her words as his curiosity took over.

'You,' Scully managed to get out past the lump occluding her throat. 'The target tonight was you. My job, my entire reason for being on this case was to protect you from exposure to that gas.'

'Me,' astounded, Mulder attempted to see the truth in Scully's clear blue eyes. See it he did and this confused him more than any other aspect of tonight.

'For this to have any chance of working,' Scully swallowed hard considering the long term ramifications of her decision, 'my parents and family need to believe we're married. The university case, it's the perfect cover. I get to protect you from…'

Picking up on her words, Mulder once again turned his angry gaze on her. 'What exactly are you suppose to protect me from, Dana?'

'I don't know how to answer that,' she met his enquiring glare with a confused look, 'because the future hasn't been written yet.'

If you don't like how I've started to resolve all the issues between our dynamic duo, that's what the review button is for ; ). I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions. This story is not over by a long shot, I've written six more chapters without an end in sight. That doesn't mean suggestions won't be incorporated or ideas included in later chapters.