Chapter 5: Meeting the Challenge

Category: MSR, Alternate Universe
Keywords: S,MSR, Alternate Universe
Rating: PG
Spoilers: off and on, everything up to and including the Movie, Season 6 never happened.

Summary: Mulder and Scully challenges some faces and reputations from Mulders past, both Personal and Professional.

Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimer. Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Maggie Scully, and the other regulars belong to 1013. I am just borrowing them for a short adventure. Ben Hawkins, Johnny Nokamura, and Sabrina McKay are mine.

Merlin's Notes: For those of you wondering what is going one, some of the chapters are appearing out of order. This Chapter was chronologically before chapter 6. Shiv is also doing the honey moon chapter in the future so chapter 7 is going to be reserved for her as well.

Chapter 5: Meeting the Challenge
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia
Saturday Oct. 16, 1999, 10:00am.

Walter Skinner stood in the observation stand prepared for the FBI administration to watch the agents participating in the Hogan's Alley Competition. The earlier target-shooting event had gone as he predicted; Mulder and Scully scored a 394 out of 400, Spender and Fowley scored a 376, while the team from the West Coast scored a 386. The West Coast team just finished the Hogan's Alley event, scoring a reasonable 230 out of 250. Agents Fowley and Spender were starting their turn now. He watched them moving down the Alley. The first target on the right popped out, and both fired away. Then another target on the right and two on the left. Skinner snickered to himself watching "his" team; they didn't stand a chance.
"What's so funny?" asked Steve Carter, a Section Chief standing beside the A.D.
"Just watching those two down there. They don't have a chance against Mulder and Scully."
"Aren't they your team?"
"Yeah, but not by choice; just by assignment."
"They look good to me."
"They're doing okay, but not good enough."
"Care to make a little wager?" asked Carter.
"Sure, how's twenty?" came Skinner's reply.
"You're on." They watched Spender and Fowley score an impressive 232, especially considering how many shots were fired.
As Mulder and Scully walked up to the starting line for the Hogan's Alley, Mulder turned to his partner and asked, "Which side do you want Scully?"
"I'll take the left this time. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Charlie emailed me last night. He'll be able to make it to the wedding."
"That's good, I'll finally be able to prove to myself and everyone else that he exists."
"Mulder, Charlie is busy with his career. Besides, I've shown you pictures."
"Ahh, but Scully. I've shown you pictures of UFOs but you still don't believe they exist, so why should I believe Charlie exists?" He was jerking her chain on purpose, and they both knew it.
"Because my pictures are clear, sharp, AND with clearly recognized landmarks in the background - not tiny, fuzzy, or altered."
"That's my Scully, always the skeptic," he said with a grin. They took their places on the line and waited for the buzzer.
Mulder and Scully were the next team to make the run, and Skinner watched as they moved down the Alley. Mulder on the right, Scully on the left. They were doing just as Skinner thought.
"That, Carter, is what is going to win them the match," he said.
"What?" asked Carter straining to watch them. "I don't see anything different that what everyone else has done."
"Look again, Mulder only watches the right side of the alley. He trusts Scully so much that he knows he does not have to watch her side."
Carter watched for a few minutes then hissed through his teeth. He pulled out a twenty and held it out to Skinner before the agents even finished the course.
Skinner looked at the bill and said. "Keep it. It was a sucker bet. Unless you know them, you wouldn't know how perfectly they work together."
"That good huh?"
"Better than any pair of agents I've ever known. They seem to always know what the other is thinking and they use that ability in everything, interviews, examining a crime scene, you name it."
"I heard that they were getting married, won't that cramp their style?"
"I don't think so. They've been living together now for about a month, and things are better between them now than ever."
"I heard through the office grapevine that last week they were in one of the conference rooms screaming at each other, and then he stalked out of the room and left the building."
"Yeah, but they do that all the time - he just went to pick up their lunch. He was profiling a serial rapist for the Denver office, and he asked for her input. They never agree in situations like that, but she helps him write the profile. They were fine after that; they've developed a way to let things like that go. The Denver office picked up the perp within 12 hours of receiving the profile. Caught the guy trying to make a grab for another woman. Mulder's profile predicted the rapist would make an attempt at the exact location in which he was caught."
"Is he that good?"
"Yes. He seems to have to ability to look into their minds. It's rather, well, "spooky" the way he gets inside their heads, but he is effective."
"I heard he gets pretty weird while profiling, and that's why they dumped him once before."
"Truth is, they never got rid of him. They fought to keep him there. Mulder," Skinner paused for a second thinking of how to phrase what he was going to say. "Mulder really gets into profiling. He becomes so involved in getting into the head of the unsub that he forgets to eat, sleep or even take a break. He had to get out of full time profiling before it destroyed him. That's why Scully is so good for him. Now he can do some profiling without the fear of burning out. She keeps him under control and takes care of him. She also gives him someone to bounce ideas off of; she shoots down his wild ideas, and forces him to prove his theories. They have the highest solve rate in the FBI, and considering that most of their time under my direction was spent on the X-Files, that fact is nothing short of amazing."
Skinner looked up and noticed a tall blonde woman at the door and excused himself. The guard was looking down the list of guests, found her name, and gave her a guest badge.
"Sabrina, I'm so glad you could make it," said Skinner.
"Of course I was going to make it Walter, I couldn't miss this chance to see you. Or Dana," she replied. The previous summer, Sabrina McKay had become good friends with Dana Scully after meeting at the hospital while sitting in vigil for Mulder. He had saved her life, as well as Scully's, almost at the cost of his own.
The A.D. and Sabrina joined the rest of the observers just as Mulder and Scully completed their run through the Alley. They stood watching as the score was tallied and verified. A gasp went through the group as the score was announced. A perfect 250, and with no extra ammunition expended. Skinner smiled to himself and grinned at Section Chief Carter as he turned away. He took Sabrina's arm and led her out the door. They joined Mulder and Scully, where they stood surrounded by other participants.
"How the hell do you guys do that?" asked Brett Williams, an agent who had gone through the academy with Scully.
"Do what?" replied Mulder.
"You guys act like you're communicating telepathically or something. You always know where the other one is, and you never watch what the other is doing."
"Oh, that," replied Scully. "Our whole partnership since the very beginning was founded first on trust, then on friendship. I know that Mulder is going to watch my back as long as he is able. And he knows I'll be watching his. It's a matter of trust. In competition it's even easier since we know we're not going to be in actual danger."
"I don't know, I mean I trust my partner with my life, but I can't help looking to see what he is doing, or if he is missing anything. I just can't help it."
At that, Mulder grinned and said, "I know. When Scully and I first started working together we were the same way. But time, and the fact that we have saved each other's lives over and over, have forged the level of trust that we have. Don't give up, just give it time."
"Hey, is it really true that you guys are getting married?" asked Jana Timmons, an agent from Baltimore.
"Yes, in a little over two weeks," replied Scully.
"I thought that it was against regs for partners to have a relationship."
"No, it's frowned upon, but there are no express rules against it," answered Mulder, as he headed to congratulate Johnny Nokamura and his partner for doing so well. He was introduced to Nokamura's new partner, Joe Flynn, a rough looking redhead. The trio spoke for a couple of minutes, and then Mulder wandered back to Scully after promising to get together before the pair had to head back west.
"Hey, congratulations you two," said Skinner, as he cut into the crowd.
"Thank you sir," said Mulder, grinning, "but shouldn't you be supporting your own team?"
"Yeah, well..." Skinner grimaced slightly, and decided to change the topic of conversation. "How 'bout we go get something to eat? We have some time before the final meeting to assign cases to each of the teams."
"Cases?" asked Mulder.
"They've created fake cases to be assigned to the to top ten point leaders. These will be different, and not what the agents are normally assigned to do. My guess is they will be extremely difficult."
"Oh great. Mom and Ellen were coming over to go over some things about the wedding." Scully fretted Scully.
"Hey, don't worry about it Scully, I'll just go in the dining room and start working on the case. You'll be in the front room, so I can run in and ask questions of you if I need to."
"Mulder, I can do my job. Mom and…" Mulder placed his fingers over her lips gently.
"Scully, please. I'm not saying that you're not doing your job, but your mother is working so hard on this. Just help her today, and we can work on the case together after they leave. Don't disappoint her on this."
She looked at him for a minute, understanding that he was telling her that it really was okay. She smiled finally, and gave in. "Okay, Mulder, you win."

Later in the Academy Auditorium
The Director of the FBI stood at the podium and looked out at the ten remaining teams. "Congratulations to the remaining teams. The twenty of you are deemed to be the best shots in the FBI. Now we will find out how clever, intelligent, and intuitive you are. On the table before me are 10 cases, one per team. You are required in this next event to examine the evidence, create a profile, and try to determine who committed the crime. The cases are all unique, and are assigned specifically to each team so that they are not in your normal area of expertise. We will all return here tomorrow at 6pm for you to announce your findings. At that time, final scores will be announced and the winners and runners up will be named. Please come forward and pick up the packets. Inside will be information sheets giving you the phone numbers of key witnesses and the hours that they will be available for questioning. Other than that, all the information is provided in the packets. It is up to you to use that information wisely to solve the case."
Mulder looked at Scully, then as a pair they stood and walked up to get their case. Scully retrieved the thick packet from the table, then opened it. She raised an eyebrow, and Mulder asked, "What is it, Scully?"
"This is a serial killer case Mulder. One in which the killer has murdered one person every other Month for the past 5 years."
"Okay, that doesn't seem so bad."
Both eyebrows were now raised as she dug deeper into the packet. "You haven't seen the pictures yet Mulder."
"Bad?"
"Worse than that." She said slamming the pictures back into the folder. "Where the hell did the Director go, I want to find out whose sick idea this was. Someone set this up and I smell smoke."
Mulder grabbed her and said, "Dammit, Scully, calm down."
He stared at her for a second, and finally asked, "What is it? And Scully, the truth."
"The victims are all 8 to 10 year old girls. They have all been sexually assaulted, then mutilated. They were blinded, and then finally killed by being stabbed in the heart with a spear-like object."
Mulder visibly paled.
"They all have long brown hair and were abducted from their homes. Mulder, this sucks. They did this to try to get to you; we don't have to do this."
"Scully, let it go. I can handle it. It'll be harder than normal, but I am not going to whine or complain. Let's just take the case and go work on it."

Scully looked at Mulder. He knew it would eat at him, but he was trying so hard to fit in that he would endure it. They would endure it; she would make sure he had the help he needed. They looked for Skinner to say goodbye, but when they found him he seemed to be arguing with Sabrina.
"I just wish that you could find something else, something less… disreputable," said Skinner.
"I'm sorry Walter, but it is my choice, and if you can't live with that, I will just have to say goodbye," she replied.
"Do you realize how it will look, an Assistant Director of the FBI in a relationship with an employee of the 'Lone Gunmen Magazine'?" Sabrina started to say something, but then she realized what he had said. "Relationship".
She stepped up to him and said, "Walter, I am an independent researcher who sometimes provides information to individuals who wish to write articles to be published. I will be paid, and well, I might add, by a trust fund set up by unidentified citizens. My name will not be associated anywhere with that publication or publishing firm."
With that, she wrapped her arms around the big guy and kissed him long and hard. Mulder and Scully walked up just as they came up for air. In the background, a wolf whistle and round of applause was heard. Skinner simply smiled and nodded, turning to the two agents he considered friends. Mulder didn't say anything at all, simply handing his boss a handkerchief and pointing to the left corner of his mouth. Scully giggled. Skinner was even more stunned. In the 6-plus years he had known her, he had never heard her giggle.
"Well sir, we will be taking off, Mulder wants to start on this case, and my mom and Ellen are coming over to work on some wedding plans."
"Okay, I'll see you two tomorrow. Don't forget, you have to be back here by 6:00 p.m."
"We won't. See you then."
"Bye sir. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Mulder..." he growled.
The pair of agents walked out to the parking lot where they got into Scully's Honda. Mulder's car was in the shop yet again. They had talked about getting a new car, but still had not gotten far with the idea. As they hit the parkway out of the city, Mulder sat up straight in the seat and swore.
"Son of a bitch, someone is trying to pull a fast one," he said.
"What is it Mulder?"
"This case. It's not a fake, it's real."
"What are you talking about?"
"For years now, in Chicago, they've had this serial killer targeting young girls. They've never given him a name, but this is the same case. That they approached me once years ago, when you were in the hospital with cancer, and I turned them down."
"Mulder, are you sure?"
"Yes. The names, length of time, and dates are different, but the details are the same. Dammit! Someone wants this solved so bad they pulled this."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Solve it. I'm just going to cheat a little," he said, pulling out his cell phone.
"Langly, it's Mulder. Turn off the tape. Look, I need some info as fast as possible - I need you to get me everything you can on a serial killer in the Chicago area. He's been active for about 3 years. Somebody in the bureau is pulling a fast one on me, and I want to get all the info I can. Yeah, just upload it at our place. Thanks, I owe you guys. Again."
They were silent the rest of the way home; Scully thinking about the wedding, and Mulder reading over the case files. They pulled into the driveway right at 3:00 p.m., and found Maggie and Ellen waiting for them.
As the women chatted, Mulder changed clothes and walked into the dining room. When they moved in, Scully refused to let him to get rid of the huge dining room table. It seated 12, and Mulder couldn't see a reason for keeping a table so large, but he let Scully have her way and it remained. Now covered with a tablecloth, it had also gained three pieces of Plexiglas to protect both the cloth and the table. Mulder spread out the files, and quickly understood why the table had remained. On it, he was able to lay everything out and had room to scribble sticky notes and stick them around the pages. The full-length china cabinet along one side of the table also became useful for putting up photos and drawings. Scully was a genius, he finally realized; she knew this would be a good place to set out a case as soon as she had laid eyes on it. He then noted that several drawers in the china cabinet contained office supplies instead of silverware. He was still marveling at the setup as she entered the room.
"Glad I made you keep the table?"
"Yes. You knew this would be perfect for laying out a case, didn't you? Heck, this is better than most conference rooms at the bureau."
She smiled. "I know. I didn't think you would see it until you used it though."
He grabbed her, hugged her, gave her a kiss that left her wanting, then turned back to work.

6pm that night.

Mulder stood looking at the photos of victims and crime scenes that were taped to the glass doors of the china cabinets.
There was something about them that bothered him, but he just couldn't pick up on what it was. Something to do with the way that the body parts were positioned, perhaps?
"Mulder, I just wanted to thank you for letting us have Dana this afternoon, I know that this case is important but..." said Ellen, her voice trailing off. She stared at the photos, then gasped and ran for the bathroom. Scully and her mom came in just as Ellen ran out.
"Mulder, what's wrong with Ellen?"
"I'm sorry, Scully, I didn't hear her come in. She looked at the photos as she was talking to me."
Margaret stepped closer and looked herself.
"Mom, don't," started Scully.
Margaret gasped and turned her back to the crime scene photos. "Dana, is this the kind of work you do?"
"When I have to, yes," she said, careful not to mention just how violent her job could be.
"I think I understand some things now, in a way that I never did before. You need to go check on Ellen. Fox, come into the kitchen with me please."
Scully went to help Ellen if she could, and Mulder followed Maggie into the kitchen.
"Fox, I just wanted to apologize to you," she said, tears in her eyes.
"For what Mrs. Scully?"
"For not understanding what it is you do. I never realized what you both have to go through. I… I knew that Dana had problems with nightmares occasionally, but I never knew why; I think I do now. Do you stop the kinds of people who do this kind of thing?"
"Whenever possible, yes."
"Then what you are doing is important, and I will never say otherwise, or allow anyone to do so in my presence. I just don't know how you both do it."
"We do the best we can," he said meekly.
"I know." she said, moving to hug him fiercely.
Dana walked in holding onto a very pale Ellen.
"Here, Ellen sit down and let me get you a bit of brandy. It helps, trust me."
"I never thought about what you guys do, you know? I always thought the FBI as being like on that show. You know, you never see any blood, no shooting, and you go after white-collar criminals. But that, that was..."
"I know Ellen, I know," she said handing her a glass, "but these are the bad guys that really need to be stopped."
The conversation quickly drifted back to talk of the wedding, to everyone's relief, and Mulder took a break and joined in. He ordered some dinner, pizza and lasagna, from the place down the road that they discovered shortly after moving in. For Scully, the restaurant was a godsend; she could get a salad and some pasta without having to live on Mulder's diet of greasy pizza. Even Mulder had to admit it was nice having a choice for once.

9:25 p.m. that night

The couple stood on the porch and watched as Maggie and Ellen drove off. The evening had gone pretty well, all things considered. Many wedding details got finalized, even after the photo incident. Ellen looked okay when she left, and Scully hoped her friend wouldn't have nightmares.
She went into the kitchen and put a few leftovers away, knowing she would probably have to shove some down Mulder's throat eventually. She placed another bottle of apple juice in the fridge, knowing she could feed it to him later. Then she went to put some sweats on.
Mulder was studying the info that the Lone Gunmen had sent over. He was writing up his preliminary profile when Scully came in and set a large glass of juice on the table for him. He put his arm around her waist, never taking his eyes off the page. "I love you, you know."
"I know Mulder, I love you too. How is it going?"
"Slow. I have a basic idea of who I think is doing it, but also I know I'm wrong. There is something I'm missing, and I can't put my finger on it."
"Take it easy Mulder, you'll find it soon enough. Just take it slow and look over everything from a different angle."
"Angle, that's it! Scully, you really are a genius!" Mulder jumped up and rushed over to where he had the photos taped up to the glass. He started pulling them down and arranging them. Scully sat down and tried to follow what he was doing.
Shortly thereafter, Mulder looked over at his now softly snoring partner in her chair. Picking her up, he moved her to the couch in the living room.
Smiling down on her sleeping form, he gently placed a light quilt over her and returned to the casefile.
The Mulder/Scully Home
McLean, Virginia
Sunday Oct. 17, 1999, 3:20am.
The ringing of the phone jarred Scully out of a sound sleep. She woke to discover that she was on the couch in the living room. She heard Mulder talking in the other room.
"Okay Hawk, okay. Scully and I will meet you there. No, that's okay; I'm just finishing up the test case now. No. This is more important; this group needs to be shut down. Okay. Okay, yeah, we will meet you there in about 45 minutes. Okay, yeah that will help."
Scully walked in as Mulder was hanging up. "What's up Mulder?" she asked, yawning.
"A break in the Appalachian Militia case. They've located at least four of the suspects at the site of what looks like an explosives drop. Putting together the SWAT teams now. Hawk wants to meet us at the airport, and he has a chopper ready to go to Philly, near the site."
She came awake quickly, and headed to their room to change. "Hawk says casual, we may have to do some dirty work," he called after her.
Good, that meant jeans. Scully liked working for Ben Hawkins. He didn't expect his agents to do anything that he wouldn't. More importantly, he valued his people. During one of their early cases under him, he came to work one morning to find out that Mulder and she had stayed all night working on a pattern and profile for a case. After chiding them for working too hard, he bought them breakfast and lattes. The other agents grumbled, but he silenced them at the next staff meeting when he announced that, as a result of that all-nighter, a group of militiamen wannabes from Texas had been apprehended - at the location Mulder and Scully had suspected they would try to attack. As Hawk had said more than once, he was no more important than anyone else on the team. Four days after the incident in Texas, an injured team member was released from the hospital. Having no one to watch him while he recuperated, he found himself at Hawk's house, under the care of Mrs. Hawkins. No one doubted his or her personal importance to the team after that.
Scully dressed quickly and ran down stairs to find Mulder pulling some paper from the printer and stuffing it in a folder. He laid it on the table and took his turn to run upstairs and change clothes.
Taking the stairs two at a time, he called out, "Scully, Hawk is sending a Highway Patrol car to pick us up, and he wants red lights all the way to the airport. Can you watch for them?"
She stepped over to the windows as she heard the shower come on. Only on for a few minutes, she knew that it would be enough to help refresh Mulder, who had gotten no sleep at all. A minute later a patrol cruiser pulled into the driveway, and she turned the porch light on.
Another minute and there was a knock at the door. Scully opened it to find a highway patrolwoman there.
"Agent???"
"Scully. Agent Mulder is getting ready and will be down in a second."
The young patrolwoman stepped in and let the door close behind her.
"Sorry we're not ready, but Agent Mulder has been working all night on another case."
"That's okay, we actually got here sooner than planned, we were just down the parkway when the call came in asking for a delivery. What is it, a hot case?"
"Kind of; it's up in Pennsylvania, and the SAC wants us at the airport ASAP to meet a chopper."
"Sounds more interesting than stopping speeders and writing accident reports."
"I don't know about that. We spent three weeks sifting though paperwork just to get even a possible ID and location." Before any more could be said, Mulder came bounding down the stairs. Grabbing their blue nylon FBI emblazoned jackets, they left with the patrolwoman.

On the highway, heading to the airport.
Mulder pulled out his cell phone and dialed. Scully looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Let me speak to the duty agent please. Hello, Agent Bryce, this is Agent Mulder from the DC office, could you tell me how I can get in touch with Agent Jim Plodowsky? Yes it is very important, it concerns the serial problem you are having up there. Okay, thanks, I will have Jim explain everything to you."
He hung up and dialed another number. "Jim, this is Fox Mulder. Yeah, I know it's the middle of the night. Look, this is about the case you called me about a few months back. Yeah, well I did look at it after all. About an hour ago I emailed a profile to your office, along with some other information I found. Yeah, I talked to an Agent Bryce, and he gave me your number. I think this is going to be hot, looks like something will happen soon. Okay, call my cell when you find out, I am going out on something else right now, but would like to know what you find out. Yeah, thanks."
As he disconnected he turned to Scully. "I wrote up two profiles, one to turn in, and one I sent up to a friend in the Chicago office. If I'm going to solve it, I want the credit."
Scully rolled her eyes but smiled. "Mulder you are starting to get sneaky, and that scares me. There is one other thing that you might want to consider though."
"What's that?"
"How the test case is going to get to Quantico if this bust runs longer than expected."
"Damn, didn't think about that. I suppose I could have the guys run it to the meeting. No, Byers is the only one who could get in. Hmmmm. Maybe I could have your mom take it. Skinner wouldn't mind escorting her in. That's about the only way that it would work."
"I'll call mom later and ask her if it looks like it is going to be that way."
"Thanks Scully," he said, leaning over to give her a quick kiss.

Angel Stevens Apartment
San Diego, California
Sunday Oct. 17, 1999, 8:10am.
Angel rolled over looking for a warm body to snuggle up to. She came awake slowly when she found herself in bed alone. Listening for the sound of the man who had become so important to her, she heard dishes rattling in the kitchen and relaxed. She had known Charlie for about a month, since he stopped two punks from raping her. This, however, was the first time they had slept together. She had wanted to sooner, but he held back, as if afraid of something. The previous evening he admitted that he was falling in love with her, but was afraid of ruining yet another relationship. They talked for hours about his career plans and what she wanted to do with her life. She told him how important he had become to her, and the road led here, to her bed. The bedroom door opened and Charlie came in with two cups of coffee.
"Morning beautiful."
"Morning," she replied, stretching like a cat.
"I borrowed your computer for a little bit, and emailed my sister Dana, letting her know I would be there for the wedding."
"Are you going to be gone long?" she asked.
"Probably a week, tops," he sighed.
"Good," said Angel looking relieved. "You miss her, don't you?"
"Who, Dana? Yeah, I guess I do, she was the only one of my family who understood me, even my brother and other sister never really even tried. When Cathy got pregnant, my parents pushed us to get married, but Dana stood behind me and told me to do what my heart said to do. I listened to my parents and I got married, and fathered two great kids, who I hardly ever get to see now."
"Why don't you see them?"
"Long story. Let's just say that I came home unexpectedly from a deployment one night to find Cathy in bed with an old friend of ours. When I confronted them they laughed at me. Told me Ricky wasn't even my son. I knew better than that, but I was so furious I broke both his legs. Scared her pretty good, too. I was arrested, spent the night in jail, and got out when my CO bailed me out the next morning. The case never went to court, but she did get a restraining order against me. I can only see them supervised, and only when that can be arranged. Luckily, she makes more money than I do, so I don't pay alimony or child support."
"I'm sorry," said Angel, quietly.
"So am I. So am I."
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes and then she spoke again.
"I missed you this morning. I wanted to wake up next to you."
"I wanted to stay, but I have these nightmares sometimes, and didn't want to wake you."
"I have nightmares too, I don't know what they're about; I can't seem to remember them when I wake up, but I didn't have one last night because you were here.
"Look, enough of this moping around, what are we going to do today?"
"Well, I need to shop for a wedding present, want to join me?"
"Sure, let me get a shower and get dressed," she said, hopping out of bed naked.
Charlie shook his head as he followed her with his eyes to the bathroom. 'God', he thought, 'she's gorgeous.' Tight, firm, nicely proportioned body with a shape like a playboy model. Long legs, and beautiful hair. 'What the hell is she doing with me?' he mused. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he dug into his bag and pulled out some civvies to wear, and hoped she would wear jeans again.
Since that first night, she'd been losing the Goth look more and more each day. Yesterday, she showed up at the diner in jeans, cowboy boots, tee shirt, and a denim vest. She looked like the Montana country girl she really was. Slipping on his own jeans and a polo shirt, he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He was tall, and stocky looking, standing six foot three in his sock feet, and tipping the scales at 230 pounds. His hair was a reddish blonde and the scar on his cheek made him look tough. He wondered briefly what Angel saw in him, then once again dismissed the thought and finished getting dressed.
They spent a few hours wandering through the stores trying to find a gift, but nothing seemed be right.
"What kind of guy is her fiancé Charlie?"
"Well, I don't know him, haven't met him yet. But if you talk to my mother she would say that he was the most caring, sensitive man in the world. He helped mom through some tough times when Dana was missing, and then again when she was in a coma. And yet again when she had cancer."
"Missing?"
"Yeah, she was abducted by some psycho and was missing for three months, then turned up in a hospital in a coma. She wasn't expected to live, and he and mom even went out to choose Dana's headstone."
"Oh, my God! That's terrible!"
"Yeah, but she came back. Missy said it was only because of Mulder."
"Missy?"
"Melissa, my other sister, she was shot and killed by someone who thought she was Dana."
"Oh my god, Charlie. I am so sorry."
"It's okay, we've dealt with it. But if you listen to my brother Bill, he thinks Mulder is the anti-Christ. He blames everything that has happened to Dana and Melissa on Mulder, thinks he isn't good enough for her. I don't think he is either, but Dana does, so I live with it."
"He sounds interesting."
"I guess that would be as good a word as any. I don't really know anything about him yet, but I hope to, and soon. Right now, however, I just don't know what to buy them."
"What about getting them a gift certificate for a bed and breakfast somewhere near them? They could take a weekend off when things get stressed and relax."
"That sounds like a good idea, let's find a travel agency."
"Forget that, Charlie! Let's have lunch, then go back to my place, I can find a place over the Internet easier and cheaper," said Angel indignantly.
"Okay, let's go eat."

FBI Field HQ
Chalfont, Pennsylvania
Sunday Oct. 17, 1999, 2:25pm.

Just outside of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, Hawk, Mulder and Scully, along with the rest of their team, stood around the communications van looking at the latest info received from the stakeout teams. Mulder was more restless than usual, pacing constantly and mumbling to himself.
"Dammit, Mulder! Calm down, you're driving me nuts," said Scully.
"Sorry, Scully, but something is wrong here. Something is wrong with this whole setup."
"What?"
"I don't know. I just feel that this is some kind of trap or setup."
"Have you talked to Hawk about it?"
"Yeah, but the SAC, Johnson, shot me down. Told me I was too used to dealing with 'little green men' to know what a real operation was. Hawk got on his case about it, but I just know it! Something is wrong here."
"Let's go talk to him again Mulder. I know your ideas may seem off the wall at times, but I do trust your intuition."
As they walked to the command vehicle, Mulder and Scully realized they were too late, as the teams were getting into their vehicles and getting ready to make the bust.
They quickly threw on their body armor and jackets and jumped in a car with Hawk. By the time they got up the driveway of the old farmhouse, the first members of the team were knocking on the door. Mulder and Scully had just gotten out of the car when the bullets started flying.
The team of agents at the door all went down in the first blast of automatic weapons fire. An assault weapon on the second floor started firing into the group of cars in the driveway. Mulder, Scully and Hawk dove for cover.
Mulder was stunned into immobility when Scully suddenly fell lifelessly onto the ground behind the car, a hole in her jacket. He threw himself beside her as he rolled her gently to her side. She was gasping for breath as he tried to cradle her small body.
Hawk pulled up the back of her jacket and examined the body armor she was wearing. "She just had the wind knocked out of her Mulder, don't lose it now, I need your help on this," Hawk said forcefully.
"Okay...Mulder....just ....can't... catch..... my..... breath...will... be.... okay.... " gasped Scully.
"Okay babe, just take it easy for a minute," said Mulder, looking around at the scene. FBI Agents and SWAT Team members were down behind cars or whatever cover could be found. A seemingly endless stream of automatic weapons fire poured out of several locations from the house and barn.
Mulder counted at least seven men down, and a couple more could be classified as walking wounded. The backup vehicles were back down the drive, and the men were unable to cross the bare ground.
"I've called for the hog," said Hawk, referring to the police armored car, "But I don't know if we are going to be able to wait for it to get here."
Scully who had caught her breath was sitting up, and looking around. "We need to get help for the wounded," she said, pointing to a couple of men on the ground out in the open that were moving slightly.
"Yeah, but we need to slow down on some of the firing out of those windows, or these cars are going to start exploding," Hawk replied.
"Hawk, do you have any concussion grenades?" asked Mulder.
"Some in the car, you want them?"
"Yeah."
Hawk reached into the car and retrieved the small box of flash-bang grenades. Not really deadly, they would overload the senses of the unfortunate victims close to it when it went off.
Taking the box, Mulder then turned to Hawk and Scully. "Can you help out here Scully? I need you and Hawk to fire at the upper center window of the house. Keep that gunman's head down, so I can throw this through the window. Ready? Fire!"
Scully and Hawk rose up slightly over the hood and trunk of the car and fired as fast as they could pull the triggers. The gunman had just exposed himself when they started shooting, so Mulder was able to save a grenade. The gunman took at least 4 bullets to the chest and fell forward out the window. Mulder, crouching with a live grenade in his hand stood slightly and heaved it through a window at the corner of the house. It was a perfect toss, hitting the wall behind the terrorist and bouncing forward almost underneath him. Went it went off it overloaded his senses and left him unconscious. Mulder readied another grenade, and directed Scully and Hawk to another window of the house. This time when they fired, they just managed to keep the head of a gunman down as Mulder threw. This toss was not as good as the previous one, but it had greater effect. It set off something, which later was found to be a propane heater in the room.
The explosion blew out all of the windows with a ball of fire and threw the two terrorists to the ground outside. The agents all ducked quickly, but were now worried about a fire. The image of Waco was still fresh in their minds.
Unbeknownst to the FBI, a Philadelphia news station helicopter was watching and filming the whole thing from a distance. They had been announcing the situation across the wires as soon as they witnessed the FBI agents go down in the ambush.
There did not seem to any sign of fire. But the terrorists were still keeping up a good amount of gunfire. Mulder checked his Browning, made sure he had some extra clips and got ready to make a dash for the door.
Scully called out, "Mulder, what the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I'm going to make a run for the door, some one has to get in there and take some of the heat off of us out here."
"Why do you think it has to be you?" she demanded.
"Scully," he said softly, "someone has to help the wounded, and that would be you. I am probably the best runner here, and I am not hurt. There is no one else better suited. I'm sorry."
"All right, damn you! But if you don't come back to me, I will have Bill kick your ass."
Mulder smiled at that. Hawk motioned to everyone to provide as much covering fire as they could. Mulder ran in a zigzag sprint for the front door. He hunkered down to the side of the door, near one of the agents who had been caught in the initial ambush.
The young agent was still alive, having two holes in the torso and one in the neck. Mulder made him as comfortable as he could then drew his automatic. The young agent grabbed Mulder's leg, and with some effort slid his H&K MP5 to him. Mulder mouthed his thanks and picked up the nasty little machine gun and the pouch of clips. He moved the fire selector to a 3 round burst and looked around the door. He could see nothing.
He dashed into the smoky room and ducked behind a large table that had been knocked on its side. Mulder could hear the sound of firing coming from a door on his right. He duck-walked over to the door and peered in. He could see the gunman reloading his MAC-10. While the gun was still unloaded Mulder called to him, loud enough that only he could hear.
"If you put that clip in that gun, I will shoot you. Now put it down and surrender." The terrorist looked at Mulder, then at the empty weapon in his hand. He laid the weapon on the floor and asked.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Lay down on the floor with your hands behind your back, and I will cuff you. Someone will get you later."
The guy lay down on the floor, hands clasped behind his back. Mulder crawled over to him and put a plastic riot cuff on his wrists, then his feet. "How many are here?"
The defeated man replied, "All together an even dozen, 9 in the house, 3 in the barn." Then Mulder gagged him with a rag he found on the floor.
He couldn't risk having the guy call for help. He scooted back against the wall and pulled out his cell phone and hit the #1 speed dial.
"Scully."
"Hey G-woman, this room is clear, where is most of the firing coming from?"
"2nd floor, NE corner, I think two guys there. One guy on the SE corner upstairs and another downstairs. Seems to be one in the attic window in the center of the front of the house. Are you okay?"
Mulder could hear the concern and fear in her voice. "I'm fine. Look, stand by, I will call you when I get more info."
"Okay, be careful."
"I will." Mulder shoved the phone back into his pocket and walked over to the door separating him from the other side of the house. He peered around the doorframe and was greeted by the sight of another terrorist raising his gun up to fire. Mulder dropped to the ground as bullets chewed up the frame of the door. He rolled out into the doorway and raised the H&K. He stroked the trigger gently and it rattled off three rounds into the man's chest. The perp dropped his machine pistol and staggered back to the wall where he slid down to the floor leaving streaks of blood as he dropped. Mulder guessed this was the guy from the other side of the house. That made five down and four left, all upstairs if his prisoner hadn't lied. He quickly made sure the rest of the first floor was clear, all the time keeping an eye on the stairs. When he was sure he called Scully again.
"Scully, the first floor is clean. According to the one I got alive there are only four more in the house, all upstairs."
"Okay, but what are you going to do Mulder?"
"I found some coal oil in the kitchen. I'm going to pour it into a pan and put it near the stairwell and light it, maybe make them think the house is on fire. There's supposed to be three in the barn, though."
"Nope, they kept peeking out and Jansen picked them off. The barn is clear."
"How are you doing?" he asked.
"Well, Hawk took one in the thigh, and two of the others are down that I can't get to. There are ambulances and cops out at the intersection, just waiting to come in."
"Okay, talk to you soon then; time to smoke the rest out."
"Be careful Mulder."
"I will. Bye." Mulder once again stashed the cell phone then got the coal oil and a large pan. He poured all of the oil in the pan, then threw a handful of rubber kitchen gloves in for flavor. He dropped a lit wooden match in and watched as it began to burn. Kneeling back by the door, he had both cover and a good field of fire up the stairway. Smoke began to fill up the first floor and poured up to the second. Then he heard them. "Shit Joey, the whole damn place is on fire! I told you that goddamn heater would be trouble!"
"Check and see if there's flames coming up the stairs."
Mulder heard a door open and then close. "Nope, just smoke, but it is getting worse." Mulder knelt, watching as the smoke thickened. He could hear the sounds of someone stumbling around upstairs, then smiled as a pair of legs came into view. As the terrorist choked, Mulder fired another three round burst, catching the guy in both legs. He fell down the stairs cutting loose with a blast from the shotgun he was carrying before he dropped it. It missed Mulder, but alerted the others upstairs that there was something going on below them. Mulder started over to check on the suspect who fell down the stairs when a burst of machine gun fire chewed up the floor in front of him. He dived back for cover, throwing a burst up the stairs. He could hear the guy coughing and choking on the smoke that was billowing up the stairs, but couldn't do anything from his location to halt the random shooting. He heard the sound of a clip being removed, and made his move. He tossed one of the flash bang grenades up the stairs.
Mulder did not know where it landed, but when it went off knew it worked when one of the remaining terrorists came tumbling down the stairs and landed on the other one. He was keeping his eyes on them and the stairs when his phone vibrated.
"Mulder."
"Hey Mulder, we picked up a suspect from your profile, and found enough evidence in his home to convict him."
"Jim, that's wonderful news, but I'm in the middle of a firefight now and can't talk; can I call you back later?"
"Oh shit, is that you? It's all over the news. I understand. Bye."
As he went to put it away it vibrated again. "Mulder."
"Mulder, it's me. Two more of them have given up, they've dropped their weapons and are standing on the roof."
"I have the other two in here, if that's all there is. Can you try to send a couple of people in here, so we can sweep the house?"
"Sure Mulder. Are you okay?"
"Fine babe," he said, his voice growing softer. "I'm going to put the fire out and secure these two. They're both wounded."
"Okay Mulder, Adams and Jenkins are coming in now to help." Mulder dropped the phone in his pocket as two agents came through the front door. He waved them to the other side of the house as he put a lid on the smoking fire in the old Dutch oven. The smoke started to clear out quickly in the fall breeze coming through all the broken windows. The other agents covered Mulder while he dashed up the stairs. They verified the attic and the second floor were clear, then checked the barns.
Ambulances, police cars and fire department vehicles swarmed into the yard when the all clear was given. Two news helicopters orbited the site at a distance. When the wounded were all loaded and the suspects were in custody the forensics teams were called in.
Mulder turned the wicked little machine gun he had used over to them and explained where he had fired. Scully found him at the barn, looking at a car that had been concealed inside of it.
"Isn't it beautiful Scully?"
"What?" she answered teasingly.
"The car. I've wanted one like that for years."
"What is it?" she said as she moved closer.
"1968 Camaro SS 396. Automatic transmission, traction control, all the bells and whistles, and this one is a convertible. God, I would love to have this car."
"So, bid on it when it comes up for auction, Mulder. This was not a militia, just a bunch of drug dealers who were using the militia thing as a cover. We found several hundred pounds of assorted drugs in the basement.
They were using the cover story mainly to scare the locals, and because the government is being careful about not harassing militia groups. They were really just drug dealers. We caught them with a major shipment that just arrived. They knew they were going to go down hard and thought if they ambushed us they would have a chance to get away."
"Well, it almost worked," he replied.
"Yeah, but we stopped 'em."
"Yes we did."
They stood looking at the car for a few more minutes then went back to the front of the house. Hawk was sitting in the door of the ambulance, his leg bandaged, and talking on his cell phone. He smiled weakly and finished talking.
"Yes, sir, I will tell them. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
"The Director," he said as he set the phone down. "He said to tell you both 'Good job.'"
When Scully popped up an eyebrow, Hawk pointed up at the helicopters. "One of then was here from the start. The whole thing is on tape, from the ambush to the surrender. We don't have to worry about any bad press over this one. Everyone who saw this fiasco thinks you two are heroes."
"Us?" asked Scully.
"Yes you. The Director watched Mulder making the assault, and Scully providing cover and helping the wounded. He said he would see you two later."
"Hawk, there is a car in the barn back there, a Camaro convertible. Can you have someone keep track of it? I want it. When it goes up for auction, I want to bid on it."
"Will do," he answered as they helped him into the ambulance. "Might as well get in, you have to be checked out as well."

FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia
Sunday Oct. 17, 1999, 6:25pm.

While Hawk, Mulder, and Scully were headed to the Chalfont County Hospital in Pennsylvania, Margaret Scully shifted uncomfortably yet again in the stuffy FBI auditorium; she was worried about Dana and Fox. It had been over an hour since she had heard anything. The last news program showed a clip of a tiny red haired woman firing over the trunk of a car. The latest news that Walter had provided said that three agents had been killed, and 6 wounded. Mulder had gone into the house, alone, to take some of the heat off the rest of the agents. Walter got up from the stage and walked through a back door. When he came back out he sought out Maggie's eyes and gave her a thumbs up. The Director then came in quietly and sat next to Walter.
Ad Kersh was on the stage reading the profiles and giving them to the judges to be awarded points. He made no effort to praise any of the agents' efforts, only pointing out where they were wrong. When it came to Mulder and Scully's turn he called for them. Maggie stood up. "My name is Margaret Scully; Dana is my daughter. She asked me to bring their entry to the contest as they were out making an arrest on a case. She asked me to apologize that they could not be here, and to submit this in their name." She carried the file folder up to the stage and handed this to A.D. Kersh.
"Thank you, Mrs. Scully," he said.
A.D. Kersh read through the profile and report and snorted in disgust. "I am sorry, Mrs. Scully, but this is not even close to the correct answer."
As Mrs. Scully was sitting down the Director spoke up. "Could I see that entry A.D. Kersh?"
"Uh, yes sir." The Director got the entry from Kersh, and sat down comparing it to some papers he had in his hands. He looked back and forth between the two sets of papers for a few minutes. When he was done he walked up to the A.D. and whispered in his ear. The A.D. looked embarrassed, then apologized to the crowd. "You will have to excuse me, something has come up that requires my immediate attention." He then walked off the stage.
The Director stood at the podium and addressed the crowd. "Pardon me for interrupting these proceedings but as you have undoubtedly heard today has been really interesting. After further review, Agents Mulder and Scully's entry is basically correct, and will be passed onto the judges for scoring. Now that all of the entries have been turned in we will suspend the event until the judges have determined the point totals of the winner. Thank you all for being here."
As the meeting broke up, Skinner sought out Mrs. Scully. "I just got done talking to Dana, Mrs. Scully. Both she and Mulder are fine. Just a little banged up and dirty."
"But I saw her on TV; she was shot!"
"Yes, but she just has bruises. She was wearing her vest." He looked into her eyes with understanding, and not a small amount o compassion. After all, Mulder was wearing his vest when he was shot, and he almost died.
"They will be arriving at the airport in about an hour and a half. If you want to go wait for them at home, I will pick them up," he offered.
"That would be wonderful Walter, they are going to be so tired, and I want to make sure they aren't hurt."
"Okay, I'll get them. If you will excuse me, the Director wants to see me and A.D. Kersh, so I will see you later."
As Skinner entered the conference room he saw the Director and Ad Kersh in a heated debate.
"What kind of crap are you trying to pull here Alvin? I have known you for 12 years, and I have never seen you act so irresponsibly," said the Director.
"What are you talking about? I was just making sure that that pretty boy didn't win the damn contest, and that instead, a responsible team of agents won," answered Kersh.
"So you decided to lie about the case results. Even after you gave them a real case that has been causing problems for years. What were you going to do with the profile then, use it yourself?"
"What do you mean?" asked Kersh, warily.
"Mulder knew you were pulling a fast one. He sent a copy of the profile to the Chicago office last night; they picked up the killer with a new victim a couple of hours ago. The SAC called to thank me for getting Mulder on the case. I didn't know what was going on until I walked in and saw you just blow off his entry without reading it. I was tied up with some situations today, since they could not locate you."
"What do you mean?"
"Hawk's group was ambushed when they were going to make a routine bust. Four agents died. Five more were wounded, and three of those are critical. The terrorist op was really a front for some drug dealers."
"That is terrible, sir."
"Yes, it is. Alvin, you were the duty A.D. this weekend, and yet no one could find you. What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing, sir, I just had some personal business to attend to. I was only out of touch for a couple of hours."
"Alvin, how stupid do you think I am? I was a field agent for twenty years. Since then I may have been involved in other aspects of the Bureau, but I have not forgotten how to investigate. When Mulder was assigned to Hawkins and the domestic terrorism unit, I wondered if you were finally coming to your senses. Then, after hearing of some of your comments, I started checking around."
"What did that pretty boy bastard tell you?" demanded Kersh.
Skinner stood off to the side watching the two men face off.
The Director continued. "Agent Mulder did not tell me anything Alvin; I dug up every single bit of information on my own. I never expected you to be dirty. Not you; you were always by the book."
"Yeah, by the book, but what did that get me? Watching younger college pretty boys move up in the ranks. They were getting the choice field assignments, and I was stuck here in DC. I wanted the LA assignment, but did I get it? No. Johnston, that pretty boy, got it. I deserved it."
"No Alvin, you did not deserve it. You were always an excellent administrator, but nothing more. A good Director or A.D. should know his limitations, and how to work with others to overcome those shortcomings. Johnston was a lousy administrator, but he knew how to work with the people who could help him. Everything about you was always by the book; even when you were wrong you always managed to get others blamed for not following procedures."
Kersh just glared at the Director, his jaw clenched in anger.
"I want your resignation on my desk when I get in tomorrow morning. As of now, you are relieved."
"I will not resign, you will have to fire me!" said Kersh defiantly.
"If I have to do that I will call Justice and turn over the information that I dug up on you, and turn them loose on your bank accounts. If that happens, there will be a scandal and you will go to prison. If you resign, you are out. Free and clear. It is your choice."
Kersh paled with the mention of prison, and he did not speak just nodded to the Director then walked out. The Director turned to Skinner.
"Walter, I want you to supervise Kersh's group until I can get a new A.D. appointed. Do you have any suggestions as to who it should be?"
"Based on what Mulder, Scully and some other agents have told me, I would recommend Ben Hawkins. He's high enough to be qualified, he's put in enough years, and Kersh's group is mainly focused on domestic terrorism. I don't think anyone can do the job better than Ben."
"That was my feeling too, I will talk to him tomorrow about it and try to get him going as the acting A.D. by the end of the day to keep the work load off you. Will you let him know what my plans are when you see him?"
"When I see him, sir?"
"Yes, didn't you tell Mrs. Scully that you were picking them up? They will be with Hawkins. Another question though. How dirty do you think Kersh was, Walt?"
"Off the record sir?"
"Yeah, off the record."
"He has been in the Smoker's pocket for some time. Mulder knew about it, but wouldn't turn him in. He didn't trust anyone to really do something about it."
"I suppose that by letting him off the hook, Mulder will see this as covering up the situation?"
"Possibly, but with your permission, I will let him in on the whole story."
"Sure, no problem as long as he keeps it to himself.
"Well he did it again! Mulder is on his way to becoming our poster boy."
"What was that, sir?"
"There was a news chopper with one of those long range cameras on it near the farm where the ambush went down. It saw the motorcade, recognized what was happening, and filmed the whole thing.
It gives us a break, as it shows the agents knocking on the door, then getting cut down. It also shows Mulder going into the house, then the smoke and the surrender. He has made us look good yet again."
"He won't like being in the spotlight again. He thinks he is just doing his job. He doesn't like having a fuss made about what he does."
"Talk to him Walt. After Ruby Ridge and Waco the FBI needs to have a few things go its way. We need all the good publicity that we can get right now."
"I will see what I can do sir, but he can be stubborn."
"Just try Walt, that's all I am asking. Tell him to take tomorrow off, and let him know I will want to see him Tuesday afternoon."
"Okay sir, I'll tell him."
"You know Walt, sometimes things really suck. Someone like Alvin goes bad because he isn't getting enough attention, and someone like Mulder keeps on struggling, and is unhappy because he is getting too much attention."
"I know sir, but men like Mulder, and women like Scully are special."
"Yes, Walt, they are. And we have to help them when we can, because every time someone like them leaves, you can never make up for the loss. Talk to him Walt, try and make him understand"
"I will sir."
Skinner left the conference room feeling a little better about things, and tried to decide what he was going to say to Mulder and Scully.
He drove to the bureau helipad at National Airport in silence, his thoughts occupied by everything that had happened throughout the day. He always wondered about Kersh, and about how the smoker stayed away from him while Mulder and Scully was working on domestic terrorism under Kersh. He parked outside the office and walked in.
"When will Hawkins' chopper be arriving?" he asked of the agent on duty.
"They should be here in just a few minutes, sir. Would you like some coffee? I just made it."
"Yes, thank you, that would be great."
"How do you drink it, sir?"
"Black is fine."
The agent handed Skinner the cup, and then the A.D. walked over to the window to look out. Another car pulled in next to his and a striking brunette got out. When she turned to the door he recognized her.
It was Angela Hawkins, undoubtedly here to pick up her husband. He opened the door for her and greeted her. They exchanged small talk while waiting for the chopper, but Skinner could see how troubled she was behind her mask. He could recognize her fear easily; he had seen it before in the faces of loved ones waiting for news. Together, they watched as the chopper touched down on the pad, then stepped out of the office as the blades slowed. Mulder exited first, then helped Scully and Hawk down out of the helicopter. They turned and headed for the building but Mrs. Hawk ran to her husband as soon as he cleared the blades and wrapped him in a fierce hug. Mulder, his arm around Scully, greeted Skinner.
"Fancy meeting you here, sir. To what do we owe the pleasure?" he said.
"Just checking up on you Mulder, you keep ending up on TV lately." At the word TV Mulder stiffened, and Hawk jerked his head up. "Guess you didn't hear all the details, but you were on TV from the time the first agent knocked on the door until the ambulance drove you guys away."
"Damn!" said Hawk. "Well, knowing Kersh like I do, it looks like I can kiss my career goodbye."
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much Ben, the Director wants to see you tomorrow about a new job."
"What new job?" asked Hawk, warily.
"A.D. Kersh will be resigning in the morning, and it has been recommended that you be the one to take his place. He wants to get you going as acting A.D. until all of the approvals are complete. Congratulations Ben, it is well deserved," said Skinner, extending his hand to Hawkins. Mulder and Scully clapped quietly from the side.
"It is going to be your turn as well, Mulder," said Skinner. "The Director is going to have to acknowledge your heroism in some way. The whole country saw you enter the house and take control of the situation. You can't escape it this time. I don't know what he's going to do, but you can bet he will do something."
"Just accept it Mulder, you deserve it. Besides, the FBI can use all the good press it can get right now." said Hawk, who was holding onto his wife.
"Besides, if I am confirmed as A.D., you are going to be the next SAC of the Domestic Terrorism Intelligence Unit. Do you think Scully will make a good ASAC?"
"Look Hawk, I appreciate the gesture but there are more qualified agents in your group."
"Don't sweat it Mulder. If I get the job, I plan on rearranging all my people around. You just happen to be one of them."
"If it is offered, take it, Mulder," said Skinner. "In the mean time, I need to get you two home; your mother is waiting at your house for you, Scully. She saw the news, and has been worried about you."
The five of them then went their separate ways for the night; Hawk with his wife, and Mulder and Scully with their former boss.
The trio piled into Skinner's Buick, and Mulder and Scully listened to the A.D.'s recitation of what had happened to Kersh. Scully asked a few questions but Mulder was silent. Finally, Skinner could take no more and asked Mulder outright. "What do you think about this Mulder?"
"I just have one question. Where does the smoking man's authority come from?"
Skinner thought about it for a minute as he pulled onto the parkway. "You know, I really have no idea. He has at times presented Justice Department, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and CIA papers, all backed up when verified. He has also given Presidential and State Department credentials as well. Again, these were all verified as having the highest level of authority, so I don't know who really holds his leash."
"That's what I thought. Do you think the Director is on the level with this?"
"He did the checking himself; he found the evidence, and gave him the choice to resign or be fired and charged with corruption."
"Why didn't the Director just charge him?"
"Because of the scandal," interrupted Scully. "The FBI has been through so much lately with Ruby Ridge, Waco and a few other blunders that it can't afford anymore. That is why the tape of today is so important; it shows us doing our jobs and getting ambushed. Right, sir?"
"Yes Scully, that's it exactly. That is also why the Director has to acknowledge Mulder in some way. There have been four high profile cases recently that Mulder has been associated with, and those cases have received a lot of media attention. Something has to be done, or the media will be wondering why."
"I understand, sir. And I will make him understand as well," said Scully.
"Don't I get any input on this?" whined Mulder in a teasing voice.
"No!" came the answer from both Scully and Skinner at the same time. They laughed together breaking the tension and then made small talk about the upcoming wedding for the rest of the drive. Skinner pulled in behind Mrs. Scully's car and declined the offer to come in for coffee. The two walked up to the door, which Maggie opened before the agents got to the top of the stairs.
Maggie rushed out and wrapped Scully in a hug as Mulder guided them inside, shutting the door in their wake. "Dana, I was so frightened when it you were shot."
"You and me both Mrs. Scully. You and me both." Mulder whispered, barely audible as the events of the day finally hit him with incredible, debilitating force.
Dana shrugged out of her coat and showed her mom the hole the bullet had made. Maggie then made her daughter lift up her shirt so she could check out the bruise, then sent her into the kitchen for the first aid kit.
Mulder sat down on the stairs and took a shuddering breath. Maggie heard, and turned to look at her future son in law. She knew the look on his face, and made an attempt to head off the guilt attack she saw coming. "Fox, what's wrong."
"Nothing, Mrs. Scully."
"Fox Mulder, do not lie to me!"
Mulder looked up at her, and her own breath faltered now that she could see the sadness and sorrow in his eyes. "It was my fault, Mrs. Scully, it was all my fault." To Maggie, the pleading in his voice was like he was asking her to take her daughter away, to protect her from the man she loved. The man both Scully women loved.
"Nonsense, how can you even think that it was your fault? I saw the newscast, there was nothing anyone could have done."
"But I knew that something was wrong with the situation, and I couldn't make anyone listen to me. No one wanted to believe 'Spooky' Mulder."
Hearing that as she came out of the kitchen hurt Scully deeply, and she ran over and put her arms around him. "Mulder, stop it right now. I know that Johnson blew off your analysis of the situation, but Hawk heard it as well, and they are not like you. They don't have your insight on some things.
Just let it go Mulder; you can't always protect everyone. You tried your best. Just stop it before I get pissed." This last part said with a grin, in an attempt to raise her fiancé's spirits.
Mulder raised sad eyes to her blue ones and saw the love and concern reflected there. "Okay Scully, but I worry about you so much."
"I worry about you too, Mulder, that's why we are together. To watch over each other, like you did for me after I was hit today. Just having you hold me calmed me down and made things better right away. You are always like that for me."
"Just being in the same room with you makes things right for me Scully. I cannot imagine life without you."
Maggie, seeing that things were going to be okay, said goodnight and went up to her guest room. Mulder and Scully talked for a little bit more, then went up to bed themselves.

In a Private Club in New York City

"I see he has done it again. His picture is all over the news"
"Yes, I saw that. Our inside man in the Bureau has also been compromised," said the second man through a cloud of smoke.
"Mulder?" asked another Elder.
"No, not this time. It was his own stupidity, and his own hate, that got him caught. However, there will be no investigation. Our financial transactions are covered anyway, so our involvement would not be discovered."
"He is becoming a familiar face to the public; it is getting more difficult to remove him every time he is on the news."
"Yes, but he is in the domestic terrorism unit. He does not and will not have control over the X-Files. Our own people are there now and will remain there."
"Yes, but is he not trying to get them back?"
"No he is not. And that is the one thing that both puzzles and troubles me. I don't know why."
"Well, keep observing him, and let us know if he does anything we should know about."
"Of course."
With that, the smoking man took his leave of the private club. He rode the elevator down in silence, and stood at the curb until his ride pulled up. He lit another cigarette and cracked the window as an unnecessary courtesy to the driver.
"Where to?" asked the driver.
"Home," answered the smoker, his mind occupied. Had his mind not been so occupied he might have noticed the tall black man standing on the corner.
He was dressed like any other homeless person, but he walked with the stature and bearing of a military man. He moved to the nearest phone booth and dialed a number by memory. The answering machine came on and he left a message.
"Yeah John, I tagged his car. Mark him as leaving at 11:37 p.m. I will wait for your next message. Bye."
He left the phone booth and walked down the street to the subway. Where a vagrant went into the bathroom, a tall black man in jeans and leather bomber jacket walked out. The janitor who would empty the trash in the morning would find some dirty ragged clothes in the garbage can.
The man walked up to the street, and got into a waiting BMW. As he drove down the street he said out loud to no one in particular, "You're not alone on your quest Fox Mulder."

TBC

Please R & R.