Left Behind
Chapter 8

"Agent Reyes."

Startled, Monica turned around in the doorway. She looked down the FBI headquarters hallway, but could barely make out whom the man was. When he stepped forward and she saw his face she smiled. "Sir. It's good to see you. When I came here this morning, I stopped by to see you but I was told by your secretary that you were on a business trip."

Skinner gave Monica a slight smile. "Yes, she told me. When I saw Agent Doggett at his cubical he said you had disappeared for a few moments. I figured this is where you had gone."

Both of them turned to gaze into what had formerly been the X-Files Office. All that was there now were a bunch of high-powered copiers. They looked as if they had never been used.

"They turned it into a copier room," said Monica who couldn't hide the layer of anger that lay right underneath her words. "All Mulder and Scully's work, gone...."

Gently, Skinner said, "And you and John's work as well."

All Monica could do was nod to keep the feelings of sadness welling up inside her at bay.

Skinner walked past Monica, deeper into the room. "I once had a conversation with Agent Mulder here soon after Scully had been returned from her abduction. We didn't know whether or not she would live. Mulder tried to tender his resignation. I told him when I first came here, this was the copier room and Mulder had replied that at least back then it wasn't just wasted space."

Monica too stepped further into the room looking around as she did. She imagined it all as it once had been. Her and John's desks, computers, equipment, the files, the I Want To Believe Poster that John surprisingly still held in his possession at home. "Far be it for me to disagree with Agent Mulder, but I'd say having copiers here is more of a waste of space."

"I agree as would Mulder now. He was very angry at the time, angry at what had been done to Scully, frustrated by moving one step forward and being pushed two steps back. At that time, it took a lot for me to convince him to stay."

Monica turned to look at him. "Wanting to stay's not the problem. Getting the X-Files back is."

"In all the years that I have been here, the X-Files have been closed, more than once, and then there was that time that two other Agents besides Mulder and Scully were assigned to work the unit. They can't keep them closed forever. As long as the truth is out there, as long as you and John are willing to fight, they can't stay closed."

"You know, for some reason I'm reminded of what Agent Harrison said one day to me in the hallway before I left for Utah. She said the magic was still with John and I."

Skinner chuckled softly. He then turned serious, his voice apologetic. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to prevent your removal to Utah."

Monica waved away any apology. "It wasn't your fault. Maybe if I hadn't said those things during Mulder's trial. I was angry. I still am. But I stand by what I said. I wouldn't take it back even if I could."

Skinner nodded. "I had a feeling it probably had a lot to do with that. They fear you. They couldn't prove that we all helped Mulder escape, but they can still punish us." Skinner took a breath and took a short walk around the office. "As dangerous at it was I still miss supervising the X-Files." Skinner came back up to Monica, studying her. "You're different in many ways, but you still remind me so much of him."

Monica smiled teasingly knowing that he was referring to Mulder. "Much to my partner's frustration."

Skinner shook his head. "No this office needs two distinct individuals to come at cases from different angles. It wouldn't survive otherwise. You made me think again of that conversation I had with Mulder years ago. I told him that he wasn't afraid to look into extreme possibilities, just as you are not afraid. Mulder always found a way to get the X-Files back and I know you will too."

Monica was touched by Skinner's comments. But before things could turn awkward, Skinner coughed and turned their conversation in a different direction. "Agent Doggett called me about your case while I was away. I did some investigating on my own."

Skinner handed Monica a piece of paper. It was a number. Skinner explained. "That's a trace of the number that called Mrs. Watkins to tell her that her son had been abducted by aliens. Thought it might help."

"Thanks," said Monica gratefully.

"I also," Skinner cleared his throat hoping he wasn't betraying any secret, "I was also told that you may be connected to this case. I did some digging, made a few calls, without a court order I have no authority to access your adoption records."

Monica, instead of being upset at John for talking to Skinner of her adoption or at Skinner for looking into her past, was grateful for his help. "I know. I haven't had any success in finding out who my birth parents are." Monica didn't go into how painful the whole situation was. From time to time, she wanted to know her past, wanted to know who her birth parents were. But they had given her up right? And she loved her adoptive parents. They were the one who had taken her in and loved her. She was their child. And yet part of her wondered, especially after Scully had given up William, if maybe her birth parents had wanted to protect her. Maybe they did this to make things better for her. But all this Monica couldn't tell Skinner as much as she trusted him.

Skinner voice went even softer. "It's much more than that. Your file seems to have been lost in a recent move. They also had been attempting to put those files into computer files, but a virus seems to have gotten into the system making any retrieval impossible."

"Are you saying that there is something more to my adoption? Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Monica was incredulous at the implications.

"I'm saying," began Skinner. He sighed softly, frustrated. He didn't know what to tell Monica. "I'm saying that maybe there is. But these are government agencies, Agent Reyes. Losing files is not uncommon. Hackers uploading computer viruses are not uncommon. I don't know what to tell you. I just...I've seen Agent Mulder too many times disappointed in his search for his sister. I don't want the same thing to happen to you."

Monica took everything in. She didn't know what to say or think. Too many maybe's, too many possible connections. But she did know that finding Colin would go a long way to helping her explain these questions. She was more determined than ever to find him. She looked up at Skinner. "Thank you for this information, Sir," she said gratefully. "Agent Doggett and I will run this number down."

Monica turned to leave, heading out the door and away from over a year of memories in that office. All Skinner could do was watch her go as she waited for the elevator to arrive. In his heart, he wished her all the best but somehow feared that this case would end up in her disappointment. But maybe, just maybe, the two of them would be able to get the X-Files back. They just needed to prove how important the unit was.