Left Behind
Chapter 17
"Assistant Director."
"Yves," said Skinner in reply to the serious, beautiful, brunette with the British accent. Old habits die hard and he forgot to call her by her real name-Lois. It didn't matter though because she preferred to be called by her alias.
Yves stepped back away from the door and allowed Skinner to enter. He did and Yves closed the door behind him activating a new and better security system. Well, anything beyond the trio's multiple locks, which someone could easily have broken through, and did on occasion, would be considered better.
Skinner surveyed the Lone Gunmen office and spied more computers and equipment than had been here when Langly, Byers, and Frohike had been alive. Skinner felt a sudden pang in his heart, which he would have admitted to no one. The office was a painful reminder that the three were lost forever after having dedicated, and in the end given, their lives to the greater good. They had made the ultimate sacrifice.
The equipment could have come from either Yves or Jimmy, Skinner thought. The boys had been broke after spending every last dime to try and find Yves after she had been kidnapped. Jimmy had said it best: they were loyal to their friends.
"Hey, Walt!"
Skinner looked up disapprovingly. He hadn't noticed blond-haired Jimmy sitting at a computer. His face, which had been staring discouragingly at the computer just moments before, now broke out into a grin at the sight of Skinner. Although everyone had felt the death of the Lone Gunmen keenly, it was Jimmy who had taken the loss more painfully than everyone else. Beneath all his toughness, Jimmy had a sweet and sensitive nature. Which at times made him irritating to those around him, thought Skinner. Out loud, and sternly to get his point across, he said, "Don't call me that."
The smile vanished from Jimmy's face and he nodded as Yves joined him beside the computer. Jimmy glanced at Yves and said, "He's in the back room. Said he needed some privacy. We hope she's okay. If there's anything we can do..."
Skinner nodded in acknowledgement. But before he went in the back room, he took one last look at Yves and Jimmy as they worked on the computer, no doubt hot on the trail to bust some big conspiracy wide open. He knew that had he asked they would have helped him in an instant to try and find Monica. His heart swelled with a sense of pride. Some things were never lost. Langly, Frohike, and Byers might be gone, but two Lone Gunmen still remained to fight the lost causes.
Of course, it was never easy to be left behind thought Skinner as his thoughts turned back ruefully to Doggett. Mulder and Scully, just like Lanely, Byers, and Frohike, had left behind a legacy for good people to follow and yet their leaving created an almost overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness to those left behind. Skinner walked down the hallway to the back room. John had already lost his son and Skinner feared that the loss of Monica would be the end of him. But there still was hope that Monica had not left them behind. Skinner took a deep breath and walked into the room.
Chapter 17
"Assistant Director."
"Yves," said Skinner in reply to the serious, beautiful, brunette with the British accent. Old habits die hard and he forgot to call her by her real name-Lois. It didn't matter though because she preferred to be called by her alias.
Yves stepped back away from the door and allowed Skinner to enter. He did and Yves closed the door behind him activating a new and better security system. Well, anything beyond the trio's multiple locks, which someone could easily have broken through, and did on occasion, would be considered better.
Skinner surveyed the Lone Gunmen office and spied more computers and equipment than had been here when Langly, Byers, and Frohike had been alive. Skinner felt a sudden pang in his heart, which he would have admitted to no one. The office was a painful reminder that the three were lost forever after having dedicated, and in the end given, their lives to the greater good. They had made the ultimate sacrifice.
The equipment could have come from either Yves or Jimmy, Skinner thought. The boys had been broke after spending every last dime to try and find Yves after she had been kidnapped. Jimmy had said it best: they were loyal to their friends.
"Hey, Walt!"
Skinner looked up disapprovingly. He hadn't noticed blond-haired Jimmy sitting at a computer. His face, which had been staring discouragingly at the computer just moments before, now broke out into a grin at the sight of Skinner. Although everyone had felt the death of the Lone Gunmen keenly, it was Jimmy who had taken the loss more painfully than everyone else. Beneath all his toughness, Jimmy had a sweet and sensitive nature. Which at times made him irritating to those around him, thought Skinner. Out loud, and sternly to get his point across, he said, "Don't call me that."
The smile vanished from Jimmy's face and he nodded as Yves joined him beside the computer. Jimmy glanced at Yves and said, "He's in the back room. Said he needed some privacy. We hope she's okay. If there's anything we can do..."
Skinner nodded in acknowledgement. But before he went in the back room, he took one last look at Yves and Jimmy as they worked on the computer, no doubt hot on the trail to bust some big conspiracy wide open. He knew that had he asked they would have helped him in an instant to try and find Monica. His heart swelled with a sense of pride. Some things were never lost. Langly, Frohike, and Byers might be gone, but two Lone Gunmen still remained to fight the lost causes.
Of course, it was never easy to be left behind thought Skinner as his thoughts turned back ruefully to Doggett. Mulder and Scully, just like Lanely, Byers, and Frohike, had left behind a legacy for good people to follow and yet their leaving created an almost overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness to those left behind. Skinner walked down the hallway to the back room. John had already lost his son and Skinner feared that the loss of Monica would be the end of him. But there still was hope that Monica had not left them behind. Skinner took a deep breath and walked into the room.
