Dana Scully sighed. Once again, she was stuck on a bus for a trip that she didn't want to go on. Bill Jr. was talking loudly next to her, trying to get the attention of the girl a few rows up. Melissa had her nose buried in a book about the moon and stars. Her other brother hadn't come, being as he was grounded for tying fireworks to a dog's tail.

The Scully children were on their way to Washington D.C., for a tour of their nation's capitol. It had been arranged by their father, who had thought that it would be educational and fun. Bill, being keen to catch his father's approval, was ready and willing to go. Melissa was less enthusiastic, but was nevertheless excited. She's heard that there were some good bookstores in D.C. Dana, on the other hand, didn't want to go at all. She didn't want to be stuck on a bus for hours with other children, many of which were hyperactive.

Excusing herself to use the lavatory, she pushed past her brother and stepped out into the aisle. A few boys stared at her and smiled. Some muttered words like 'carrothead'. She ignored them and continued to walk to the back, her head held high. She passed many kids she didn't know, and wouldn't ever want to know. But one boy caught her eye. He was sitting by himself at a window, staring out of it blankly. He looked to be a few years older that Dana, maybe fourteen or so. He looked lost in his thoughts.

As Dana passed him, one of the kids from a few rows up turned around and chunked a pencil at the boy. It hit his head and bounced into the aisle.

"Take that, Spooky!" the kid yelled, his friends laughing behind him. "See if the aliens will take that too!"

'Spooky' simply shook his head and sank lower in his seat. He glanced over at Dana for a second, and their eyes met. For some reason, when Dana looked into his hazel eyes, she felt like she was safe, even though she was standing up on a bus filled with rowdy kids. They stared at each other for a moment, then the boy turned back to the window.

Dana shook her head, then continued her journey to the lavatory. When she came back out, she saw the boys a few rows up whispering to each other, a few of them glancing back at the brown haired boy occasionally. Dana felt anger rise up in her, why it did that, she didn't know. But she felt as if they were being very unfair to the other boy, even for children.

She sank down in the seat next to him, startling the boy. He turned to her with a surprised look. Dana smiled and held out a hand. "Dana Scully, you?"

He stared at her hand for a moment before shaking it. "Mulder."

"Mulder? What kind of name is that?"

He scowled. "Mine. Actually, my name is Fox. But I don't let anyone call me that."

Dana nodded. "I see. What about your parents?"

"My dad does. But I don't let my mom."

Dana smiled. "That's funny. I've never met anyone who wanted to be called by their last name." She smiled. "I'll tell you what. I'll call you Mulder, like you want, and you can call me Scully." He smiled and laughed. She looked up at the boys, one of whom was staring at her with a curious expression. "Why are they picking on you?"

"Because they're stupid."

"I know that, but why were they talking about aliens?"

Mulder shook his head. "I don't really want to talk about it, okay? No one seems to understand."

Scully nodded. "Okay then. We can talk about something else." She turned to him, and noticed that he was staring at her with a scrutinizing look. "What?" she asked, slightly unnerved.

"What are you doing here? What made you come to talk to me?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm tired of hearing my brother brag, for one thing."

"How do I know that those boys didn't send you to keep my guard down?"

"You don't. Isn't that what makes it all the more interesting? I mean, you don't know me, I don't know you. But we're sitting here, talking to each other."

Mulder smiled. "I don't think they sent you."

"Why is that?"

"You seem too smart to be a part of their stupid games."

Scully smiled back. "Thank you." She shifted in her seat so that she could see him better. He was cute, she decided. With his messy brown hair, intelligent features, and hazel eyes. "So, what are you doing on this trip?"

"It was my dad's idea. He wanted me to see the FBI headquarters."

Scully made a face. "The FBI headquarters? Why?"

"Not like I've never seen it before. He's in the FBI. I dunno...I guess he wants me to follow in his footsteps." He turned fully to her. "What are you doing here?"

"Also my dad's idea. He's in the Navy, and wanted us to see our country's capitol. I'm here with my brother and my sister, Bill and Melissa. You have a brother or sister?"

Sadness seemed to cloud Mulder's eyes when she asked that. He turned back to the window. "I do."

"You do?" Scully asked, fully aware that this was an uncomfortable subject for Mulder.

"I have a sister. Her name is Samantha." He buried his face in his hands as he said this, further arousing Scully's curiosity. But she knew that he was a person, and that she could lose their budding friendship if she pushed too far.

"What happened to her?"

He looked up at her suddenly, fiery anger in his eyes. It soon passed, replaced by the comforting look Scully found. "You won't believe me, and I don't really want to talk about it."

To Mulder's surprise, Scully nodded. "Okay. That's fine." She stared out of the window for a moment. Without turning his head, Mulder stared at her. She was definitely pretty. She caught his gaze and smiled.

She leaned back in her seat, catching the eyes of one of the troublemaker boys. He was motioning for her to come to him. She turned to Mulder, who had once again resigned to staring out of the window. "I'll be right back," she whispered to him. He nodded, not turning to watch her go. She went up to the boys quickly and leaned down in the aisle. "What?" she asked.

"You should stay away from that guy. He's weird."

"I think he's very nice."

"He's a weirdo. He thinks his kid sister was abducted by aliens."

Scully frowned. Was that what Mulder had told her she would never believe? Well, he was partially right. Scully didn't believe in aliens, there was just no proof of their existence. But she still didn't think the boys should target Mulder solely because of that.

She was about to tell them something when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Bill Jr.. He looked down at her with a confused look. "Dana, what are you doing in the back. Sit up here with your family."

"But...I want to sit with Mulder."

"Mulder? Who the hell is that?" He turned to the back and saw Mulder, who was staring at Scully and the boys with growing concern.

"He's my friend."

"Is he the freak these guys were talking about? Stay away from him, Dana. He's nothing but trouble."

Scully looked up at her older brother with a look that would scare the devil. "He's my friend. I'm going to go and sit by him. Get one of your girlfriend wannabees to sit with you." With that, Scully turned around and headed back toward Mulder. Bill Jr. sighed as she sat down and continued her conversation. That Mulder kid was going to be trouble...