He searched for a job. Any job. In reality, he believed that a job would take up his time and he would eventually forget the guilt that he carried with him ever since that night. Most of the want ads were for basic repairmen, jobs that don't even require a high school diploma. He knew that he needed a job that would occupy his mind and his hands. He found one job that met these requirements. At first he hesitated; it was a government job. He would work on a special Search and Rescue Team that traveled with the FBI's special forces. In the end he figured it was this or nothing.

Mulder entered the Hoover Building, walked through the metal detectors, and headed toward the receptionist's desk.

"I'm here to hand in my resume for the opening on the Search and Rescue team." Mulder greeted the woman at the desk with confidence.

She barely looked up from her work, "Assistant Director Marshall will see you in twenty minutes for an interview."

"Just like that, are you sure he'll be available?"

The receptionist looked him square in the face, "Nobody has applied for this job. AD Marshall will take anyone he can."

AD Marshall gave Mulder the job on the spot because of his loyal career at the FBI. Mulder wondered if AD Marshall was oblivious to Mulder's reputation under AD Skinner. Marshall wanted him to start on Monday.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The days at the FBI soon became monotonous. Everyday, Mulder would sit at his desk filing paperwork until he received a call from an agent requesting his assistance. The cases that he covered were routine: homicides, rapes, drug busts, conspiracies. Conspiracies. Mulder laughed at the thought; these "conspiracies" were nothing like what he used to cover. These were mainly possible terrorist attacks and embezzlement. Everyday. For six long months. Today would be like no other day. Boring.

Mulder was studying a case report he was about to turn in when the telephone rang.

"Mulder."

"Agent Mulder, we need you to accompany us to a warehouse in a small town."

"Where is it? What's it about?"

"We are led to believe that a terrorist cell in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They seem to

have occupied an abandoned warehouse. The plane to Charleston leaves in one hour."

"I'm on my way."

*Click*

(Warehouse in Parkersburg, West Virginia)

The agents burst into the warehouse followed by the Search and Rescue Team. The place was ransacked. File cabinets laid open, papers everywhere. Most of the evidence appeared to have been taken. The agents begin to gather the papers.

"Men, let's search for people and physical evidence," ordered Agent Miller, the leader of the Search and Rescue Team.

Mulder split apart from the group. He was suddenly drawn to a faint moaning sound. It was coming from a wall. He punched the wall, and it gave. Inside were about twenty-five scared, famished people of all ages.

"Guys, we have victims!" he shouted.

The team gathered around and evacuated the victims. An agent called from across the warehouse.

"This place is going to blow; there's a gas leak."

Agents and victims scrambled out of the warehouse as fast as they could. For some reason, Mulder felt like he was missing something.

"Agent Mulder, we have to get out of here!" an Agent yelled.

"I'm just going to check for more victims."

"We are headed down to the hospital to check these patients into a quarantined area. We are going to follow the ambulances."

"I'll catch up with you," Mulder hollered back.

"If you find anyone, call 911."

Mulder continued his search. Then, in a dark, damp corner, he found what he thought he was kept for. A woman was hovering, clutching a baby wrapped in a dirty rag.

"Ma'am, I'm with the FBI. I need to take you to a hospital."

The woman just stared back. In the darkness, he could not see her clearly. He reached to lift the baby and she pulled the now-wailing child closer to her.

"Ma'am, if you could come with me..." She reluctantly followed him. "I'm going to call for

an ambulance."

"No," the woman responded with no tone in her voice. "No hospital."

As they exited the warehouse, he finally had a chance to get a good look. He studied her for a minute, and his eyes became as big as saucers.

"SCULLY!"

chapter three to follow soon!!!