Thursday afternoon...

The woman's steely glint was getting on Reyes' nerves. After being told that there was no one on staff who could possibly speak to her until Thursday, she'd held the faintest of hopes that someone would actually speak to her when she finally was able to see them. It was apparently a naive hope.

"I'm sorry." The woman said, not sounding it in the slightest, "But as I explained on the phone, we're not allowed to give that sort of information out. It's regretful that you've come all this way for no reason."

"You said you couldn't give that information out on the phone." Reyes pointed out, barely holding on to her temper. "If being on the phone made no difference, why would you have worded your statement that way?"

The woman sighed. "Haven't you ever misspoke? If I somehow gave you the impression that being here in person would make a difference, I apologize. "

Instead of speaking to the woman any longer, Reyes turned to leave, and it was only Gibson's presence at her side that kept her from crying or screaming. She'd been so sure that the woman meant something by mentioning not being able to give the information out over the phone. It wasn't really the woman's fault she jumped to that conclusion without demanding clarification, but she was an easy target for her disappointment.

They were half way down the building's long sterile hallway when a small dark-haired woman blocked their path and made them stop. "Why are you here? Giving up your baby?" Her question was more curious than rudely intended, but even so if she hadn't reminded Reyes of her mom, she might have snapped at her.

"No no. I was adopted through this agency, and I came hoping I could find out who my mother is."

"Oh." The woman said, her large dark eyes filled with sympathy. "When were you born? Maybe the answers are in the stars."

Normally happy to speak of determining destiny, Reyes was in no mood to discuss astrology. But something about the woman's desire to make her feel better got to her. "I was born September 25th, 1968."

"Ah. A Libra." The woman said, nodding.

"Well...We'd better be going." Reyes said, when the woman added nothing to the conversation.

The woman stuck out her hand. " Isabella Charves."

Reyes was nonplused, but the woman seemed harmless enough, so she shook the woman's hand. "Monica Reyes. And this is Gibson." He gave the woman a shy, puzzled smile as well.

"You take care of yourself and your baby." Isabella told her.

"Will do." Reyes replied.

"Well, that was odd." Gibson proclaimed once they were outside again. She agreed wholeheartedly, but then she realized she'd forgotten to be depressed while speaking to the odd little woman.

" Gibson...what did that woman want?" Reyes asked, thinking about the visit to the adoption agency earlier in the day.

He shrugged. "Nothing that I could tell. She was just curious. I got the sense that she was only wondering why you wanted to give up your baby since you didn't look the type. Whatever 'the type' is."

"But I don't want to give the babies up." Reyes protested.

"She didn't know that before you told her." He pointed out.

"So... she wasn't singling me out for any particular reason."

Gibson stared at her. "She's never had a child, Monica."

"Oh! I didn't think she was. I mean, not really." Reyes mumbled. But she had wondered that very thing. "I thought you said I was getting harder to read."

"Harder, but not impossible." He replied with a grin. "You need still thicker mental walls to keep something like that hidden."

"Great."

"I'm sorry. I wish someone had been able to help you today." His voice was soft.

"So do I. So do I." She wasn't ready to give up, but she didn't know what to do next.

Friday 9pm...

"Thank you for coming, Officer Davies." Scully said politely, but without enthusiasm. There was nothing wrong with the sheriff's choice of which officer to send off with them, but she was really not looking forward to another night out in the freezing cold.

"So, how are we going to divide ourselves up? Perhaps Barry, I and officer Davies at one farm, and Doggett and Scully at the other?" Mulder suggested with the zeal of a kid picking kickball teams.

"The romance is dead." Scully muttered to herself. Two kids ago he might have made all sorts of blue remarks about them being alone together on a stakeout, but now he was more eager to hang out with a the kid with similar ideas. She'd have to do something about that when they got home...

"Scully?" Mulder asked, giving her an expectant look.

"What?"

"Did you hear anything that Doggett just said?"

She gave Doggett a puzzled look. He'd spoken? "No. Sorry."

"I said that maybe it would be better if I teamed up with Barry and the good officer, and you with Mulder. That way there would be...an expert about these alleged creatures on each team."

"You didn't say expert the first time." Mulder said with a smirk.

Scully could imagine what he'd said instead. "I think I agree with Doggett."

Mulder gave the young cyptozoologist a rueful look, but agreed to go along with the plan.