Agent Mulder gave Markie and me a look I couldn't read. " We," he indicated his partner and himself, as if I were too stupid to figure out otherwise who he meant. " Work for a special division of the FBI."

" Oh?" I asked, as if to indicate interest.

" Yes... We work for a unit called the X-Files," I wondered if they investigated porn or x-rays. Neither guess helped me to delve out the reason for their visit. Turns out I was off the mark. "We investigate cases involving the paranormal." He explained.

" Seem to involve the paranormal." His partner immediately corrected.

I looked around for a camera crew, but didn't see one. They didn't look like they were in on a joke, either. " Could I see your badges again?" I asked in as even a tone as I could manage under the circumstances.

Their reaction- blank faced acquiescence- made me believe it wasn't an uncommon request. I looked the badges over, wishing I'd watch more cop shows than soapy dramas. They looked pretty real, but I had no way of being sure. Too bad they didn't have water marks on them or something. I handed them back, suppressing a sigh of frustration.

" Would you excuse me?" I smiled apologetically at them. "I think the baby needs to be changed."

" Oh, sure." They said. God forbid they had to smell a poopy diaper, eh?

I swear Markie gave me and indignant look. He didn't, of course, need to be changed. What can I say? Sometimes a baby provides a convenient spur of the moment excuse for leaving the room. As I stood up, I noticed that Chase was glowering at the agents from under a chair. " Come on, boy," I called. " He's not used to strangers." I said as he galloped to me on short little legs. Actually, I was worried the woman might try to make friends with him, and get bitten for her trouble. The last thing I needed was a lawsuit.

Once up in the hallway, away from prying eyes, I grabbed the hall phone and shut the nursery door. But before I made my call, I turned off the baby monitor. I'd seen far too many movies in which an important conversation is overheard because someone stood next to one that was on while spilling their guts. Stupid people.

Markie whimpered when I set him in his crib, probably thinking it was time for bed. I used a toy to distract him while I dialed my parents number.

Of course, I got the answering machine. They'd been using the machine to screen calls for practically ever, so I was expecting that. All I had to do was leave a nice calm message so they didn't get alarmed. " Vynce, if you're there-"

" Hey, what's up?" He asked, answering the phone.

I'd seldom been so glad to hear my baby brother's voice as I was just then.

" I need you to come over, right now."

" What's wrong?" I don't know if all little brothers are protective, but mine has been ever since he got bigger than me. It's nice. Sometimes.

" There are these two weird people from the FBI down in the living room."

" Why?" He asked, sounding surprised by that. Why wouldn't he be? I know I was.

" I don't know, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to be alone with them when I find out."

" I'll be right over."

" Thanks, kid, I owe you."

" Yeah, remember that the next time mom gives me a hard time about selling my old car." He said with a snort before hanging up.

Fortunately, he and my folks lived across town. And I figured I could wait at least another five minutes before going back downstairs. I was pretty sure karma would get me for claiming a very messy diaper, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

To kill time waiting for my brother to get there, I decided to put forth my best impersonation of being domestic. There wasn't any time to bake anything, but there was a pound cake in the fridge that I'd planned to bring over to my folks to make strawberry shortcake for Dad and I, but I figured that I could pick up another one. It'd be worth it if it kept the agents mouths too busy to talk for a few minutes.

Chase decided that they weren't so bad, and begged for crumbs from them. Mulder wasn't the sharing type, but Scully fed him bits of her piece after asking if it was ok. At least she asked. Some people are really dumb about dogs.

" What a cute little dog." She gushed. " He reminds me of a dog I had once."

Agent Mulder snorted, and she glared at him. That couldn't be good.

" When you were a girl?" I guessed.

" Oh no, just a few years back. I got him after his owner died. Unfortunately, he was eaten." She said, looking sad.

" By what?" I asked her, wide-eyed.

" An alligator."

Before she could elaborate, there was a knock on the door. I opened it with relief. My brother stood on the steps, trying not too look too alarmed. " Oh, Vynce, I didn't know you were stopping by." I said with a wink to him.

Fortunately my brother is very bright. " Sorry not to call first, Sis." He scooped up Markie and the baby squealed in delight. Vynce has always had a way with kids.

"Vynce, this is Agent Mulder, and Agent Scully. I think they were just about to tell us why they came to see me." I hoped so. They'd been at the house a half hour already. My brother sat down and gave them expectant looks. Markie immediately whined to be put down, so he obliged him.

Mulder made a furtive dab at his mouth, probably looking for crumbs. " That's right. As I was explaining to your sister, we work for a division of the X-files that deals with incidents, " He caught his partner's pointed look, " alleged incidents of the paranormal."

" I see." Vynce said evenly. He leaned forward so the gold paint he highlighted his hair with caught the light. I have to admit, it did look pretty nice on a redhead, as long as you have hair short like his- the one time we'd attempted it on my hair had been a disaster because of the length. I bet even agent Scully's hair would be too long. They stared at him, and I wondered if either of the agents would be stupid enough to remark on how much alike we look. I don't mind it too much, but he'd hated the comparison since he was old enough to talk. " What does that have to do with my sister?"

" Actually," Agent Scully spoke up. " It has to do with your nephew."