Mulder made his way into the J Edgar Hoover Building and headed toward the room he was instructed on his cell to go to. He couldn't believe the timing on that call! Just when the police had been ready to bust in and rescue Agent Scully, his cell had rung. He would have normally ignored such a call but after the message he received, he knew better than to just let it go. He would have to apologize to Ethan later for his hasty departure. Not to mention he also wanted to get the full details on what had happened after he left. He was pretty sure that it was a happy ending. That is unless; Ryan had already killed Scully before they arrived. But he was pretty sure that his profile had been right and that Ryan wouldn't kill her. He knocked on the door of the room and waited.

"Come in!" A voice called from the inside.

Mulder opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"Ah, Agent Mulder, thank you for coming on such short notice." The man replied from the back of his desk. He motioned to a chair. "Please."

Mulder took a seat. "Well, no offense Sir but when you receive a call that the FBI Director wishes to speak with you, it's not exactly something you can ignore."

The Director smiled. "That is a good point." He rose from his chair and walked over to a window. "I wanted to speak with you about this case you've been working on. Or should I say, the case that you weren't originally assigned to in the first place?"

Mulder swallowed. He had thought that Ethan had taken care of all that mess! That was the only reason he had agreed to help him in the first place. Had he just been suckered? "Sir, I assure you that I wouldn't have helped with that case had I not had permission. I was told that all of the proper authorization regarding me working on it was taken care of."

"Yes, well it appears that you got your communication lines crossed, Agent Mulder." The Director replied. "I received no paper work regarding this decision."

Mulder sighed. "Sir, I assure you I had no idea."

"You do realize that you working on a case without my permission is a VERY serious situation. Do you not, Agent Mulder?"

Mulder nodded. "Yes…yes Sir, I do." Oh boy, here it comes! He's going to fire my ass! Thanks a lot, Ethan Minette! Now, we'll have a LOT to talk about when I see you next!

"However, that is something I am willing to look over."

Mulder let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Sir."

"IF you are willing to forget that this case ever happened."

"Sir?"

"I would be willing to overlook your breaking of protocol, if you are willing to forget about this case. You pretend that it never happened. That means you turn over to me any paperwork or information you have regarding this case."

Mulder chuckled. "Sir, even if I were to do that there's no way you can pretend that this case never happened. There are the police reports, witnesses…"

"And that can easily be taken care of, Agent Mulder."

"Taken care of?" Mulder asked with a puzzled look.

The Director turned away from the window." The FBI and the government are far above mere police officers. We are the higher authority and they will do whatever we tell them. As for any witnesses, they can easily be bribed."

Mulder could feel his stomach clench as realization hit him. "Oh my god, you're going to cover this up, aren't you?" He noticed the silence, which confirmed his suspicions. "Why?"

"The suspect, Ryan Sedrick is dead, Agent Mulder. He was shot in the rescue of Dana Scully. There is no need to pursue this any further."

"But…we still don't completely know why he committed his crimes. Agent Scully, is our best witness to…"

"He is DEAD Agent Mulder." The Director replied sharply.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Mulder replied as he looked at him. "We're the FBI! It's our right to protect the safety of others!"

The Director placed his hands on the desk. "The man who committed those crimes is a disgrace to his family, Agent Mulder! He is the nephew of the head of the NSA! Do you understand what kind of reputation could be tarnished because of something like this? This is a very serious thing, Agent Mulder!"

"Wait, you're telling me that you are going to cover this up because this psychopath is related to someone in the government?" Mulder shook his head. "You have got to be fucking kidding me!"

"Be careful how you speak to me, Agent Mulder. Remember that I hold the key to your leaving the FBI. And not only that but I could bring you up on some other charges that could make you a most wanted man."

"Even if I do forget about this, there's still Dana Scully."

The Director moved away from the desk. "We've already taken care of that."

"You…you killed her?"

The Director looked back at Mulder. "Do you really think we are that cold-hearted, Agent Mulder? When she was admitted to the hospital, we had one of our doctors step in regarding her care. She has undergone a procedure, which has entirely erased any memory of what happened. As far as she knows, she was in the hospital due to a car accident."

Mulder couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You can't do this."

The Director smiled. "It's already done, Agent Mulder. With the last victim having no memory of what happened, this case can disappear along with the paperwork."

"What about Ethan Minette?"

"I'm sure he could easily be convinced to forget about the case if his girlfriend's life was at stake." The Director answered. "Not to mention his job at his news station which he would lose. Plus an accomplice to murder can also make a man change his mind." He paused. "And as of now for your…breach of protocol you are hereby suspended for a period of two weeks."

At this point Mulder rose from his chair. "You son-of-a-bitch! I never thought I'd see the day that I would be a witness to such a terrible thing as this! I won't be a part of it!"

"You forget that I control you, Agent Mulder! And you are a part of this whether you like it or not! Now if you care about yourself and Agent Scully, you will do what I requested of you! I want all of that information and you are never to speak of this again. And if I catch you trying to communicate with Ethan Minette or Agent Scully, you will be fired and brought up on those charges we spoke of. Do NOT cross me Agent Mulder or I will crush you. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Mulder replied sarcastically.

"Good. You're dismissed." He watched as Mulder turned to walk away. "Oh and Agent Mulder? Do what I told you or that two week vacation of yours will be a permanent one."

Mulder looked at the Director for a minute before leaving and slamming the door behind him.

The Director picked up his phone and dialed a number. "It's done. Agent Mulder will be no threat to us in regards to this case." He paused. "Keep an eye on Minette just in case he decides to go against Agent Scully's amnesia."


Ethan made his way to Scully's hospital room with a bouquet of roses in his hand. He tapped on the door and walked in. "Hey."

Scully smiled back at him. "Hey."

"I just wanted to see how you were doing." He handed her the roses. "Thought maybe you could use these."

Scully took the roses. "You're always thoughtful aren't you?"

Ethan smiled. "So, what did the doctor say?"

"He said that the bruises on my face should go away soon. And…I should fully recover in a few days and be able to go back to work."

"What about…when we came into the room you were naked and he was…"

"The doctor said there were no indications that I was sexually assaulted."

Ethan let out a sigh of relief as he took her hand. "Oh, thank god!" He kissed it as tears streamed down his cheeks. "I was so worried about that."

Scully looked down at the bed. "Ethan?"

Ethan put down her hand. "What is it baby?"

She raised her head and looked at him. "What…what happened to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…the doctor said that I had bruises on my face and that I hadn't been sexually assaulted. So, what happened to me?"

Ethan gave her a puzzled look. "You…you don't remember?"

Scully shook her head. "It was….some kind of accident?"

"Accident? What the hell are you talking about? Dana, you were kidnapped and held hostage by a student from your class! We found all kinds of pictures of you where we found you. We found out that your parents knew of the Sedrick's through military connections. That was how he knew of you." He sighed. "You're telling me you don't remember any of this? You don't know the name, Ryan Sedrick?"

"Should I?"

"Dana, he was obsessed with you! He kidnapped you! How can you not remember?"

The door opened and Detective Patterson stepped inside. "How is she?"

"Oh, hello Detective Patterson. She's doing all right, under the circumstances."

"Good. May I have a word with you in private?" Patterson asked.

"Uhhh…sure." Ethan kissed Scully on the cheek. "I'll be right back ok?" He then followed Patterson out into the hallway where he saw two men dressed in suits. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Mr. Minette, would you please step into this room please?" One of the men asked as he motioned to a door.

Ethan looked back at Patterson. "I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what the hell is going on!"

"Mr. Minette, we need to talk about the case." Patterson answered.

Ethan glanced at the two men who made him feel uneasy. "All right, fine but let's make this quick so I can get back to Dana." He walked into the room and waited as the two men and Patterson came in behind him, closing the door. He turned toward them. "All right, what the hell is this about?"

"Mr. Minette, we've come here to inform you that the case regarding Ryan Sedrick has been closed." One of the men replied.

Ethan looked back at him. "What? You've got to me kidding me? I mean yeah the guy is dead but…"

"Agent Scully has no recollection of the event. Her doctor told us that she is suffering from amnesia regarding what happened to her. With Ryan Sedrick dead there is no need to pursue this any further."

"Are you fucking crazy!" Ethan exclaimed as he got in the man's face. "That cock sucker kidnapped my girlfriend and was going to rape her! I plan to have a huge story on that bastard tonight on my news station! That way everyone can know what a…"

The man leaned into Ethan. "You will refrain from airing that story or it will be the last one you produce."

"Are you trying to threaten me?" Ethan asked.

"I am giving you a choice, Mr. Minette." The man answered back. "Pull that story from your news station and forget that you even knew anything about this case."

"Or?"

"Or you will find yourself in a very delicate position." The man answered. "Would be a shame, if something were to leak to the media regarding you and Ryan Sedrick corroborating in kidnapping and murder, wouldn't it? Or..if Dana Scully were to suffer some unfortunate accident while she was teaching at the FBI Academy?"

"You sons-of-bitches!" Ethan yelled.

"If you care about Dana Scully the way you claim you do, then you will let this case go, Mr. Minette. She has already suffered enough, don't you think?" The man then pulled away from Ethan and walked out with the other man, closing the door behind him.

Ethan looked back at Patterson. "Are you going to just let them get away with this? Who the hell are these people?"

"I'm afraid they can get away with anything they want Mr.Minette." Patterson answered.

"But you're the police! You have a say in this too!" Ethan pointed to the door. "You're just going to let them get away with this! That son-of-a-bitch Sedrick needs to be famous for what he did!"

"You think I don't agree with that Mr.Minette?" Patterson asked angrily. "That bastard being shot was too easy! He should have suffered just like his victims! I was the one who burst in and saw him with Agent Scully on that bed! This case will haunt me as long as I live! If you don't think this hasn't affected me, you are WRONG!" He turned away. "But my hands are tied on this."

"Why can't you…"

"Because I have a family!" Patterson yelled back. "If I don't do what they tell me, they will find a way to get to them. Now whether it's through getting me connected to something illegal or just trying to physically hurt them, I don't know! And I don't' care to find out!"

Ethan ran his hand through his hair. "What about Agent Mulder?"

"He's been told the same thing." Patterson answered. "More than likely, they threatened his job and reputation."

"So, this was all for nothing?" Ethan asked. "All of the women who died because of this asshole will just be forgotten? The murderer of Elizabeth Roland will never be known? What about his father?"

"He's dead, Mr. Minette."

"Oh, why did I know you were going to tell me that?" Ethan looked at Patterson. "Maybe you and Agent Mulder can be intimidated and be sell-outs to these people but NOT me!" He then started for the door but was stopped as Patterson grabbed him and pushed him against the wall.

"Now you listen to me, Mr. Minette! I can understand just why you are upset about this and you have every reason to be! But if you air that story and stir up a bunch of shit you are putting yourself and Agent Scully in danger!" He paused. "People like this have been known to go to a doctors office and replace something in a syringe with a deadly chemical. Then the person who has caused them trouble gets injected with it and end up lying dead days later under mysterious circumstances. THAT is the kind of people you are dealing with here! And the job that Agent Scully has puts her in a very delicate position! If you care for her, you will leave this alone like they said!" He then let go of Ethan and headed for the door. He turned around one last time. "If you fuck with these people, Mr. Minette, you sign a death warrant." He then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ethan punched the wall and winced as his hand connected with hard concrete. He had imagined that the wall had been the suited man who had intimidated him. He couldn't believe this was actually happening to him! To be told to forget that this case ever happened or something would happen to him or Dana? It was preposterous! This whole event was making him re-think things now. After what Patterson told him about the men they were dealing with, he wasn't so sure if he should be close to Dana anymore. What if they used her to get to him? He loved her too much to risk her being put in danger because of him. He thought at this point, maybe it was best that she had turned down his proposal. Maybe Dana and him were not meant to be together? He pulled out the plush box with the engagement ring and opened it. "Maybe there's another life ahead for Dana that doesn't have me in it?" He then closed the box and placed it back into his pocket before heading back to Scully's room.


Note: Ok I wrote this story and the ending I did so that it would explain just why this was never brought up in "The Pilot" or anytime after that. It was my intention that one could read this fic and then "The Pilot" could take place shortly after. As you can see, because of it going into "The Pilot" there was no way I could have Mulder and Scully physically meet. Anyway, I hope I pulled this off and that the ending was sufficient! Oh and here are the challenge aspects that were required:

1. There must be some kind of mention to alien abduction. It doesn't have to be the main plot, but it should be mentioned somewhere.(check)
2. At one point in the story, someone must find or make reference to an eyeball in a box. (Don't ask, I just thought it sounded weird.) (DEFINITELY a check since it was the main plot for our serial killer lol)
3. There must be one romantic scene in your story, but it cannot be MSR (Mulder/Scully Romance). (check for Ethan/Scully)
4. The song "We Will Rock You" by Queen must be mentioned at least once.(hahaha one chapter devoted to that and Fox Mulder)
5. The genre of your story should be humor, romance, or tragedy (or a combination of the three). (check as it was a combination)
6. Your story cannot be holiday-themed. (check as it most definitely was not that lol)
7. The story should take place before the Fight The Future and Season 6 (Season 5 and before). Pre-X-Files stories are accepted(check as it was Pre-X-Files)
8. Any rating is okay, except NC-17 (This signifies that the rating board believes that most parents would feel that the film is patently adult and that children age 17 and under should not be admitted to it. The film may contain explicit sex scenes, an accumulation of sexually-oriented language, or scenes of excessive violence. The NC-17 designation does not, however, signify that the rated film is obscene or pornographic.) (check as this fic was rated R)