Tail
After leaving the poker game, Mulder tried to find Doggett and Reyes, certain that they would be trying to track the clones who had abducted Scully and who were once again showing themselves on Earth. Mulder reached Doggett by phone and learned that Doggett and Reyes were flying into National Airport. Mulder decides to meet Doggett and Reyes at the airport and stick tightly to them until they are told about the new sighting of a clone at Scully's house.
Mulder learns the location of the gate for the flight from Portland and positions himself to wait for its arrival. Fox tries to figure out a reason why the clones would take no pains to hide their appearance. He mutters to himself, "No fear. No fear." Mulder is not surprised to notice Skinner arrive and take up position to wait for the arrival of Doggett and Reyes. Certain the Skinner has already spoken to Doggett or Reyes during their flight, Mulder is tempted to call John again. Mulder forces himself to relax and not tip his hand. Watching Skinner, Mulder contemplates just walk up to him and asking what he knows about Scully. But as Mulder makes a move to start walking towards Skinner, he is suddenly paralyzed with fear and a visceral distrust of Skinner.
Mulder takes a seat and waits. When Doggett and Reyes arrive, Mulder decides he must wait until they leave Skinner's presence before he can approach them. While Skinner, Doggett and Reyes are in the security holding room, Mulder tries to imagine why the sight of Skinner now elicits crashing waves of fear.
Mulder thinks about the drugs used by the clone brothers on their captives. He wonders about the significance of the fact that of all the people who knew Scully was a carrier of an alien DNA virus, Skinner was the only one not to be subjected to the drugs used by the clones to control their victims.
Mulder turns to the man sitting in the chair beside him. "How about those Nationals?"
The man lowers the sports pages he has been reading, revealing a Yankees baseball cap. The man glowers at Mulder. Mulder does something he has not tried to do since having been abducted by the clones; he tries to tell a perfect stranger about his abduction. Mulder gets his mouth open then starts to sweat, feels nauseous and a sharp pain grows behind his eyes. The Yankees fan goes from looking annoyed to looking afraid. He stands up and walks away from Mulder. As Mulder abandons the idea of telling a stranger about the clones, the pain in his head evaporates. Mulder is almost back to normal when he sees Doggett and Reyes rush out of the security room.
Mulder follows John and Monica to the security check point leading back to the set of gates that includes the gate where they had just arrived from Portland. He curses the fact that he cannot follow them to their departure gate without going through security. Judging by how John and Monica are rushing, Mulder guesses their flight is scheduled to depart soon. Mulder looks at a monitor showing the departing flights. There are three flights scheduled to depart in the next ten minutes. Remembering the Floreana, Mulder guesses they are catching the flight to San Diego. Mulder sees that there is one more later flight to San Diego. He goes and gets in line to buy a plane ticket, confident that Skinner has put Doggett and Reyes on assignment to track down either Scully directly, or at least one of the clones. Mulder needs to confirm their destination. Mulder pulls out his cell phone and calls Doggett. A breathless Doggett opens the connection, "John Doggett."
At the last second Mulder realizes that Doggett will probably be able to tell by the background sounds that Mulder is at the airport. "John, I came to the airport to give you a lift home. Did I miss you?"
Doggett says, "That's might friendly, Fox, but you should have saved yourself the trouble. We're turning right around and going back to the West Coast."
Mulder tries to sound surprised. "Are you kidding? Did you forget something in Portland?"
Just then Doggett relaxes into his seat next to Reyes. He says to Monica, "Mulder came to the airport to give us a ride." John tells Mulder, "Skinner thinks that Dana might have been in San Diego after the crew of the Floreana was abducted. We're going to go check out that lead."
Mulder steps up to an automated ticket dispenser and uses his credit card to buy a ticket on the next flight to San Diego. "Well, maybe we can have a beer in the terminal before your flight. Where are you?"
Doggett explains what Mulder already knows, "We're already on our plane. Looks like they are ready to close the doors. Let's catch up when I get back from San Diego."
Mulder expresses disappointment at having missed them. "Give me a call if you find anything on Scully, otherwise I'll buy you dinner when you get back in town"
Doggett signs off, "Right. Later."