Scully felt the brisk Russian November air as she stepped out of the 747. Evidently jet-ways never made it to the former Soviet Republic. The two FBI agents were then escorted to an embassy limousine, which took them to the US Mission. For the benefit of the American passengers, the driver drove past the Kremlin and Red Square.

Mulder and Scully were greeted by two US Marines at the Embassy and taken to a room where they were to wait for General Nelson. The waiting area was very comfortable, and the two agents were offered cups of hot, and very aromatic, coffee.

Finally, the secretary said, "General Nelson will see you now, Special Agents Mulder and Scully."

"Thank you," The two agents said as they were escorted in to a large office. General Nelson sat behind a rather large desk in front of a window at the end of the room. Whoever designed this room new a little bit about how to give the person behind the desk an appearance of authority.

General Nelson stood up and greeted his guests, "Special Agent Scully, Special Agent Mulder, please come in and have a seat."

Mulder and Scully shook hands with the General and sat in two comfortable chairs on the opposite side of the desk where the subject of their investigation started.

General Nelson started off with, "Any questions I can answer that would help you with your background check, I'm more than happy to oblige. I am surprised they sent you way out here, though." Nelson was used to these background checks. He had been the subject of several over the past 40 years, 28 of those after Jeannie.

"It was my idea to come out here. We came across some unexplained events while doing your background check." Mulder said.

Nelson laughed, "No doubt you read the report filed by Special Agent Dales." Nelson's statement had the desired effect of catching Mulder off guard. Seeing Mulder's surprised look, Nelson continued, "Yes, I knew Dales was FBI. He slipped when he said he was Air Force Intelligence. It was very easy for me to look him up."

Scully mentioned, "There were also some questionable entries made by Colonel Bellows."

Nelson got a little more serious, "Alfred Bellows was a hell of an officer, a fine doctor, and a good man. His background, though, gave him a very suspicious nature. That is not to take away from the fact he served his country during four wars."

Mulder turned his focus to Jeannie, "What about the fact that your wife has never been photographed."

Nelson laughed, and got on the intercom, "Sally, bring in copies of Jeannie's passport, military dependent's ID, and driver's license."

The voice on the intercom answered, "Right away, General." Nelson then turned around wedding photos of himself and a young attractive blonde and another photo of himself, a fine looking middle-aged blonde, and Midshipman Anthony Nelson, Jr. Nelson was very prepared for this. A few years ago, he and TJ introduced themselves to the art of photo-doctoring, a necessity when you have a member of the family that can't be photographed. Fortunately TJ, being half-human, could show up on film.

Scully said, "Dependent ID and Passport, of course! Why didn't we pull those?"

Showing Mulder and Scully copies of the photo ID's, Nelson said, "Living in Russia, its vital we keep multiple copies of identification around."

Mulder continued, "But why so camera shy."

Nelson said, "My wife is a very private person." Nelson added truthfully, "And, this is highly confidential, she is from Baghdad. Considering the situation in the world today, the last thing we need in the tabloids is 'Astronaut's Iraqi Wife'."

Scully told the General, "Thank you for your candor, sir."

Mulder added, "We'll be around for the weekend, General. I'll hand in my report early next week."

General Nelson cordially said, "Very well, Special Agent Mulder. Please, take time to see some of the city, and let us at the embassy know how we can be of service."

The two agents left for their hotel to shake off some of the jet lag. The ride in the limo was fairly quiet, as Scully felt that this background check should have been rubber stamped years ago. Nelson, after all was an American hero. Mulder was off chasing his ghosts. The two were both in the beds of their separate rooms by 6:00 PM local time.

About one in the morning, Dana Scully heard a knocking on her hotel room door. She put on her robe, knowing who it would be.

"Scully, open up, its me Mulder," the voice on the side unnecessarily announced.

Scully asked, "What now, Mulder?"

Mulder said, "Baghdad. His wife was from Baghdad, and Bellow's last trip was to Iraq."

Scully was thoughtful, "Yes, there may have been a connection there. Bellows did appear to be obsessed with Nelson, but that doesn't mean the General did anything improper. When his wife was born, we were on very good terms with Iraq."

Mulder then said, "But when was his wife born? Yes, her passport lists DOB as April 1, 1940, but there is absolutely no paperwork to back that up."

Scully replied, "Mulder, in pre World War II Iraq, there were very few birth certificates. Past background checks have produced Jeannie Nelson's naturalization documentation. They show 10 year old Jeanie Gin came to the United States in 1950 to live with a cousin after her parents passed away."

Mulder argued, "They could be forgeries."

That made Scully stop and think. Mulder was right, Nelson's wife was a blank page. Very little is known about her. When dealing with a security check, a person's spouse is definitely fair game. One could not have a Major General subject to blackmail.

"What do you want to do, Mulder," Dana asked.

"Meet me in the lobby at 0430." Mulder replied.

"Great, gives me all of another hour and a half of sleep," Scully lamented.

Dana Scully was half asleep in a chair next to the hotel registration desk when Fox Mulder came in with a tray of pastries, eggs, caviar, coffee, and juice.

"I could have waited for breakfast in bed, Special Agent Mulder." Scully said.

Mulder smiled, "No, Scully, this is for delivery."

The two FBI agents made it to the General's apartment at around 0500.

Mulder explained to the Marine guard, while showing his credentials, "You know the General likes an early reveille, we'll let ourselves in."

When Mulder and Scully entered the apartment, Scully whispered, "Mulder, this isn't right."

Mulder replied, "Shhhhhhhh."

Just then a 20 something young woman in a harem outfit came down the stairs and said, "Anthony… I can smell the Arabian coffee and caviar, you shouldn't have…"

Mulder and Scully just stared. She was the spitting image of how Nelson's wife looked in the twenty-year old wedding photo on the General's desk. Upon seeing the two FBI agents the young woman went back up the stairs and disappeared. Mulder went up the stairs, but didn't see anything but closed doors. The FBI Agent knew if he barged in on the General in his bedroom without cause, that would be the end of the X-Files.

Once back in the bedroom, Jeannie thought of waking Anthony. If only she had made herself appear to be in her 50s as she does every morning. But, she had no idea anyone else was in the apartment. Plus, both she and Anthony enjoy the fact that genies don't age at the same rate as mortals. Before rousing her husband, Jeannie decided to drop in on an old friend.

It was one a.m. Saturday morning local time when Jeannie popped into a suburban Orlando home. Fortunately Roger and Suzanne Healey were still awake, just coming back from a night on the town. Jeannie told them about how the FBI Agents saw her as her true self instead of the 53-year-old image she usually projects.

Roger still was a little tipsy, but said, "I think I have an idea. Tony probably won't like what I'm going to suggest, it's a little risqué… but it should get you out of this mess." When the former playboy astronaut explained his plan, Mrs. Healey laughed, and Jeannie expressed doubt about it working.

"Trust me, Jeannie. This will stop the FBI agents cold. Blink me over to explain it to Tony, while you tie up the loose ends," Roger offered.

Mulder was munching on the breakfast he paid for while Scully just waited uncomfortably in the living room of the Nelson apartment when they heard the General shout, "What! Are you out of your ever loving mind!"

Mulder said, "Sounds like trouble in paradise. Can you hear the other side of the conversation?"

Scully replied, "No, lets give the couple some privacy while heading for the door."

Mulder shook his head, "No, lets wait a bit."

A few minutes later a young Russian blonde woman in a harem outfit came down with a very uncomfortable- looking Brigadier General Nelson, along with a 53-year-old Jeannie Nelson. For once, Nelson didn't look very much in charge. Mulder and Scully just looked on, mute.

"Ummm… Special Agents Scully and Mulder, this is my Wife Jeannie. I see you've met our 'friend' Olga." Nelson said uncomfortably.

Not wanting to be part of this situation any longer, Scully apologized, "I'm sorry to disturb you and your wife, General. Special Agent Mulder and I will be leaving, please enjoy the breakfast and accept our apologies," and to Mulder she added, "NOW, Mulder!"

Once outside, Mulder said, "That didn't look like the same girl we saw earlier. The first one looked like Jeannie, but 30 years younger."

Scully replied, "Mulder it was dark, and we were both in a suggestive state by the reports and photos. What General Nelson and his wife do in the privacy of their own home is none of our business. I definitely did not sign on to be peeping in the bedrooms of people old enough to be my parents." With that, the subject was closed.

Once the FBI Agents were gone, Roger Healey came down the stairs laughing, "I told you it would work. They were tripping over each other to get out of here."

Jeannie Nelson joined in the laughter, "Yes, Colonel Healey, it certainly did."

Tony wasn't so cheerful, "So now I get branded a pervert."

Jeannie gave a wicked smile, "No, just the Casanova that you are, my love."

Roger added, "Tony, those two will not be sharing what they saw. They have no proof, it has nothing to do with your promotion, plus one of the benefits of being an old general is that it can only benefit your reputation."

That got a grin out of Tony. Then he told Jeannie, "Please see Olga home, and arrange for Colonel Healey's flight home."

Jeannie walked the local young woman past the guards whose duty is to look the other way at times. She paid the 20-year-old Russian very handsomely for wearing a costume for a few minutes. When Jeannie was sure nobody was watching, she blinked Roger back to Orlando. Mrs. Nelson then went back to the apartment to enjoy breakfast with her husband.

Scully spent the day going through museums, while Mulder read up on the Siberian "UFO Crash." Both FBI Agents avoided each other and the Nelsons. Sunday morning, the two headed to the airport. On the flight back to the US, Special Agent Mulder prepared a report recommending Anthony Nelson be promoted to the rank of Major General, USAF. However, a copy of all uncovered during the background check will be placed in an X-File.