TITLE: Nightmare in Nevada

AUTHOR: BJC525

CATEGORY: XF, ADVENTURE

KEY WORDS: UST, MT, ST

DISCLAIMER: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Skinner, et al, belong of course to CC, 1013 Productions, and Fox Broadcasting. No infringement intended of anyone or anything is intended...this is just for fun folks - ENJOY!

SPOILERS: Patient X/ The Red and the Black. Chinga (blink and you'll miss it.)

SUMMARY: Mulder and Scully are sent to head up a gruesome assignment. Completing the assignment is only the beginning of their nightmare.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ignores everything after Season 5. This is a major formatting revision of a previous story "The Long and Winding Road". I reformatted and broke into chapters for easier reading and hopefully fixed all the typos.

NIGHTMARE IN NEVADA

FBI Headquarters - Washington D.C.; 28th September 0830

THWAAACK

Special Agent Dana Scully stood in front of the filing cabinet, trying to remember where the folder was for the report she was working on. After ten minutes of fruitless searching with absolutely no offer of assistance from her partner, Scully was ready to give up. With Mulder's idea of a filing system, she'd just have to ask him. (Probably the bottom drawer,) she thought morosely, (at the very back.) She sighed quietly. (And if it is - he's getting it,) she vowed to herself.

THWAAACK

Scully paused, her brow furrowing as the strange sound penetrated her awareness. (What was that?), she thought.

THWAAACK

Slowly she turned around to find her partner, Fox Mulder, leaning precariously back in his chair. With a sharpened pencil in hand, he stared at the ceiling, took careful aim and flicking his wrist, sent the pencil straight up. Silently, she followed the trajectory and saw the pencil join at least ten others above his head.

THWAAACK

Quickly Scully turned away, groaning inwardly. (Not again.) She searched her memory, trying to remember when it was that she had discovered her partner's dubious talent of tossing pencils up and imbedding them in the ceiling tiles. When it came to her, she grinned broadly, grateful that Mulder couldn't see her face as she rolled her eyes heavenward. An all too familiar gesture where her partner was concerned. She nearly laughed aloud remembering how he looked when the pencils started raining down on him. (Oh, please let them start falling down now,) she pleaded silently; (I could really use a laugh right about now.)

THWAAACK

She opened her mouth to make some comment on the appropriate use of pencils bought with the taxpayers money, when the phone rang, cutting her off. Seeing that Mulder preferred to ignore it as usual, she sighed again and picked it up.

"Scully," she said, briskly.

"Agent Scully, this is Kimberly. AD Skinner needs to see you and Agent Mulder in his office, right away."

"We'll be right there." She hung up the phone and caught Mulder watching her.

"What's up?" He asked, his tone light but knowing by the look in Scully's blue eyes that it was back to business.

"Skinner wants to see us." She eyed him intently. "What did you do now?"

"Me!" He exclaimed all innocence, his sparkling hazel eyes purposefully wide. "Why me? I've just spent the last 5 weeks on that trial - which, I might add, was successfully prosecuted. A job well done, I believe I heard mentioned. So if anything, I should be getting a bonus." He grinned smugly; confident for once that he was totally in the clear.

Scully folded her arms across her chest, unconvinced. "Well, he wouldn't want both of us if you're getting a bonus," she said darkly, glaring at him suspiciously. She racked her memory, trying to come up with a reason for the

summons. "Are you sure your nose is clean?" she persisted.

Mulder stood up to put on his jacket and moved around the desk. "Absolutely." And before Scully could blink, he reached out and ran his index finger gently down her nose. "What about you, Scully? How clean is this little freckled nose?" he inquired mischievously.

She swatted his hand away with a laugh, even as a subtle thrill coursed through her at his intimate touch. "Perfectly clean," she replied, mimicking his tone and response. "While you were busy, I was teaching at Quantico. One of the instructors broke his leg, so they were grateful that I could fill in on such short notice. Another job well done, I might add."

Mulder frowned. (Oh, great. Maybe it's about something before that trial,) he thought dejectedly.

"So if we're both due for bonuses, how come it feels like we're heading for the principal's office?" Mulder asked, picking up Scully's pessimism.

"Guilty conscience, I would imagine," Scully retorted smartly, moving towards the door with a smile. She had scored on that one and she intended to make a victorious exit.

Mulder, however, hadn't admitted defeat in this round of their Game and he wasn't about to let her get off so easily. He reached out with his long arm and snagged Scully at the elbow pulling her quickly around so they were facing each other. Instinctively, Scully put her hands up to his chest to catch herself even though she knew Mulder wouldn't let her fall. She looked up at him in surprise, her face inches from his, his breath warm on her cheek.

"Now why would I have a guilty conscience, Scully?" he asked huskily, his hazel eyes twinkling. He breathed deeply. (God, she smelled good.)

Outwardly recovering her composure, Scully pushed herself back a step, even as her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. Mulder released her with a grin, attempting to mask his own feelings of arousal caused by Scully's hands at his chest. He could still feel their warmth through the thin material of his shirt.

"Where do you want me to start?" Scully asked primly, straightening her skirt and adjusting her jacket – looking anywhere but at her partner.

Mulder, however, noticed what she was trying to hide: her cheeks were flushed a bright pink. (That's a point for me.) Trying not to laugh, he backed off. Scully had scored earlier but he had definitely emerged the victor.

"Come on, Scully; Skinner awaits," he said, still smirking as he held the door open for her. Scully simply glared up at him as she stepped out into the hall.

There was no further conversation as they hurried out. If Skinner had bad news, they didn't want to add insult to injury by keeping him waiting.

Scully led the way into Skinner's outer office and seeing that Kimberly was on the phone, assumed she and Mulder should sit and wait. She turned and started towards the chairs but Mulder stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him, silently questioning him with one delicately arched eyebrow.

"We're being waived in," he whispered darkly.

Scully looked over at Kimberly, who was indicating that they should go on in. With Mulder's hand at the familiar place at the small of her back, Scully stepped into Skinner's office. At their arrival, the AD looked up from the file he was reading.

"Agents, have a seat." He paused to allow them to get settled before going on. "We have a situation in Northwestern Nevada."

Mulder and Scully kept their faces neutral. A "situation" could be anything from a nuclear bomb to a car crash. They managed to exchange the briefest of glances that conveyed their relief - neither was getting called on the carpet.

Skinner went on, "Four hours ago, VCS received a call from a game warden out there. A number of bodies were discovered piled atop each other and covered by a tarp, deep in the forest. I want you two to lead the team being sent out there to investigate. A military transport plane will be leaving in 2 1/2 hours."

Mulder and Scully looked at each other. Though no words were spoken, and Skinner got the distinct impression that they just drew straws to see who would question his order. Mulder, apparently, lost.

"Excuse me, sir, but if VCS got the call, won't we be stepping on toes if we're in charge?" he inquired.

Skinner leaned back in his chair. "Under 'normal' circumstances, yes."

"So are we to assume that these aren't 'normal' conditions?" he persisted, seeing that the Assistant Director wasn't going to volunteer an explanation.

Skinner answered by handing him a photo. Scully leaned over to see; her auburn hair grazing his dark brown as they studied the grainy black and white photo taken from above. It looked like someone had pitched a tent in a clearing and had written on the canvas. A single word.

(So it is an X-file,) Mulder thought, his mouth suddenly dry. He looked over to see that his partner had visibly paled.

"Does this say what it looks like it says?" he asked quietly.

"MUFON," Skinner confirmed.

"Are the bodies under there?" Scully asked, managing to keep her voice steady.

"Yes," Skinner replied. He watched them carefully. "That's why we don't have an accurate body count or description. The tarp is anchored with stakes around the entire circumference."

Scully took a deep breath. "Were the bodies burned?"

"It doesn't appear so," Skinner responded.

Mulder silently exhaled in relief.

"Agents," Skinner said as he took off his glasses and came around his desk, leaning back on it. "Off the record," he continued, his voice soft.

"What is it, sir?" Scully asked curiously.

"What I'm about to say, I don't want you to take personally. Either of you," he said carefully.

Mulder leaned back in his chair. He had a pretty good idea where his boss was headed. Especially since he was already there.

Skinner went on, "To be perfectly honest, I'm concerned about you working on this case."

"Even though we're the most qualified," Scully stated flatly. It was not a question.

Skinner held up his hand, glancing at Mulder, who met his gaze without flinching. (Mulder understands,) he immediately realized, so he turned his attention to Scully. "Agent Scully, I realize I may sound a little out of

character here, so bear with me. As your superior, I do in fact have every confidence in your abilities. You two have the only experience with MUFON. But I wouldn't be human if I just ignored why you have so much experience with that group; what with everything you've both been through."

Out of the corner of her eye, Scully caught Mulder staring at her. The haunted look on his face reigned her in. "You're right, sir," she said calmly. "I - I'm sorry."

Skinner relaxed. "No need to apologize. As I've said, these are not normal circumstances. So, just between the 3 of us: if either of you feel that VCS should handle this assignment - I want you to tell me. No questions asked."

Once more, Scully faced Mulder. Their eyes met and held. It was obvious to Mulder that Scully was not about to back down from this. Her eyes had turned a steely blue and her mouth was set in a grim line. (Well, if she went,) he thought despondently, (he'd follow...to the ends of the Earth, if necessary.)

For a brief moment, Skinner swore that they were communicating telepathically, as he waited, surprised by their silence. Maybe they were psychic. The air felt charged, somehow. Skinner watched them closely, the skin on the back of his neck prickled with the tension.

"We'll be fine, sir," Mulder finally said.

"Thank you for your concern, sir," Scully added.

Skinner looked them both over before nodding. He thought so. Replacing his glasses, he returned to his chair and handed a file over. "Here's the list of personnel assigned to you. The Army Corps of Engineers is setting up camp. The plane leaves in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Weather conditions are enclosed," he said briskly.

Mulder took the file and rose to leave, with Scully right behind him.

"Agents," Skinner called after them.

They both paused and turned back.

"Good luck," he said before immediately bending over another file, dismissing them.

Mulder glanced at Scully, shrugged and headed out.