Thank you to the people who reviewed, I was pleased to see someone else liked my ramblings! Also I've noticed people often put a disclaimer in, do I need to do that every chapter? Well I don't own the X-files or any of it's characters, and I make no money off this work. Is that good enough?

As I've said before I'll concentrate more on the episodes that I think are important or would have significant changes so some episodes are condensed right down. This is the case for Deep Throat as I think most of the episode would be unchanged so I've only done the conclusion of that story. If anyone thinks this loses something please let me know and I'll think about doing more.

It was a cool morning and Samantha Mulder was glad of her fleece jacket as she walked out of her building, her phone had rung not ten minutes ago and she'd known before she even answered that it was brother asking if she was awake. Neither she nor Fox had never slept well after his abduction and she often got a phone call in the small hours of the morning asking her if she was free to come for a run. This morning he had sounded especially wired and she could tell he wanted to see her as much as he wanted to run. She wondered briefly if he had heard somehow about her latest assignment with Scully where strange lights in the sky had led to her unofficial imprisonment in a location where no one would have found her. It had only been thanks to her partner's flagrant disregard for the rules that had got her safely home and the whole experience was very vague. She didn't think Dana would have told him but the FBI was a surprisingly gossipy place considering all the secrets they dealt with so he could have heard.

She was just rounding the corner to the track when she felt the hairs on the back of her necessaries and she spun around.

"Your lives, may be in danger."

"You again" she stared the man down "Our lives? Mine and Fox or mine and Scully's?"

"Possibly all three, depending of course on how much your brother knows"

"Why?"

"You've seen things that weren't to be seen. Care and discretion, are now imperative."

"I barely saw anything, nothing I can back up. I need more!"

"As I said, I can provide you with information, but only so long as it's in my best interest to do so."

"What is your interest?"

"The truth."

"I know I did see something, but it's gone. They took it away, they stole it. You have to tell me what it was I saw."

"A military UFO? Mr. Mulder, why are those like yourself, who believe in the existence of extra terrestrial life on this earth, not dissuaded by all the evidence to the contrary?"

"Because, all the evidence isn't to the contrary and there is so much evidence in support of what I believe."

"Precisely."

The man saw something over her shoulder and started away, unable to just let him go she called after him "They're here, aren't they?"

"Ms. Mulder, they've been here for a long long time."

She wanted more but the sound of loping strides sounded behind her and she turned to find her brother approaching. "Who was that?"

"Nobody, just a source" she shrugged it off and smiled up at him "Hey what's up?" he looked haggard and had obviously been suffering insomnia more than usual.

"Bad case, some bastard trading in humans has been making his mark and leaving a trail of bodies mostly young women and children, Henderson and I are at odds on how to deal with this one."

"Are you close?"

"We have a suspect we just need the proof, he's a slippery bugger." he ran a hand over his face pressing his fingers into his closed eyes in a gesture that told her of late nights reading reports and staring at photos. "I know it's him."

As she looked at him Samantha decided that she'd talk to Dana make sure certain facts pertaining to the last case don't get back to her big brother, with the type of case he's on and the wired look in his eyes she knew he wouldn't take it well. They ran in companionable silence on the track Mulder slowly lapping his sister as he burned of the nervous agitation he felt, Samantha knew that when they were done they'd find a coffee shop to sit in where they would pretend t be normal for a while drinking hot drinks and teasing each other about their lack of significant others whilst talking about what to do for their mother's birthday. It was one thing she was grateful for in her crazy world, the chance to just sit with her brother for awhile a chance she knew she was lucky to have.

(–)

The attitude of her old Quantico buddy had been a little grating for Scully when they ate together, it was often annoying to learn that people from the same class as she were making their way up the ladder quicker than herself but she was aware of the compromises that those agents were making, of the choices they made. It was something she wouldn't do, couldn't do, and the work she was doing with Sam was starting to make her feel more open to the strange and fantastic which would not help her in the future. From his attitude she knew that Colton wanted Sam on the case as well as herself, Sam had skills that others would dream of, it would help a case being able to utilise those skills despite her reputation.

"So why do you think they didn't ask me?"

"They're friends of mine from the academy, I'm sure they just felt more comfortable talking to me."

Sam's lips twisted "Why would I make them so uncomfortable?"

"I would think it probably has to do with your reputation."

"Reputation? Do I have a reputation?"

"You know you do, you revel in it" Dana sighed fed up with trying to protect her fellow agent's feelings "Mulder, look. Colton plays by the book and you don't. They feel your methods, your theories are..."

"Spooky? Pop quiz Sully, do you think I'm spooky?"

She was prevented from answering by the arrival of her colleague "Dana, sorry I'm late."

"We just got here. Samantha Mulder, this is Tom Colton." his smile turning flirtatious Tom shook Sam's hand looking at her fully as he did so and making it rather clear he liked what he saw.

"So, Agent Mulder, what do you think, does this look like the work of little green men?"

"Grey."

"Excuse me?" Dana closed her eyes hoping her friend would leave it at that, she knew Sam was a bit of a joker and she gave as good as got.

"Grey. You said green men, a Reticulan skin tone is actually grey that's why they are referred to as the Roswell Grey, they're notorious for their extraction of human livers. Due to iron depletion in the Reticulan galaxy. I personally have avoided certain foods to keep my Iron levels low as protection."

"You can't be serious." Tom looked repulsed and Dana fought the urge to smile at Sam's excellent deflection.

"Do you have any idea what liver and onions go for on Reticula?" she stared at Tom her gaze tracking his figure much as he had for her "You eat a lot of Steak don't you?"

"Tell me what you're thinking Tom" Dana broke the man from his bemused state as he stared after Mulder who was looking around the room.

(–)

Later after a meeting with Colton and his fellow agents Dana walked down the corridors feeling misplaced. Only a short time ago she would have felt completely at home in that meeting but now she was seriously thinking about Samantha's strange theories and otherworldly explanations. The closing statement of the meeting 'you're welcome to come aboard with us, on this. That is if you don't mind working in an area that's a bit more down-to-earth.' had left a bad taste in her mouth. She felt that she should have jumped to her partners defence but had found it hard to do so. She had certainly seen strange things and whilst she still felt some of Sam's theories were warranted she knew that she still hadn't seen enough to completely be able to back up the crazy things Samantha Mulder sometimes said.

Wandering a little further Scully recognised her surroundings, she was near the Violent Crimes Section and started to walk purposefully until she found the office secretaries desks.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?" the young woman sitting there was a rather pretty blonde who had probably spent more time on her perfectly shaped and intricately decorated nails than on the report she was holding. Dana could make out two spelling errors from where she stood.

"I'm looking for Special Agent Fox Mulder"

"Oh Yes? Why?" the woman was almost rude with the question.

"I work with his sister, I need to talk to him about something as a fellow agent" Dana felt offended, she was an FBI agent for goodness sake and she was searching out an associate, it was not a bar where they were competing for the incredibly aptly named Fox.

"Just down the hall, second door on the left." the woman didn't seem pleased to tell her that and it irked Scully

"Thank you" as she left Scully made sure to take a step back and look at the woman with a disparaging smirk. Her sister Missy had told her before that with just a look she could make other people suddenly doubt themselves. It wasn't much of a skill but focussing on the woman's clothing she was pleased to see her icy look she had caused her opponent squirm and pull at her sleeves. It was petty and childish but the little blonde needed to learn that she was in a work environment.

Knocking at the door she was worried as the voice calling her in was unrecognisable that it might be the wrong office, when she looked in she found Fox Mulder leaning back in his chair and another man tall and rather attractive standing facing him.

"Agent Scully!" Fox stood a welcoming smile on his lips

"Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all" the other man smiled holding up his hands "Just on my way out... think about what I said Mulder"

"Thanks Ed" once the man was gone Dana came in and closed the door

"Sorry to barge in"

"Nah you were saving me."

"Do you have a minute to talk?" Scully felt shy addressing Mulder alone, she'd only met him once and that was in Samantha's company "I needed to ask you something."

"Of course sit down" he seemed to sense her discomfort and this time he made no innuendo or attempt to flirt. "What can I do for you?" They sat on either side of the desk and he watched her waiting for her to speak.

"Sam and I are working with another department, with other agents, it's clear they want her expertise as much as mine but" she stopped unsure how to continue but he had a look of understanding on his face.

"It is difficult isn't it? You know they say those things about her behind her back but when you don't hear it when you aren't there for it you can ignore it."

"It's worse, when people used to talk about Spooky Samantha and her alien obsession I'd find it funny. Now knowing her and seeing what she sees, the cases we've seen and all the unexplainable things I've witnessed its as if I'm as angry at myself as much as I am at them."

"I understand that, if she weren't my sister I might be the same."

"I guess they don't do it around you."

"No" he laughed "but I think she got used to a lot of it at school. She and I were separate a lot after I reappeared and it bothered me how alone she was, but it never bothered her."

"The things she believes in, the way she talks about it. Did you ever struggle with it?"

"Not really... see I'd always believed in weird things like magic and ghosts so why not aliens? I wasn't abducted by them but they could easily exist, when I was at school we'd write to each other and the letters were full of things we'd researched, old folk tales, weird goings on I never dreamed it would end up like this but there's nothing wrong with it."

"Do you think it bothers her? The jokes?"

"It's never bothered her when I've seen it, she has her convictions and she's sticking to them."

"That's another thing that bothers me, she doesn't seem to care that they laugh at her, she doesn't worry about her reputation at all. The case we're on is strange I don't deny but the theories she comes out with make her look ridiculous."

"What's she saying this time?"

"It's a murder case sort of a locked room scenario" Dana didn't want to go into too much detail "and she's sure our killer got in through a vent six inches by seventeen point eight inches, she then posits that the killer started in 1903. It's all too impossible to believe."

"But you're thinking about it, that it might be true." he was smiling as he spoke and she was annoyed by the look in his eyes.

"I don't know" She shook her head, she knew the fingerprint was something irrefutable but it was all too unlikely. "how could the killer have done that?"

"There are more things in heaven and earth" he quoted with a smile that reminded her of Sam's teasing look.

"Yes but a killer over ninety years old who can get through a tiny vent?"

"Sam has a way of seeing the impossible and believing it and if she does she wont pretend otherwise."

"I've never met anyone like that before and I'm not sure I can be like that I've worked damn hard to get where I am." Dana almost surprised herself with the last comment, she hadn't realised how much she worried about her career working where she was. If she was willing to join in with the jokes and dismiss San's work more she'd be set to do well in her line of work but she just couldn't do that.

"It's always been easier for us to ignore the rest of the world." Fox leaned back in his chair his next words would seem boastful to some but Dana understood why he was saying what he said "We come from a wealthy family and had the best education money can buy just handed to us. I have an eidetic memory and her IQ is off the charts we could easily get jobs in a private sector and make more money, working for the FBI is something we've chosen for our own reasons. We don't care what others think because anything we've ever tried we've succeeded in... well." he smiled

"What?"

"Ice Hockey, I never quite took to that as well as I wanted"

"Ice Hockey?"

"All the tough kids did it and I was doing well until I went slamming into a wall almost breaking my nose" he touched the feature with a wry smile " it was bruised and swollen for days, I never quite had the nose I wanted but the idea that I could make it worse scared me off the sport."

Dana found herself smiling as she looked at his nose "I like it, it gives your face character"

"Ugh" he made a disgusted sound and dropped his head on the desk "I hate those compliments that are actually insults I've heard them so many times, next you'll say I look distinguished"

"Well" she let the word hang giggling when he groaned long and loud

"Get Out" he pointed to the door not raising his head "I don't like you any more."

"OK" she stood but she had gone through the door she looked back in to find him still face down "If it helps" she added trying to suppress her grin as he looked up "I was also thinking it made you seem striking" there was another groan and she walked out feeling lighter than before.

(-)

Though she felt as if Scully's stakeout was completely pointless Sam had nothing to do that evening and sitting in her apartment alone she had been bored. Calling Fox had been out of the question as he was probably with that girl from his office that he was currently dating, what he had in common with a girl only just legal to drink she didn't know but she guessed they didn't do much talking. Instead she found herself heading down to her usual takeaway and making an order that was far more than she needed. Scully had told her where her stakeout was and as she didn't want to make her jump she walked quietly through the parking lot.

"FBI! Hands in the Air!" Even before she had turned Dana had recognised her partner "Mulder?"

"Don't shoot, I have too much to live for!" she teased her hands raised

"Mulder, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I came to keep you company," at Dana's look of disbelief she continued "he's not coming back here, his thrill is derived from the challenge of impossible entry. He's already beaten this place, if you'd read the X-file on the case, you'd come to the same conclusion."

"Sam, you are jeopardising my stakeout."

"I brought Chinese!" Sam held up a bag and Dana couldn't help but smile she was probably pretty hungry.

"I guess you can stay for a bit" They got back in the car and were just opening up the goodies when someone called in a check in "Position 10, I copy" was said around a mouthful of Lo-Mein.

"Damn where's my soda" Sam looked through the bag "I must have dropped it when you jumped me"

"I did not jump you!" Dana protested as Sam got out of the car again.

As Mulder headed back to where she'd run into Scully she heard a strange noise, much as Scully had earlier she crept to a nearby pillar ready to spring out on someone but could see no one. She moved towards a caged off area of the car park and then in the ventilation duct there was a movement. Turning back she yelled "Scully, call for backup and get over here!"

"In there." When Scully joined her Sam pointed at the duct "Can you see?"

The duct moved again and the two women held their guns ready "Federal Agent, I'm armed. Proceed down the vent, slowly." Scully yelled in a masterful voice.

The hatch flew off as a foot kicked it open followed by a thin sullen man, he slowly stood up and turned around holding his hands up.

Suddenly five men all wearing FBI clothing and holding guns joined them, Tom came forward "Take him."

Unable to keep the surprise out of her voice Sam turned to Scully "You were right."

(–)

Though Tooms has managed to pass the lie detector test Sam was pretty sure that Scully was completely correct that Tooms was indeed the guy they wanted. The detector test had thrown up some fun fact for her confirming her own beliefs but because Colton refused to listen another man had died and he was still at large. Thanks to Frank Briggs they had found his lair and all the trophies that Tooms had collected from his victims over the years and arranged a surveillance team. Sam was on her way to relieve them but the car was no longer there "Where on earth is everyone?" Sam questioned aloud as she looked around, dammit old stretchy might have done anything whilst there was no one watching.

Running into the building she un-holstered her gun ready in case Tooms was around, she quickly headed back to where she and Dana had investigated earlier. Once in the cellar below the apartment building she moved carefully and quietly until she arrived at his little collection, it seemed undisturbed and turning was about to leave when something glinted in the light, a small golden cross. Swearing as she recognises Scully's necklace she turns and begins to run.

(–)

Alone in her apartment Scully had tried to call her partner several times to no avail, she also tried to call Ethan only to be told he was still on an assignment. She was running a bath hoping a long soak will relax her but as she is moving around her bathroom something drops from the ceiling to the floor. Crouching down she touches it only to realise what she was staring at, glancing up she saw more on her vent and in the next moment she was rushing out of the bathroom to where she stored her gun. Terrified she picks up her weapon and holds it at face level, moving to the phone she picked it up and dialled before holding it to her ear.

It was dead

"Damn it" Scully cursed as she slowly moved through her home looking for Tooms, she was just walking through to the kitchen when a hand grabbed her ankle. Tooms face was staring through her vent and she cried out as she slipped dropping her gun. Kicking at her attacker she managed to grab hold of a door frame and pull herself away. In a moment her attacker was out of the vent and on top of her, he had great strength as he straddled her fending off every punch she threw his way.

"DANA!" the shout and crashing at her door gave her renewed hope and she screamed for help as Tooms pushed up her shirt.

"SAM!" Mulder appeared in her doorway with her gun raised "Get him" Tooms attempted an escape but between the two of them they managed to subdue him and soon had him cuffed.

"You OK?" Sam asked after she had called for back up

"Yeah, how did you know?" Scully was grateful when Sam held out the little gold necklace that she'd rescued from Toom's trophy altar "I wondered where that was."

"He had it with his other prizes, looks like he's not going to get his quota this year." they both breathed a sigh of relief neither taking their guns off the cuffed and almost feral Tooms.

(-)

"No, no... No!" Sam watched Scully as she paced talking into her phone, whatever was happening with the other person it was not a particularly civil conversation and Scully was slowly getting more and more frustrated. Finally when the red head had rung off with an angry "Just do what you want!" she stopped pretending she hadn't heard her.

"Everything OK?"

"Ethan and I are fighting a lot right now"

"I'm sorry" the two women didn't talk a lot about their personal lives but Sam felt the need to know more, Scully needed support right now. "It''s not because of the work here is it?"

"It's not helping but if I'm honest I don't think we were going to work out anyway."

"He's a reporter isn't he? It must be hard to keep everything separate."

"That's just it, we manage that fine but our work is such a huge part of our lives that we have so much we can't talk about. Also... Last night he ditched me for a story but instead of telling me I just ended up alone in a restaurant for an hour. How hard is it to call a restaurant and get a message to someone?"

"That sucks" Sam knew that seeing Tooms in his cell the other day as he slowly built himself another nest had freaked her colleague out a little. Scully had probably worried a lot when her boyfriend didn't show for dinner and then to realise it was just thoughtlessness on his part Sam knew if it happened to her annoyed wouldn't cover it.

"I know, but I always call if we have to change plans but he doesn't, he just forgets to show up and then brings some cheap gas station flowers to say sorry when he finally shows up."

"I hate that. It actually feels more insulting than if they brought nothing."

"Exactly and then he suggests we go out tonight and I told him you and I have that early meeting tomorrow. And if he doesn't show I have to go spend another hour by myself being pitied by wait staff when something comes up."

"I'm sure he wouldn't do that again."

"It's not the first time" Dana sat down heavily "I'm fine but I must admit this thing with Tooms had me a bit shaken up and I could have done with a nice meal with Ethan to talk about it. Instead I sat alone for an hour with a glass of wine." the fact that she had waited for an hour seemed to be the thing that angered Scully the most.

"Well you could do that" Sam offered "Or... I have wine at my place and though there's no food we could get pizza on the way."

"Wine and Pizza?" Scully smiled "that actually sounds perfect."

The interaction between Fox and Dana will build up over time but I want Sam and Dana's relationship to be more fixed before that happens too much, Fox will become more involved with the cases as time goes on but he occasionally has to be on the sidelines. Please let me know if you think the episodes need more outside detail, I am mostly restricting it to the regular actors on the show but if you think scenes where they aren't involved should appear tell me I am counting on you all having seen the show.