FBI Headquarters

Washington D.C.

Thursday, 8:39 a.m.

Assistant Director Walter Skinner flipped to the last piece of paper in front of him and sighed. Sticking his fingers under his glasses to rub his eyes, he spoke to the agent in front of him.

"Agent Mulder, do you really feel federal investigation into this situation is warranted?"

Mulder sat in front of his superior, nodding vigorously. "Yes sir. I've spoken with a student of the school, and I think that under the circumstances-"

"Under what circumstances?" Skinner asked curtly.

"The profiles of the students who have been suspended. Now, I've looked into their files this morning and each student has a clear record prior: never been in a fight, never gotten into trouble. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd never raised their voice at another student."

Skinner shook his head. "Agent Mulder, from what I've heard the Cedar Grove faculty has everything under control. They have increased security in the school, and all necessary precautions will be taken. Since these outbursts have been merely fist fights, and no weapons have been used, there's no need for the FBI to look into this."

Mulder sighed. "But sir-"

"Agent Mulder," Skinner raised his voice, "if you truly think that there's something worth investigating here, you will do it as a civilian. The FBI has more important things to worry about than schoolyard scraps. Do I make myself clear?"

It took Mulder only a second to consider his options. Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out his ID, removed his gun from his holster, and placed them both on Skinner's desk. "Perfectly clear," he answered as he walked from the office. "I'll see you in a week."

Cedar Grove High School

10:30 a.m.

Casey Byers sat staring at the clock on the wall. Five more minutes and she could escape to her art class, far from the right-brain vocabulary and equations of her algebra II class. The bell couldn't ring soon enough.

Her eyes wandered around the room and came to rest on Sam Waynes, the junior class president and basketball captain. A straight-A student, he was always willing to lend his fellow students a helping hand in their studies. Besides that, he was very nice and hardly ever spoke badly of anyone. His gaze caught Casey's, and the two students smiled. Casey's eyes went back to check the clock, and she was disheartened to find that only a minute and a half had passed.

"Honestly, this is the slowest class of the day," Casey muttered to herself, careful not to be heard by her teacher, who was lecturing on the fun of matrices.

After what seemed like hours, the bell finally rang. Casey jumped from her seat and was one of the first out the door. Before heading to art class, she decided to drop off her algebra book at her locker.

On her way, she passed Sam. He was at the water fountain, filling up a thermos.

"Hey Case!" he called out cheerfully upon seeing her.

"Hey Sam," Casey called back with a grin.

Casey reached for her own water bottle and drank from it. She knew Sam liked to drink water throughout the day, as the basketball team had been having many after-school practices in preparation for their upcoming season. With her street hockey scrimmage in a little over a day, she decided to follow his habit...though she'd still stick to water from home.

As she passed by the front office, she saw a familiar person signing in. Double backing, she stuck her head in the doorway.

"Agent Mulder?" she asked, surprised. Although she knew he had taken an interest in her school, she was startled to see him there.

Mulder looked up. "Hi Casey. Can you spare a second?"

Casey looked to the secretary. "Can you write me a pass?"

The secretary nodded, and allowed the two to go into a private conference room in the back of the office.

"What's wrong?" Casey asked, worried. "Did something happen?"

Mulder frowned. "No, why?"

"Well, I didn't really expect to see someone from the FBI in my school," Casey replied.

"I just wanted to come take a look around for myself." Mulder's tone got softer. "Look Casey, I think that there's something deeper happening here. Another reason for these outbursts of violence that the school or the police aren't going to see. That's why I'm here, to try and prove these kids' innocence. But I don't want you to tell anyone who I am. If you see Agent Scully or me, I'd like you to act like you don't know us-like we're just ordinary people."

Casey nodded. "Sure, Mulder, no problem. I just don't get why this is something the FBI feels it should look into. I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate it, it's just..." she trailed off.

"Just what?" Mulder pressed.

Casey sighed. "What adult ever gives teenagers the benefit of the doubt? Especially one who has no connection to kids?"

Mulder was quiet a moment. He knew how it felt. Telling someone of authority something and not being believed. He experienced as a boy after Samantha disappeared, and continued to experience it as an adult almost daily. "I might not have a connection, but I do want to believe," he said softly.

Casey nodded. "Good luck then, Agent Mul-I mean, 'Mister.'"

Mulder smiled. "See ya around."

As Casey left for class, she heard Mulder's cell phone ring. "Better not get that confiscated," Casey called over her shoulder.

"Mulder," he answered, smiling at the teen's humor.

"Mulder, it's me," said a familiar voice. "Where are you?"

"I'm at Cedar Grove High School, beginning my investigation as a 'civilian.' Where are you?"

"Stay there. I'm coming over."