Forty-five minutes later Scully walked through the doors of the high school, looking rather angry.

Mulder grinned. "Hey Scully, what's up?"

"I was called into Skinner's office to explain your behavior," Scully said tetchily. "Then, I go back to the office to find out you've ditched me. I really don't appreciate finding these things out after they happen, Mulder."

Mulder nodded, knowing she was right. "I know, and I'm sorry, Scully. I would have told you before, but I didn't decide to take a leave of absence until I met with Skinner. And I couldn't go back to the office without my badge, so I left you a voicemail in hopes you'd forgive me," he ended, his eyebrows raised sheepishly.

Scully sighed. Her partner had meant well, and she knew how his passion for the truth would sometimes make him forget he had someone else on his side. "Well, I'm here to help with your 'civilian' investigation."

Mulder looked at her, shocked. "You mean you turned in your badge?"

Scully nodded. "We've got a week. Whatever you think is going on here, Mulder, I trust you. And I'll help you find the truth."

Mulder smiled, knowing his partner would never let him down. "I just spoke to Casey. I told her we'd be around and asked her not to tell anyone who we were. Besides her, the only people who know are the principals and a few teachers."

Scully nodded. "But what are we looking for, Mulder?"

Mulder shook his head. "I don't know yet. Why don't you go talk to the principal, maybe some of the teachers that knew those kids well. If possible, try and find ones who know who we are and why we're here."

"Where will you be?"

Mulder started out the door to the main hallway. "Looking for anything fishy."

For half an hour, Mulder wandered around the school building, a hand-written "Visitor" pass hanging in place of his usual FBI I.D. He passed by a side door, and saw a uniformed man backing up and pulling a dolly. Mulder opened the door and held it open for him.

"Thanks," said the man. "I was hoping I could get someone to help me out with this."

As he moved through the doorway, Mulder noticed a fifty-gallon water tank on the dolly. "What's this?" He inquired.

"Oh," the man stopped and wiped his forehead on his sleeve. "It's water for the school."

Mulder frowned. "You mean they don't use the same water as everyone else? They use something besides city water?"

The man shook his head. "I work with the city, actually, and we're shipping in purified water for them. They had a big mono breakout last year, got about 40 percent of the school sick. Water fountains were the main cause. So the school's ordered purified water to be pumped into the water fountain system. Dips pretty deep into their pockets, but they have the parent support needed."

Mulder took a look at the unmarked tank. It resembled a helium tank, with fixtures at the top to be connected to the main plumbing system. He glanced up at the unknown man, and saw his nametag read "H. Gorely." "Has it helped any?"

"Sick rate's gone down quite a bit, actually," Gorely replied. "This is the prime source in schools, you know. Once you clean up the fountain and the water, it's all up to personal hygiene to do the rest."

Mulder nodded. "Thanks a lot," he said, and turned to leave.

Mulder's search for "anything fishy" was becoming unsuccessful. He had questioned faculty, and no one seemed to give any indication that they knew more than they let on. Nor did they seem to give any of the kids the benefit of the doubt. They blamed it all on "society."

Mulder met up with Scully at the front office after lunch, and the two headed out the door.

"You find anything?" asked Mulder.

Scully shook her head. "They all acted like it was expected of these kids. No one even mentioned that they were all excelling students with good reputations."

"Yeah, I got the same thing," said Mulder. He sighed as they reached her car, and looked back at the school. "Maybe this was a mistake."

Scully put her hand on his arm. "We still have the four kids to talk to," she reminded him. "I say we question them before we reconsider this."

Mulder thought for a moment. "Yeah, you do that." He walked off, heading towards his car.

"Mulder, where are you going?" Scully asked.

Mulder turned around briefly. "I want to check up on something...something about the water the school is having imported. I'll call you."

Scully sighed as he walked away. Then she got into the car and headed toward the local neighborhood, where the first teenaged aggressor lived.

Lone Gunmen Headquarters

1:18 p.m.

Frohike, Langly, Byers, and Mulder sat around a computer screen, with Langly at the keyboard.

"Okay, search for 'Gorely' as the last name," said Mulder.

Langly typed it in, and a profile for Howard Gorely popped up. Mulder read the information and sighed, frustrated.

"Looks like he's clean, Mulder," said Langly. "Worked for the City of Seat Pleasant for three years, no criminal record, no drug abuse..."

"Yeah," Mulder muttered. Before he could say anything else, his cell phone's shrill ring echoed in the warehouse.

"Mulder," he answered.

"Mulder, it's me," said Scully.

"Have you had a chance to talk to any of the four kids?" Mulder asked first thing.

"Mulder, it doesn't matter. There was another fight...and this time, they have something to pin him with."

Mulder headed out the door, leaving the Lone Gunmen without a goodbye. "I'll be right there."