Cedar Grove High School
2:00 p.m.
Mulder met up with Scully in a swarm of police officers outside the high school. "What happened?" He asked her.
"This time it was the junior class president," said Scully as they moved away from the excitement. "Apparently he attacked another junior, and was using a wooden ruler as a weapon. Took two principals and two teachers to pull him off of the other kid."
"You said they had something to pin him with," Mulder said.
"They found steroids in his locker. He was a starting basketball player, and apparently had been using them for a few weeks. Steroids are known to bring on erratic and sometimes violent behavior, which would explain the sudden attack."
Mulder nodded. "That doesn't explain the other four kids, though."
Scully sighed. "Mulder, I never made it over to question them. Now I'm glad I didn't. This boy was an outstanding student, and he was using steroids. I hate to say it, but the others were probably using something as well."
"How do you explain the drug tests?" Mulder asked, his temper beginning to rise.
Scully paused. "There was only a certain type of drug test administered. Sometimes they're inaccurate, and sometimes they won't pick up certain types of steroids. If these five kids were using that type, then there's a chance the test didn't pick it up."
Mulder's jaw clenched and he looked back at the school. "That's not it, Scully. It can't be."
"Mulder," Scully said quietly, "it's over. It's time to give it up and go back to work. This is finished."
Mulder stormed off to his car, got in, and drove off leaving Scully behind. He didn't believe what just happened, but there was nothing he could do.
FBI Headquarters
Friday, 8:13 a.m.
Walter Skinner eyed Mulder and Scully over the rims of his glasses.
"This isn't the first time you're pulled a stunt like this," he said, indicating Mulder. "But Agent Scully, I would have expected more from you."
Mulder interjected. "Sir, with all due respect, I asked Agent Scully to join me. She did not do it on her own."
Skinner frowned warily. "When I talked to her yesterday, she said she had not heard from you. I was under the impression I gave her the news of your 'leave of absence.'"
Mulder opened his mouth but nothing came out. He was caught, trying to save his partner.
"You were the one to tell me, Sir," Scully said quickly. "I was surprised to hear he was pursuing the investigation as a civilian, but I had promised him to help no matter what."
Skinner sat back in his chair, chin resting on his hand. "I covered for you two yesterday, so you had better watch your step the next few weeks. You'll be given a new assignment today "
Mulder and Scully nodded, and left the office. When they were out of earshot, Scully looked over at Mulder.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"For what?" Mulder asked.
"Covering for me back there."
Mulder shrugged. "From what I heard, you covered for me. Skinner would have never believed what I said, had you not confirmed it."
Scully smiled as they reached the elevator. "You would have done the same."
Together they retreated to the office in the basement.
Cedar Grove High School
9:25 a.m.
Casey wandered through the halls toward her algebra class. Bill Akley appeared from behind a locker and playfully shoved at her.
"Hey!" he yelled out. "You ready to get beat today at the street hockey scrimmage?"
Casey shoved him back. "You're asking the wrong person. I'll be the one who beats you!"
Bill grinned and sauntered into his next class. Casey smiled to herself, his dumb grin sticking out in her mind. Unconsciously, she reached into her backpack and pulled out her water bottle. This time, however, she found it empty, having forgotten to refill it that morning. "Oh well," she said to herself. "I'll just fill it up at the water fountain. One time won't hurt me."
Stopping at the nearest fountain, Casey filled her water bottle full. She remembered the mono breakout from last year, but also knew the school was having purified water shipped in. Not wanting to be late for class, she jogged down the hall, already sipping from her bottle.
By sixth period, Casey had drunk almost all of the water. She was beginning to feel a little sick-light headed and weak. She passed it off as allergies or a cold, and began to focus on the street hockey scrimmage that was to be held in an hour.
Finally, she had to put her head down. Everything was spinning, and she was beginning to get a migraine. All the voices were blurring together, so when the bell rang, it took her a minute to respond. Casey packed her things up and slowly headed to the locker room.
Ten minutes later she was on the court, stick in hand. She and Bill were to face off, and they met halfway. The referee, an assistant gym teacher, was working with the scoreboard. The two teens stood nose to nose at the center.
Bill glared his eyes and grinned evilly. "You're going down, Casey!"
Casey felt as though she were swaying back and forth. She heard what Bill said, and it made her angry. Was he threatening her? She looked him in the eyes and saw him glowering back.
Bill laughed. "I hope your team's decent today; someone will have to make up for what you mess up!"
Casey felt her anger rise. She had never been angry at what Bill said on the court, but for some reason, today was different. It was like she was someone else.
"Shut the hell up, Bill," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm not in the mood..."
While the ref's back was turned, Bill skated circles around Casey, like he had a few days before. "Whassa matter?" He mocked her. "Little girl can't take a little heat?"
At that moment, Casey felt herself leave her body. She saw her hockey stick hit the ground, and felt herself dive onto Bill. She began to kick him with her roller blades and punch his face. Suddenly, she grabbed for her hockey stick and used the elongated end as a weapon to hit him with.
It took three faculty members to pull Casey off of Bill. Someone yelled for an ambulance to be called-Bill was unconscious, and his bloody face made it hard to tell who he was. Casey was taken to the office to be held until authorities could be notified.
Casey sat in the office for ten minutes before her head cleared enough for her to process what happened. She glanced down at her hands and saw blood on them. The adrenaline was gone; now all she felt was horror at what she had done.