A/N: Milion thank you to my beta,'re a great beta!

FBI BASEMENT OFFICE

11.30 AM

Mulder sat in his office with Scully. They enjoyed their lunch when they heard a knock on the door. Scully looked at Mulder, rasing her eyebrow.

'Come in,' Mulder called out, wondering who'd ventured down to see the FBI's most unwanted.

The office door opened, revealing Samantha, or the woman Mulder thought to be his sister. The woman walked to stand before his desk, ignoring Scully. Smiling, Mulder offered Samantha a seat.

'Hello Fox,' she greeted, 'I thought we might go to lunch, but I see you've already eaten.'

Smiling, Mulder decided he couldn't miss this opportunity to spend time with the woman claiming to be his sister. 'I have,' he answered easily, 'we could go across the street for a coffee if you'd like?'

'I'd appreciate that,' Samantha replied.

Mulder rose from his chair and took his coat. Scully eyed him, covering her surprised expression. When this woman appeared,Mulder's behavior changed. Rising from her chair, Scully stretched out a hand and gently touched Mulder's arm.

'Can we talk a moment in private?' Scully asked,her eye's flicking in Samantha direction.

Mulder nodded and turned his attention to Samantha. 'Can you wait for me outside,' he requested, 'I'll be there in a minute.'

Samantha stood, walked to the door, and closed it behind her with a loud thud. The moment the door shut, Scully crossed her arms on her chest. She gave him a searching look.

'I know what you're thinking,' Mulder defended. 'She's too well informed about the night she disappeared. A clone can't know the details.' Mulder's eyes begged Scully to give this woman the benefit of doubt until they had proof.'I want you to believe,' he finished with a low tone.

'I don't and I won't to believe this story, Mulder,' Scully sighed. 'I know how much you want to find your sister. I want you to find Samantha.' She hated to see Mulder in this situation. Scully needed to open his eyes if they were to find the truth.

'She's waiting me outside,' Mulder said and reached for the door knob but Scully stopped him.

'Just take care,' concern infused Scully's expression. 'We both know Samantha's clones exist. You've seen them. I don't want you to believe everything this woman says only to find out she's playing you.'

Mulder sighed and walked out the office. He noticed Samantha standing close enough to the door to have overheard his conversation with Scully. Watching him from under her lashes, she walked beside her brother to the elevator.

'What did you hear?' Mulder asked, hoping she would tell the truth

'Everything,' Samantha replied as she pushed the button in anger. 'I thought you're partner would be happy for you.'

'You don't understand,' Mulder supplied quietly, 'Scully's seen me go through this before only to be disappointed.'

'I'm not a clone, Fox,' Samantha denied. 'I lost my memory in an accident. At least that's what my family told me. I believed them; I had didn't have any reason not too. You don't expect your parents to lie to you at eight years old,' she pleaded, hoping he'd believe. 'When I saw you, it all came back.'

They walked out the elevator and the FBI building. A part of him wanted to believe the woman at his side. Wanted to believe he'd finally found his sister. Scully's doubt circled his thoughts, not allowing his mind to give complete faith to Samantha's easy tail.

Touching Mulder's arm lightly, Samantha pointed to a small café across the road. 'What about there?'

'Yeah,' Mulder said with a sigh as they entered the restaurant. After being seated and ordering, he casually asked, 'tell me what your remember about that night, about the people who took you.'

Closing her eye's, Samantha spoke slowly, 'I remember a white light and then...then I woke up. I recall being strapped to a metal chair. Faces, so many faces but all the same. Every person in the room had the same face.'

'The Bounty Hunter,' Mulder stated in wonderment, 'they all have the same face but they're not human, Samantha. They're aliens.'

She covered her mouth with a hand and looked surprised. 'Aliens, Fox? I thought they were doctors. They did tests, so many tests,' Samantha's eyes filled with unshed tears, her breath coming in gasps. 'They hurt me. I begged them to stop but they didn't. They just stood there and watched.'

Mulder wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drag her to his chest. 'Ssh, it's OK now, Samantha. You're safe now. I promise that I'll never let them take you again.'

A small smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Hiding it from Mulder, Samantha thought, he believes me, he believes it all.

Mulder pulled away, lifting his sister's chin to look at her. 'Do you trust me, Samantha?'

'Yes,' she managed in a soft voice, 'I do. You are the only one I trust.'

'Then don't be afraid,' Mulder promised with more than his tone. Hazel orbs gazed deeply into one another. 'I'll always be here to protect you.'

She sighed and wiped her tears away. Mulder smiled in return, his heart lightened by the expression of trust in his sister's face. The moment broke as the waiter delivered Samantha's sandwich and their coffee's. At the same time, Mulder's phone rang. He excused himself and walked outside the restaurant.

'Mulder' he answered shortly.

'Mulder, it's me,' Scully announced. 'Where are you?'

'I'm across the street,' he said, 'at Alfredo's.'

Hearing Scully's sigh, 'I'm with the Gunman. I've uncovered more about this Elissa Smith. I'd like you to join me.'

'Scully, I can't,' Mulder returned, anger lacing his tone, 'you know I'm at lunch with Samantha. I'll join you later.'

'No, Mulder,' she replied in a serious tone, 'I need you to come over here now.'

'Why,' Mulder demanded.

'Elissa Smith died as an eight year old in a car accident,' Scully informed her partner. She'd put the last half an hour to good use, tracking down the identity of the woman claiming to be Samantha. 'I've just talked to her parents.'

'I'll meet you there,' Mulder hung up the phone, feeling confused.

When Mulder reentered the café, Samantha turned her attention to him. Her eyes followed his progress across the floor. Taking his coat from the back of his chair, Mulder spoke quietly, hoping his companion couldn't tell he lied. 'I have to go. Scully called. We've got a case.'

'Take care, Fox,' a sad expression crossed her face. 'I don't think your partner likes me very much,' Samantha added, almost as an after thought. 'I get the felling she's trying to keep us from spending time together.'

Mulder sighed, wondering if Scully might just be right. Although Samantha's story matched his memories, there hadn't been time to question her thoroughly. Popping a seed into his mouth, Mulder's mind worked furiously on the problem all the way to The Gunman's lair. His new romantic relationship with his partner complicated matters. Scully's thoughts and feelings on family made up a large part of who she was. She'd never keep him from spending time with his sister. Dana doubted Samantha's story because she used their friendship to gain access to Mulder. Even Mulder began to wonder why.

'We gotta…' Langley started when they heard a knock on the door. Byers checked the video feed, nodding to Frohike. Mulder stood outside, his hands in his trench coat pockets. Unlocking the door as fast as he could, the short man let Mulder in.

'Hey, Mulder,' Frohike greeted.

Nodding in acknowledgement, Mulder sat down next to Langly. His eyes flicked to the picture of an eight year old girl on the screen. Mouth slightly open, he began to read the obituary for the child.

'Mulder,' Scully started, all eyes drawn to the petite red head, 'we've search records for Elissa Smith. Only one individual matched Samantha's description.'

Watching his reaction closely, Scully saw the melancholy cloud his expression. 'She's using this little girl's name and identity. We did come up with something thought,' pausing, she gave Byers silent permission to continue their discovery.

'A top secret project called "ElySmith",' Byers soft voice filled the stillness.

Mulder's expression changed in an instant as Langly switched screen to display the information they'd uncovered. Mulder attempted to clear his head by shaking it. Rising from his chair, denial leapt into his expression. This can't be true, Mulder didn't want to believe, she's a person, my sister, not some project.

Scully's blue eyes caught Mulder's and bored into them. His hazel orbs returning the glare. A battle raged between them. Sighing, Dana Scully walked over to her partner and placed a small hand on his arm without losing eye contact. She'd known from the moment this woman claimed to be Mulder's sister it would end this way.

'Mulder,' she whispered.

Dana Scully's glare softened the moment she saw Mulder's acceptance. Once again she'd supplied him proof of yet another deception. Bending his head, Scully leant forward so their foreheads touched. Mulder needed comforting. Rubbing his back, Scully closed her eyes, sharing his disappointment.

'Mulder, sit down,' she said softly, guiding him back to the chair he'd vacated.

Mulder complied as his world once again fell apart. His hope destroyed, he felt pain at finding and losing his sister in the space of a few days. Anger surged at the though of who might be behind this. Each time it happened, Mulder experience the same emotions as the night Samantha disappeared. He'd relive the experience repeatedly each night as sleep failed to claim him.

'I'll get him a glass of water,' Langly said and walked to the kitchen.

Both Byers and Frohike move their chairs next to their friend. They shared his pain. The last time they'd seem him so lost, he begged help to find Scully after her abduction. Frohike reached out a hand, only to pull it back.

Mulder rose from the chair and put his coat on. Taking his car keys he strode towards the door. Before anyone could react, he'd opened the front door and disappeared. It occurred so fast, Scully and the Gunmen found themselves frozen. By the time Scully reacted, Mulder's car engine purred into life.

'Mulder, what are you doing?' Scully said trying to open the car door but no luck. He'd locked them.

'Just leave me!' him shouted before driving away.

Mulder drove. He didn't have a destination in mind. He needed to be on the move. That way he might be able to out run his pain and anger. Once again he'd been duped into believing he might have found his sister. True, he'd had his doubts but Mulder wanted to believe so badly. Once again Scully's rationalism and logic had uncovered the truth.

'Mulder!' the Gunmen and Scully yelled after his car. If he heard, he gave no sign, nor did he stop.

Scully retrieved her coat and car keys. The Gunmen watched on anxiously, sharing a knowing glance at each other. Only Scully had the power to stop Mulder doing something stupid. Continuing to observe the drama playing out, Scully walked to her car and opened the door.

'I'll be in touch,' Scully directed over her shoulder as she climbed into her car, 'meanwhile find what ever information you can on this project.'

Picking up her cell, Scully dialed Mulder's number. A messaged stated he'd either turned it off or no longer had cell service. Groaning with frustration, she called his apartment and left a message. Finally trying the phone in their basement office, it rang out.

Scully spent the next four hours searching and calling. Mulder hadn't gone home or to work or his favorite bar to drown his sorrows. Finally, Scully turned to her apartment in desperation. She couldn't find any indication he been there either. Without a choice, Dana Scully realized she'd have to inform Skinner.

'Agent Scully,' Kimberly attempted to stop a very determined Agent Scully, 'Mr. Skinner is in a meeting. You can't see him now.'

Without caring about Skinner's meeting she entered the office. Everyone turned to see Scully standing in the doorway. Skinner made his excuse, grabbed Scully, frog marching her out to Kim's office. One look into her concerned eyes told him all he needed to know.

'Agent Mulder is missing.' she announced, quickly filling him in on the events of the last week.

Skinner's eyes grew wide. Mulder's dedication to finding his sister drove his quest and the X-files. Well aware of this agent's short coming, Skinner removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

'Unless you believe there's reason to fear for Agent Mulder's safely,' Skinner glared, trying to gain the answer to the unasked question, 'you'll have to go through channels, Agent Scully.'

'Yes, Sir,' she responded angrily. 'I just hope it's not too late when I find him,' Scully threw over her shoulder as she stormed out of her superior's office.