Act III

She was running through the airport, with the gun-wielding man and a TSA agent following. She ran into a women's bathroom. They were still in pursuit. She grabbed her phone, and called the first number she could think of. While it rang, she pulled out her gun. As soon as there was an answer, she shouted "This is Agent Monica Reyes, I need assistance at JFK International Airport. They are armed and dangerous." The man came through the door, recovered from the kick. She ran into a stall. He moved in, and cornered her. "You little…"

"Don't even finish that sentence!" she ordered, pushing her gun into his face. "Drop your weapon, I am a federal agent."

"Do we go in? Do you have her?"

She pushed the barrel of the gun into his forehead. "Tell them to stand down."

"Wait outside. Cover the door." He told them.

"Now, who are you? Who sent you?"

He was silent. So she shouted, "Who the hell are you?"

"NSA."

"Bullshit."

"Ms. Reyes, we were ordered to bring you in. It's a matter of national security."

"I'll bet. Who are you really?"

"This won't…"

"Start talking, or I'll finish this."

Another voice came in. "Agent Reyes, do you need assistance?"

"Who's there?"

"Special Agent Curtis, we're here to assist."

"The men outside?"

"We've got them. What's your situation?"

"One man inside, he's armed."

"Roger. We're coming in."

Three agents stormed in, guns drawn. Two of them pointed their guns at the assailant, and one of them went to Reyes. "Agent Reyes, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay. Any idea what's going on?"

"I was hoping you could tell me. The other men were heavily armed, we don't know how they got through security. No ID on them. They won't identify themselves."

"He said he was NSA."

"We'll look into that. So what happened?"

"I was checking in, and they sent to the a security checkpoint. I identified myself, and the agent freaked out, and these men appeared with guns."

"We've got the man who stopped you at security. He's in a TSA uniform, but the security here says they've never seen him before. Like the others, he had no ID."

"What is going on here?"

"I don't know, but someone important wants to talk to you."

9:39 PM, FBI Field Office, New York City

"Agent Reyes, how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine. Thanks."

"Thank God. I needed to get in touch with you, but this isn't what I had in mind."

"It wasn't my plan for the evening, either."

Skinner seemed stressed and relieved at the same time. "What happened there?"

"Someone stopped me from getting on my flight. They said they were NSA. No ID on them. The NSA denies involvement."

"I'll check into that. You get some rest. I'll inform the New Orleans Office of your whereabouts."

"Actually, I'd prefer you didn't."

"Why is that?"

"It's…private."

"I see. I don't like this subterfuge. I will meet you up there in the morning. We need to talk."

"Alright."

"I'll have agents escort you. Someone wants you dead, and I won't let that happen."

"Thanks. Thanks for your help."

"Just be safe, Agent Reyes. I've lost too many good agents lately."

April 6, 8:14 AM, New York City

Skinner entered Reyes' room while she was sitting, drinking coffee and looking down at the city below. "I never gave this city much thought. It's so busy and feels so angry. It looks different from here, like it's truly alive."

"Agent Reyes, about last night…"

"Yes. Did you find anything?"

"The man in the uniform is Alvin Morin, he's got a long history. He was a hitman for a crime family here before we took them down. We didn't pursue charges on him because he was already in jail for burglary. He was an informant."

"The mafia?"

"Something like that. I want you to meet someone. Agent Tolson, come in."

The agent entered. "Agent Reyes, I heard about what happened. I am so sorry. I hope you are okay."

"I'm fine, thanks." Something unnerved her. She couldn't place it.

Skinner spoke. "Agent Tolson will be your new partner. I am reassigning you."

"Reassigning? To what?"

"A new project. Classified. Counter-terrorism."

"I don't handle terrorism cases."

"You do now. This is your assignment."

"And the cases I'm working on?"

"Already reassigned."

She looked frustrated. "There's a case I can't leave right now."

"Why is that?"

"Because…it relates back to…"

"The X-Files?"

"Essentially."

"Agent Reyes, The X-Files are closed. End of discussion."

"I see." She said, resigningly.

Tolson spoke up. "Agent Reyes, I have some history with this Morin. When I was NYPD, I helped bust him. He knows me. I want to check out his old haunts, find out who he's been dealing with. Are you up to it?"

"As an assignment?"

Skinner answered. "As your first duty in your new assignment. Someone wants to kill FBI agents. We need to know why. You will not be going alone, because I realize you are the target here. I will be sending agents Curtis and Alley to shadow you."

"Skinner, may I speak with you in private?"

Skinner signaled for the other agents to leave.

"I met with John last night. This is just between us. Someone gave him some information."

"What kind of information?"

"We don't know yet."

"You don't know?"

"We need to go somewhere. Tomorrow morning. This investigation you've got me on, it will have to wait."

"It can't wait."

"It has to. John told me you knew something important. That would save the life of Mulder. This is our only shot."

Skinner thought for a second. "Alright. I'll handle this. You meet with Doggett. Just remember, he's out of the bureau now. He doesn't work for us."

"That's why I trust him."

"I want you to look this over when you can." He handed her a file. It was Tolson's personnel file.

"Light reading?"

"I want you to know who you are working with. He's a good agent. He plays by the book."

"Charming."

"I'll tell him you're off the case for the next few days. I want to hear back from you Tuesday morning."

"Got it."

Without saying anything else, Skinner left. The agent assigned to guard her came back in. "You've got some powerful friends at the bureau." The agent remarked.

"It comes at a price."

"I'd pay it."

10:13 AM, New York City

John Doggett was at his desk watching the monitors, when Reyes entered the building. "Hi John." She said.

"Monica. I thought you went home."

"So did I. Long story. We've got a lot to talk about."

"Yeah, well I've got a lot to tell my boss, too. He's not thrilled with the feds running around pulling his staff and forcing overtime."

"You can't be enjoying this. Don't you miss it?"

"Beats chasing black oil across the world and getting hit in the head every few days."

"You have a point."

"So what brings you here?"

"I met with Skinner this morning. I've also been reassigned."

"Reassigned? What to?"

"Classified. War on Terror stuff. Or something."

"Spooky."

"It is, John. I don't even know my assignment, and I don't like it."

Doggett looked at her with concern. "You could quit."

She thought for a second. "I can't do that. Someone has to keep searching."

"The X-Files are gone, Monica. They aren't coming back."

"Yes, but the truth is still out there."

"Yeah, okay. The truth. I'll believe that. I just don't want to see you in an orange jumpsuit at a mock trial in some army base."

Reyes changed the subject. "So, Milton. When do we leave?"