Chapter 1 - A.T.F. (All Time Favorite)
"What's your case?" Mulder asked as he watched her pack up her computer and some files.
"I told you that I can't talk about it. Skinner assigned me to Tom Colton's team and that is all I'm allowed to say. The move is temporary, Mulder. I'll be back." Special Agent Dana Scully stowed her gear into a backpack.
Scully was his FBI partner and has been for over 5 years. Now the lovely, petite redhead was leaving him. Sure it was temporary and she was ordered to do it, but they gave her to him in the first place. Doesn't he have any say in this?
"How long?"
"I don't know—until it's solved." Scully stopped and looked at him. "I asked Skinner to assign you a temporary partner."
"I don't want another partner." Mulder sulked.
Scully felt bad for him. Mulder had the appearance of an 8 year old whose puppy had been stolen, but couldn't tell him anything about this case. She agreed with Skinner that if Mulder found out what she was doing, he would go ballistic. "Well, you are getting one. I picked him out myself—if that helps. His name is Mark Walker and although he is a new agent, he is a big fan of your work. I think he will be a breath of fresh air."
Mulder looked sharply at her. "Fresh air? You are coming back—aren't you?"
"Yes. I already said that. It's just that Mark is a true believer. Won't it be nice to have someone not knocking down your theories all the time?"
"No." He was still sulking. "You challenge me, Scully. That's one of the things I like about you."
Scully stared at him. This was new. Mulder didn't just tell her she was a great partner or an excellent agent, but he said he liked something about 'her'. That was nice to know. "It will be alright, Mulder. I'll call you when I can." She went to the door. "You can call me too. Remember I can't talk about the case."
"Yeah."
She left with a lot of hesitation. Scully knew that Mulder wouldn't take it well, but he seemed more apprehensive than expected. In the last year, he had been invading her space a lot and calling in the middle of the night to check on her. Her cancer and miraculous remission scared the both of them. At first she thought that he just needed to be reassured for a while, but as it continued and even increased, she suspected that something else was rattling around in his mind. Perhaps this separation was just what the doctor ordered. Besides, he was going to appreciate Mark and the young agent was exactly what was needed to keep him distracted. If Mulder ever found out that she was going undercover to catch a stripper hunting murderer—he would blow a gasket.
Authors Note: Poor Mulder! It's short, but Chapter 2 won't be as brief. It's coming really soon!