"This isn't what it looks like!" Scully rushed to explain, but one look from Skinner was enough to quiet her. He let himself inside, not waiting for his agents to pull themselves together and invite him in, and closed the door behind him, still blocking it with his body to prevent them from coming to an idea of escaping.

"How long did you two think you could hide this from me?" he asked firmly. Neither of the women dared to look him in the eyes. Tip of the nose, cheek, forehead, yes, but not the eyes. For Scully, at least. Vixen just stared at the floor.

"How did you find out?" Scully finally gained courage to ask. There was no point to keep denying it. They worked with Skinner for years, they've been through a lot together and no matter how awkward and humiliating, he deserved to know the truth, at least now that he seemed to already know it.

"I work for the FBI," Skinner calmly explained. "Did you really think I wouldn't check on Vixen Mulder and her abusing husband? Do you know what I've found, agents?"

"Nothing," Vixen guessed.

"There is no Vixen Mulder," Scully added.

"No, there isn't," Skinner agreed. "Which reminds me, where is your dog, agent Scully?"

"There is no dog, either," Scully admitted.

"And no more wishes left for you, I suppose," Skinner concluded.

Both women took a deep breath. Their mischief was uncovered and they braced themselves for the inevitable punishment. They couldn't help not to be impressed, though. Skinner must've been a genius for figuring all that out. That, or the Lone Gunmen were assholes who couldn't be trusted.

"No," Scully obediently confessed. "No more wishes. I blew them all."

"I went through your files," Skinner sounded contented, as if he wanted to brag. "I've looked into your last case. A genie! It didn't make much sense at first, but the more I thought about it, the more things fell in place. You calling both the dog and the woman Mulder, while real Mulder is nowhere to be seen… Vixen - a female Fox!" He turned to Vixen. "You calling me sir, recognizing my car… There was something about you that wouldn't leave me alone, but I couldn't quite point it out. I thought," he started to laugh at this point. "I thought it could be love!"

"I'm sorry," Vixen stated miserably, but Skinner didn't even hear her, he was laughing so hard. They never saw him laugh before, so they didn't know what to make of it. One thing was sure, though, it made him look that much more attractive, and Vixen couldn't help not to notice it.

"I wanted to tell you, sir," Scully tried to assure him, as if it could make a difference at this point.

"But this one had other plans for me," Skinner teased the other woman, catching his breath. Damn, he was good! There wasn't any secret they could efficiently hide from him for long. The only thing left for Vixen to do was to disappear from the face of the Earth or die from embarrassment right there, right then.

"Lighten up, Mulder," Skinner playfully patted her on the back. "I don't hit women."

"Thank you, sir," was all Vixen could think of saying.

"I am still going to kick your butt," Skinner assured her. "But first I'm going to help your partner turn you into a man again. As much as I prefer this version, trust me, I do, but I don't want to be the one to explain to my superiors your sudden… transformation. I need you back in the office as soon as possible."

"Why?" Scully asked. "Is something wrong?"

"It's your department," Skinner told her. "They want to evaluate you."

"Evaluate what?" Scully was alarmed.

"I think it's the budget this time. Your expenses are frowned upon and they are looking for ways to cut them. I think they want to keep you in the office and limit your field work."

"They can't do that!" Vixen protested. "I can't do my job from the office!"

"They can certainly try," Skinner was not optimistic. "They are always looking for a reason to close the X files and this time I don't think there's much I can do about it. Your expenses are one of the highest in the Bureau and your results are… not."

"Well, we'll see about that," Vixen mumbled stubbornly. She'd lost her manhood without a fight and she wasn't willing to give up her work as well. "I will come to a meeting. I can dress like a man. They won't see the difference."

Scully and Skinner both instinctively looked at her huge breasts and both said at the same time: "I don't think so."

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Vixen snapped at them, feeling completely useless and frustrated about it. Biologically, she was a woman, but legally she was still a man and neither of those genders served any purpose in her life. For all practical intent, they were both a disability.

"I might have," Skinner answered. "If you would be so kind to calm down and listen."

"Um, yes, sir," Vixen mumbled, lowering her head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sir."

"Look at me, Mulder," Skinner demanded, but Vixen just couldn't brace herself to do it.

"I am sorry," she said to the floor. "I don't know how it happened... I don't know what I was thinking…"

"Oh for crying out loud!" Skinner was losing patience. "That kiss was hardly the worst thing you ever did to me! You've been nothing but trouble ever since I've met you. You've already attacked me, jeopardized my job and life, and I've been on the other end of your gun multiple times. Yet, I'm still here, at your apartment, saving your ass again. I assure you, I can survive a simple kiss just the same."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Vixen replied miserably. A simple kiss? Simple?! There was nothing simple about it for her! Did he really not feel it? Or did he just say that to hurt her?

"What's the plan, sir?" Scully tried to change the subject. Simple or not, she didn't want to know anything about their moment.

"Scully," Skinner said much warmer this time. "I've found her. I've found your genie."

"How?" Scully stared at him in disbelief. "Where? We've had Lone Gunmen search for her a whole day and they couldn't find anything!"

"Lone Gunmen don't have my contacts and resources," Skinner said simply, not willing to elaborate.

"Where is she?" Vixen asked.

"I told her to come to my office tomorrow morning," Skinner answered. "It gives us enough time to figure out how to formulate a wish in order to avoid another catastrophe."

"Sir, I think…" Scully tried to suggest, but Skinner cut her off. "No, Scully, you've had your chance. Now it's my turn. My wish. You just try to get some sleep."

As if any of them would be able to sleep tonight…

Skinner was already at the door, when he turned to Vixen. "Come walk me to the car, Mulder," he told her. She looked at Scully in panic, but her partner wasn't of any help. She just nodded for her to do as she was told. "Go with him. I'll wait here."

Not knowing how to get out of it, Vixen obediently followed Skinner to the hall, then to the elevator. She hardly dared to breathe, partly because of fear, and partly because Skinner's smell was intoxicating and she didn't trust herself to handle it appropriately. Not that she knew what was appropriate with this man, or any man really. She used to think dealing with the opposite sex was easier for women, but now she wasn't so sure about it.

"So," Skinner asked her. "How does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" Vixen was confused. Your lips? Your proximity? Your tender hands? The sound of your voice?

"Being a woman," Skinner clarified and Vixen wasn't as relieved as she expected to be that he wasn't talking about his lips. "You know, from a man's perspective. You are in a unique position to talk about that."

"Oh," Vixen didn't know what to say. "It's like a… rollercoaster."

"Rollercoaster?" Skinner raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, um," Vixen was looking for words, and failing at it. "It's like being a man. But different."

"Oh," Skinner sounded disappointed.

They left the elevator and walked to the car in awkward silence.

"See you tomorrow," Skinner reminded her, opening the car door. "Don't be late. And don't worry. We'll get you back."

"Sir…" Vixen addressed him, when he was already inside. Skinner raised his head, looking at her expectantly.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "You could have anything you wanted. Why are you wasting your wish on me?"

"Because," Skinner looked at her as if she asked the stupidest question he has ever heard. "It's my damn job."

He then slammed the door and drove off, leaving Vixen to stand on the parking lot for a while, until she remembered that Scully was waiting for her upstairs. She went back to her apartment on autopilot, not allowing herself to think or feel anything…