Undercover

Chapter 1

They waited for Skinner to call them back into his office. Mulder watched as Scully played with her engagement ring, a nervous habit she had picked up since he put it on her finger 3 months ago. He never truly understands why she gets herself so anxious before meetings with Skinner, if they get in trouble he always takes the brunt of it. Besides his email asking for the meeting said it was about a case. So why be anxious?

He knew that they had agreed to keep their romantic relationship out of the office but he couldn't help but take her hand in his. She gave him a small smile before pulling her hand away and he expected nothing less.

"Mulder, Scully, please follow me," Skinner said and the two agents stood up to follow him into his office.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," he said leading them inside and taking his seat before awkwardly fixing his tie. For some reason, he also seems nervous.

"Sure thing, Skinman" Mulder said and Skinner sighed while he got the characteristic disapproving look from Scully.

"Don't call me that" he said. "I have an unusual case for you…"

"Well we do work for the X-files, sir, that's what we do," Mulder said.

"I am asking you both to go undercover again," Skinner said and Mulder smiled loving the idea of a good undercover assignment and even more loving the annoyance radiating off Scully. He was about to have a change of heart though.

"Oh, what HOA are we joining this time?" he asked thinking back to the million-and-one rules of that gated community of Arcadia.

"No HOA this time I'm afraid. There are numerous reports coming from the local women's correctional facility that a guard, Jack Ericson, is using some mind control or something on the inmates" Skinner said and Mulder didn't like where this was going. He felt Scully stiffen in the chair next to him.

"Please tell me you are sending us in as guards!" Mulder said.

Skinner sighed, "They want one agent undercover as an inmate and well I think Mulder may stick out in the women's ward"

"You don't I'm pretty?" Mulder jokingly asked his own anxiety growing.

"When does the case start?" she asked and Mulder looked at her in shock.

"I think we need a little more information before agreeing to this case," Mulder said looking at her as if saying 'No, this is too dangerous, Dana!'. "I mean I don't think being imprisoned is in her job description"

"Mulder!" Scully said.

"Going undercover is, but yes you're right, Mulder, I am requesting your help on this case, I can't make you go undercover as an inmate, Scully"

"What are the inmates saying?" Scully said.

"That he is using some type of mind control to force the inmates to engage in sexual activities with him," Skinner said.

"No! Are you out of your mind? You can't use her as bait for a rapist" Mulder yelled.

"Mulder!" Scully yelled and he stopped. "In case you forgot, I am still able to speak for myself"

"It's dangerous"

"Every case is dangerous" Scully retorted.

"You will be unarmed and he is apparently able to use mind control, Dana" Mulder said.

"Mind control, really, Mulder? I am not going to just fall victim to mind control"

"Oh, really? Brother Andrew!" Mulder said and the death glare he got in response immediately shut him up as he knows he crossed a line. Even Skinner sucked in a breath and gave Mulder a 'you messed up big time' look.

"I'm sorry that was uncalled for… I am just worried about you! You are both being very casual about how risky this is for your safety"

"Mulder, we aren't just gonna drop her in there by herself! You will be going under cover as a prison guard and so will a handful of other agents. I will be also going undercover as her lawyer as needed. We will create a series of codes so that she can talk to us on the phone about what's going on. She is always entitled to talk to her lawyer. Look I don't want to put any of my agents in this position especially not you two but I mean this is an X file" he said.

"That doesn't guarantee she will be safe, one tiny mistake and slip up and…" he trailed off. 'And you get my partner, the love of my life, my fiance raped!'

"Look I will send you both the detailed safety plan by the end of the day, you have until the end of the day tomorrow to decide and if you agree undercover starts the following day. I will also send the additional compensation information as well today. You decide your undercover identities and backstories get that information in to me with your decision, if it's a yes."

"How long are we talking here?"

"As long as it takes. Scully, you will be an inmate 24/7 with no special privileges, it would arouse suspicion. There is also the matter of your relationship" he said.

"We have that approved! Did the trainings…"

"At ease Mulder" Skinner said. ""I have fought to keep you two together despite the nature of your relationship turning romantic, that isn't changing outside of this case. However, you won't be Mulder and Scully during this case and you have to act as if you don't know each other outside of the guard-inmate relationship. Besides, I think you would both agree it wouldn't be good if a prison guard were to get caught in any romantic fashion with an inmate"

Mulder nodded.

"So we will have to take a break" Scully said and Skinner simply nodded.

"For an unknown period of time, when we are newly engaged! With all due respect, sir, this is your worst case yet!" Mulder said.

"I agree!"

"These women need someone looking out for them"

Yes but can't it be someone else! This is serious, we are talking about endangering you" Mulder said desperately trying to get her to realize it.

"Look over the plan and discuss it and get back to me" he said dismissing them both.

Thoughts? Should I continue? I don't own the X-Files or the characters! I have written a very rough draft of some future scenes for this story but at the moment I don't know how long it will be.